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Texas Tech Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Red Raiders

By Brian Rauf

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – MARCH 17: The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot performs during the game against the Florida Gators during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – MARCH 17: The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot performs during the game against the Florida Gators during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Texas Tech Basketball returns a solid roster following last year’s Elite Eight run. How will the Red Raiders follow up that successful season?

Texas Tech had a surprisingly successful season in Year Two of the Chris Beard era as they became a top 10 team and made the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. The Red Raiders found an identity as well, emerging as one of the best and toughest defensive teams in the country.

That success did have some unintended consequences as star freshman Zhaire Smith left for the NBA Draft and was picked No. 16 overall by the Phoenix Suns, meaning Tech has to replace their top two scorers as Keenan Evans graduated.

Evans, who was their do-everything player last year, headlines a five-player senior class that departed, leaving Texas Tech with plenty of holes to fill in the rotation. Beard and his staff landed a solid recruiting class, but also landed a pair of impact grad transfers in South Dakota’s Matt Mooney and St. John’s Tariq Owens.

The departures have many thinking the Red Raiders will be taking a step back in 2018-19, but they’re hoping that won’t be the case. Star wing Jarrett Culver opted to return after testing NBA Draft waters this summer and return several other rotation players.

Will this combination of returners, talented grad transfers, and underrated freshman class be able to mesh in time for Texas Tech to remain among the best teams in the Big 12? Here’s a full season preview for the Red Raiders, including a look at their lineup and non-conference schedule.

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