No. 13 Texas Tech faces a formidable road test at West Virginia, seeking to reignite their offense against a stingy defense.
No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders opens the second half of Big 12 play with one of its toughest assignments yet ... a road trip to Morgantown to face West Virginia Mountaineers on Sunday at noon CT inside Hope Coliseum.
Texas Tech enters the weekend at 16-6 overall and 6-3 in conference play, looking to steady itself after back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
The Red Raiders dropped a tight 64-61 decision to No. 11 Kansas at home on Monday, following a road setback at UCF. Despite the brief skid, Tech remains firmly in the Big 12 title conversation and nationally ranked for a program-record 22 consecutive weeks.
The challenge in Morgantown is significant.
West Virginia owns a 13-1 record on its home floor and allows just 63.8 points per game, second-best in the conference. Texas Tech, meanwhile, brings one of the league’s most explosive offenses, averaging 82.9 points per contest while leading the Big 12 with 11.4 made 3-pointers per game.
At the center of Tech’s attack is JT Toppin, a dominant interior presence who leads the Big 12 with 14 double-doubles and 10.6 rebounds per game. Toppin is averaging 21.8 points overall and has been even better in league play, posting 22.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game against conference opponents.
When healthy, the Red Raiders are even more dangerous with Christian Anderson orchestrating the offense. Anderson leads the Big 12 with 7.5 assists per game and is scoring 19.6 points per contest while shooting 43.6 percent from three-point range. His ability to control tempo will be critical against West Virginia’s physical defense.
Texas Tech’s perimeter firepower has been a defining trait all season.
The Red Raiders have hit at least 10 3-pointers in 17 of 22 games, including a Big 12-record 14 triples in the first half at Baylor earlier this year. Donovan Atwell leads the team with 77 made 3s, while LeJuan Watts provides toughness and balance, averaging 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Head coach Grant McCasland has built the program around resilience, a mindset summed up by the team’s motto, “Toughest Team Wins.”
That mentality will be tested against a West Virginia squad led by Ross Hodge, McCasland’s former associate head coach during their successful run at North Texas.
With the Big 12 race tightening, Sunday’s matchup represents more than just another road game. For Texas Tech, it’s a chance to reassert its identity, regain momentum, and prove its toughness in one of the league’s most hostile environments.