Texas Tech University Athletics
Three Wild Wednesdays In West Texas
February 19, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2016
By: Blake Zimmerman
Texas Tech Athletic Communications
On Feb. 3, 2016, the Texas Tech men's basketball team was 2-6 in Big 12 play, and not on anyone's NCAA Tournament radar.
Fast forward two weeks to Feb. 17.
New bracketology from @ESPNLunardi will be out tomorrow. @TexasTechMBB will be in the field of 68.
-- Adam Amin (@adamamin) February 18, 2016
To say that Tubby Smith's squad caught fire would be an understatement. Over the course of three Wednesday nights in Lubbock (and a Saturday in Waco), the Red Raiders got off the mat and decided they weren't quite done yet.
Going back to Feb. 3, Tech was not only 2-6 in league play, but trailing at home to Oklahoma State, a team who also found itself at 2-6 in conference action. Late in the second half, the Red Raiders needed a spark. Enter senior Toddrick Gotcher.
And we are headed to OT thanks to this 3 from @TexasTechMBB's Toddrick Gotcher!! https://t.co/nUazwIZlKa
-- Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) February 4, 2016
And again.
Not a replay. @TexasTechMBB's Gotcher does it again. https://t.co/6iKtSn34Qr
-- Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) February 4, 2016
Then, it was Devauntagh Williams' turn.
WATCH: D-Will serving up the onions! Texas Tech wins in OT! #WreckEm https://t.co/tpifg6ZC33
-- TexasTech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 4, 2016
Fast forward seven days.
The Red Raiders once again found themselves in overtime, this time against No. 14 Iowa State. With the game tied at 80, Tech was set to inbound the ball with two second on the shot clock. The inbound pass found Keenan Evans, standing on the brown outline of the state of Texas near midcourt of United Supermarkets Arena.
Keenan Evans: "I didn't call bank, I called make." #UpsetLivesHere #WreckEmhttps://t.co/eNqpEF93yF
-- TexasTech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 11, 2016
Just how they drew it up.
Yeah, it was a side out of bounds play," Head coach Tubby Smith said. "We only had two seconds, and we were looking to throw a lob to Zach off of a back screen by Keenan. He did a good job so he was free to come get the ball. Knowing it was just two seconds left on the shot clock, it was a heck of a play. Knowing it would put us up by three, we needed something like that to happen for us. It's happened against us a bit this year so I'm glad it was our turn.
Or not.
Fast forward seven days.
The Red Raiders are now 5-7 in league play, coming off of a huge 84-66 win at No. 21 Baylor. Tech came together one more time, proved it belongs, and was very warm in the process.
WATCH: Check out the Top 5 Plays from @TexasTechMBB battle with #22 #Baylor on Saturday. #WreckEmhttps://t.co/zVGyT5hIYl
-- TexasTech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) January 17, 2016
Suddenly, there is buzz that Texas Tech could be in the hunt for an NCAA bid. The Red Raiders had tallied three major wins in 10 days, and now there was an opportunity to make the season with national player of the year candidate Buddy Hield and No. 3 Oklahoma in town--the type of win that makes your NCAA Tournament resume.
One might say there was a level of excitement and anticipation for the contest.
The BLACK OUT starts in 48 hours. Will you be there? $8 Tix onsale now: https://t.co/5BHzJAfa2B #WreckEm #GunsUp pic.twitter.com/WHmPQhDv2N
-- TexasTech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 16, 2016
Texas Tech students already starting to file into the nose bleed sections. Good sign for Red Raiders' home environment #WreckEm
-- Brian Holland (@BHollandSports) February 18, 2016
The sea of black, 14,471 strong, rose to a crescendo as Texas Tech took a 34-31 lead into the halftime break.
#Big12MBB: Big plays fuel @TexasTechMBB to an 8-0 run to close out the first half with a 34-31 lead over Oklahoma. https://t.co/gU1MA6EAWj
-- Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) February 18, 2016
The opportunity was there, just 20 minutes away.
Tubby on what win over OU does for resume: "Told our team we can't wish to be picked by the selection committee. We have to win the day."
-- Andrew Doak (@AndrewDoak_KAMC) February 18, 2016
After a late Toddrick Gotcher three to pull the Red Raiders within one, it was once again Keenan Evans putting the Red Raiders in front.
Evans seizes the opportunity and gets the layup to put the Red Raiders up with less than two minutes to go! #WreckEm https://t.co/x1Mr0jtijs
-- TexasTech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 18, 2016
OU had the ball with 15 seconds to go and the possible national player of the year, down two. The Sooners, however, opted for a lob that was knocked away. After a scramble for the ball and another Sooner miss, Gotcher grabbed the ball and scampered to midcourt.
The scene inside United Supermarkets Arena! #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/Tj1B7R68OP
-- Texas Tech Athletics (@TechAthletics) February 18, 2016
They did it again.
Postgame interview time for a victorious @CoachTubbySmith #WreckEm #UpsetsLiveHere pic.twitter.com/HeRY047f3z
-- TexasTech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 18, 2016
Texas Tech surges onto the bubble by knocking off No. 2 Oklahoma: https://t.co/VoZ0QIea9U
-- Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 18, 2016
Watch Coach Smith's locker room talk after Tech's 3rd straight win over a Top 25 opponent #WreckEm #UpsetsLiveHerehttps://t.co/lTHXe5JSRI
-- TexasTech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 18, 2016
Wow. That might be one of the quickest storming of the court. @TexasTechMBB upsets @OU_MBBall. #Tubby. @Big12Conference
-- Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) February 18, 2016
Texas Tech beat 3 consecutive ranked teams for the 1st time in school history. pic.twitter.com/fS926t4pl5
-- ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) February 18, 2016
Rushing the court 💯👌🏽 #TexasTechBasketball
-- Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes5) February 18, 2016
ICYMI: Texas Tech upset #3 OU. TTU has beaten 3 consecutive ranked teams for the 1st time in school history. https://t.co/xE5H0OYnjM
-- ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) February 18, 2016
Down goes Oklahoma! Texas Tech gets its 1st win over a Top 3 team since 2004-2005 season. pic.twitter.com/PSeolMp4L2
-- ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) February 18, 2016
Oh, and Alabama won at LSU, and Texas Tech beat Oklahoma. Those are two tourney times right there.
-- Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 18, 2016
That winning feeling. 😎 #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/bQPdjVZEqi
-- Texas Tech Athletics (@TechAthletics) February 18, 2016
Over the course of 14 days, the Texas Tech men's basketball team whipped the Red Raider Nation into a frenzy and forced college basketball to take notice.
