17. Texas Tech (9-3)
This Texas Tech team is turning into quite the case study less than two months into this season. Returning some great talent from an Elite Eight run, the Red Raiders entered the season with great expectations, but faltered in early opportunities against Illinois, Purdue, and then Arkansas. They performed well against LSU earlier this month but really needed one of those big games to go their way.
What’s been a tough run for their defense continued this week, winning what became a shootout in a 101-90 game over Northern Colorado on Tuesday. LeJuan Watts really shined with 36 points and 6 rebounds while JT Toppin added 23 points against the Bears. Fortune smiled on Saturday night in New York City as Texas Tech finally got their key victory, hanging on for an 82-81 upset over Duke. Christian Anderson scored 27 points including the go-ahead free throw in the closing seconds while Toppin and Watts were both outstanding once again.
With some of their struggles against teams like Northern Colorado and Wyoming, some may have been writing off the Red Raiders already, especially with recent defensive issues and a lack of a big win. This team went to New York City on a mission and grabbed one of the more impressive wins in an incredible game against the Blue Devils. They’ll be back in action against Winthrop next Sunday, with Big 12 play starting very shortly thereafter.