Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big 12 Basketball: Kansas State, Texas Tech leads before conference tournament

By Jason Kinander

AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Texas Tech Red Raiders Tariq Owens #11, Davide Moretti #25, Deshawn Corprew #3, Kyler Edwards #0 run off the court after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 80-73 in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 80-73 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - MARCH 9: Texas Tech Red Raiders Tariq Owens #11, Davide Moretti #25, Deshawn Corprew #3, Kyler Edwards #0 run off the court after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 80-73 in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 80-73 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next
LUBBOCK, TX – MARCH 04: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after making a basket during the second half of the game against the Texas Longhorns on March 4, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 70-51. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – MARCH 04: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after making a basket during the second half of the game against the Texas Longhorns on March 4, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Texas 70-51. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders (26-5, 14-4 Conference Play)

The Good

After losing six of their top eight scores, the Texas Tech Red Raiders were not at all expected to live up to last season’s Elite Eight run. However, Texas Tech came back even better than last year, winning their first ever Big 12 regular season championship.

Jarrett Culver followed up a great freshman season with an unbelievable sophomore campaign, winning the Big 12 Player of the Year. Culver’s play, as well as the play of transfer guard Matt Mooney and Sophmore Guard Davide Moretti lead the way for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech swept through their non-conference schedule, winning all but one game against Duke, making things fairly easy once conference play began.

The Bad

Texas Tech, like Kansas State, should’ve won the Big 12 outright. The only real negative this season was a mid-season three game losing skid that put the Red Raiders behind in the Big 12 race.

Next. Key Bracketology storylines for Championship Week. dark

The Bottom Line

This was an incredible season for Texas Tech, who look to be in good shape as a two or three seed, and will easily be the highest seeded Big 12 team in the NCAA tournament. Coach of the year Chris Beard had a fantastic campaign, leading his Red Raiders to an improbable championship.

Home/Big 12