Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics Enjoying Successful School Year
March 16, 2005 | General
March 16, 2005
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech Athletic teams are enjoying one of the most successful school years in history and that has led to a school record six teams that are currently ranked in the national Top 25 in their respective sports.
The leadership of Athletics Director Gerald Myers has made Tech one of just three schools (Texas Tech, Texas and Oklahoma) in the Big 12 to have all four major sports teams earn national rankings in the same season for the second consecutive year.
"We are extremely proud of all of our coaches and student-athletes at Texas Tech," said Myers. "Our coaches and players deserve all the credit for achieving national rankings. We have some talented new coaches on our staff and it won't be long before their teams join in."
The Texas Tech football team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in 2004 as the Red Raiders ended the year with a 45-31 win over No. 4 California in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl in San Diego. The Red Raiders ended the year with a No. 17 national ranking in the coaches poll and a No. 18 rating by the Associated Press. The Tech football program ended the season ranked for the first time since 1995.
Both the men's and women's basketball teams have enjoyed great seasons in 2004 and both are eagerly awaiting first-round games in the upcoming NCAA Tournaments. The Red Raiders and Lady Raiders both finished the Big 12 regular-season in fourth place and the men advanced to the Big 12 Tournament Championship game for the first time in school history. The fourth place Big 12 regular-season finish was also the best for a Tech men's team since the league began in 1997. Head Coach Bob Knight's Red Raiders are the sixth-seed in the Albuquerque Regional and will face 11th-seeded UCLA on Thursday night (8:45 p.m. CT - CBS) in Tucson, Ariz. The Lady Raiders, meanwhile, earned a No. 4 seed in the Philadelphia Regional and will play UTA on Saturday (8:30 p.m. CT - ESPN) at Reunion Arena in Dallas.
The Texas Tech baseball team under head coach Larry Hays is currently ranked 24th in the nation in the Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches Top 25 Poll and have been ranked as high as No. 22 earlier in the season. Tech baseball has been in the national rankings in each of the last 12 seasons and opens Big 12 play this weekend at home against eighth-ranked Texas A&M.
The Texas Tech men's track team is ranked 17th in the latest Trackwire Top 25 poll. Wes Kittley's Red Raiders finished second at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in 2004 and will be looking for their first Big 12 crown as the outdoor season approaches.
Tim Siegel's men's tennis team was ranked 23rd in the latest ITA College Tennis rankings and are 14-0 on the season. Tech's 14-0 start and No. 23 ranking is the best in the Siegel era. The Red Raiders travel to California this weekend where they will face No. 57 Purdue, No. 46 Fresno State and No. 31 Clemson.
