Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders enter national rankings
December 13, 2021 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech has entered the Associated Press Men's Basketball Top 25 for the first time this season at No. 25 and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll at No. 24 after earning a 57-52 overtime win over Tennessee last week at the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden.
The Red Raiders (7-1) were ranked throughout the 2020-21 season for the first time in program history and ascended as high as No. 7 in the AP Poll. Tech, which has made the past three NCAA Tournaments, was not in the preseason rankings after finishing at No. 21 last season and has worked its way in to the ranking in Week 6.
Tech returns to action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday against Arkansas State at the United Supermarkets Arena before traveling to play No. 5 Gonzaga (8-2) in the Jerry Colangelo Classic at 12 p.m. (CST) on Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona.
Baylor (9-0) moved up to No. 1 in the rankings after an impressive win over No. 9 Villanova on Sunday in Waco, while Duke (7-1), Purdue (9-1), UCLA (9-1) and Gonzaga round out the top-5 in the sixth poll of the season. The Big 12 is also represented by No. 7 Kansas (8-1), No. 11 Iowa State (10-0) and No. 17 Texas (6-2) to give the conference five teams in the poll. Oklahoma and West Virginia are also receiving votes. Tennessee dropped to No. 18 from No. 13 with its loss to Tech.Â
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The Red Raiders (7-1) were ranked throughout the 2020-21 season for the first time in program history and ascended as high as No. 7 in the AP Poll. Tech, which has made the past three NCAA Tournaments, was not in the preseason rankings after finishing at No. 21 last season and has worked its way in to the ranking in Week 6.
Tech returns to action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday against Arkansas State at the United Supermarkets Arena before traveling to play No. 5 Gonzaga (8-2) in the Jerry Colangelo Classic at 12 p.m. (CST) on Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona.
Baylor (9-0) moved up to No. 1 in the rankings after an impressive win over No. 9 Villanova on Sunday in Waco, while Duke (7-1), Purdue (9-1), UCLA (9-1) and Gonzaga round out the top-5 in the sixth poll of the season. The Big 12 is also represented by No. 7 Kansas (8-1), No. 11 Iowa State (10-0) and No. 17 Texas (6-2) to give the conference five teams in the poll. Oklahoma and West Virginia are also receiving votes. Tennessee dropped to No. 18 from No. 13 with its loss to Tech.Â
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Back in the rankings ?? pic.twitter.com/iyqnuCGa1q
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) December 13, 2021
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