The Red Raiders will be tested early and often in Maui
A lot of times when a roster has so many new faces, using an easier early-season schedule can help build chemistry for the team. But, when the team has as much talent as Texas Tech does those early games will be key in learning and adapting to Adams’ defensive systems. They begin the year with three home games against Northwestern State, an always-tough Texas Southern, and Louisiana Tech. Following those three games, they take off for Hawaii to take part in the Maui Invitational’s loaded field.
They open the tournament with a team likely to begin the year in the top 10, the Creighton Bluejays. On day two they will get a crack at either Louisville or Arkansas in another potential resume-building game. After two taxing days, the Red Raiders’ 3rd game in Maui will come against either Cincinnati, Arizona, Big Ten contender Ohio State or Mountain West favorite San Diego State.
After returning home, they remain in Lubbock through Christmas with games against Georgetown, Nicholls State, Eastern Washington, Houston Baptist, and South Carolina State. The only time they leave home in that time is a jaunt over to Houston to face Jackson State on Dec. 17. Their non-conference slate culminates in a true road game on Jan. 28 in Baton Rouge to face LSU, breaking up the Big 12 league play schedule a bit.