Big 12 Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Joey Loose | Jun 8, 2022

Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Remy Martin (left) and guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (center) and guard Christian Braun (right) celebrates their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Big 12 Basketball Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Kevin Obanor Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Texas Tech

Few head coaches made the amount of impact that first-year coach Mark Adams made last season, sliding over to the head coaches’ chair after Chris Beard’s departure. The Red Raiders won 27 games, made it to the Sweet Sixteen, and had the toughest defense in the entire country. That defensive pressure and intensity that Adams brought to Lubbock certainly came to fruition, and this year might be no different.

It’s hard seeing Kevin McCullar and Terrence Shannon Jr. transferring, but the Raiders will get an extra year out of forward Kevin Obanor. Additionally, Adams has added a trio of high-impact transfers that will play a huge role on this roster. Combo guard De’Vion Harmon comes over from Oregon, Fardaws Aimaq was a star center at Utah Valley, while Jaylon Tyson was a talented wing with potential at rival Texas last season.

Texas Tech is in shape to do big things again, especially if these talented new transfers come together and play that elite defense that Red Raiders fans have expected for years. Texas Tech has not missed a beat since Beard left for their rival, and while they’ll certainly miss McCullar and Shannon, they’ve efficiently rebooted this roster. Texas Tech will contend in a deep Big 12 and could make noise in the NCAA Tournament again.

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