College basketball world goes wild for Texas Tech after improbable win at Houston
There are always moments when special teams realize what they are capable of. That’s likely what we witnessed from the Texas Tech basketball team on Saturday night.
In an 82-81 victory over Houston in Space City, the Red Raiders showed the nation that they deserve to be considered amongst the best teams in the country.
From a resume perspective, Tech needed this win to put itself in the conversation for a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Previously, the Red Raiders checked in anywhere from a No. 5 to a No. 8 seed in most “Bracketology” projections.
However, prior to Saturday, Tech had gone 0-2 against ranked teams this season leaving many to want to see more before considering the Red Raiders a true contender. The Red Raiders lost to then-No. 22 Texas A&M 72-67 in Fort Worth in early December in a game star forward JT Toppin missed not because of an ejection but because of an injury.
Then, in the fourth game of Big 12 play, Tech fell to then-No. 3 Iowa State 85-84 at home in overtime. That game saw the Red Raiders miss three critical free throws down the stretch as they blew a 13-point lead.
While the rest of what Tech had done in Big 12 play had been impressive, a 7-2 record including a 4-0 mark in road games, head coach Grant McCasland and his team still lacked a marquee win.
Tech needed to come up with the type of triumph that would vault them into the national conversation. This team needed to slay a dragon.
That’s exactly what they did in Houston. As a result, people around the country were talking about the Red Raiders after their win over the No. 6 team in the country, one that came without JT Toppin or Grant McCasland for the final 36 minutes of play. So let’s take a look at what the college basketball world had to say about Texas Tech on social media after the Red Raiders stunned the nation.
Texas Tech beating Houston at Houston – with Toppin & McCasland being ejected so early in this game – is up there with the very best wins of the season.
There is room on the bandwagon! https://t.co/PX1LddoYTo
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) February 2, 2025
Texas Tech. Sharpie.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 2, 2025
What an outstanding win for @TexasTechMBB, to head into Houston and find a way to an 82-81 victory. Grant McCasland has a group that can do some real damage in March. Top 15 KenPom offense that just executed its stuff really well. Houston was 23-1 in last 24 Big 12 games!!!
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) February 2, 2025
Tech winning this game is really the ultimate ball don’t lie moment
— John Kurtz (@jlkurtz) February 2, 2025
TEXAS TECH HANDS NO. 6 HOUSTON THEIR FIRST BIG 12 LOSS IN ALMOST A YEAR 🌵
ROAD WIN WITHOUT THEIR BEST PLAYER AND HEAD COACH. TEXAS TECH IS FINAL FOUR GOOD. pic.twitter.com/RDPtheUGdT
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) February 2, 2025
Houston’s 33-game homecourt winning streak is over. Just a wildly impressive win for Texas Tech. Key reserve Kevin Overton ruled out, star forward JT Toppin ejected in the opening minutes, coach Grant McCasland ejected in the opening minutes. And still a top-10 road win. Wild. https://t.co/8ukY5MsObu
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) February 2, 2025
Texas Tech winning at Houston after JT Toppin and Grant McCasland got ejected is exactly the kind of thing that the basketball gods provide us in this ridiculous sport.
How can you not be romantic about college basketball?
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) February 2, 2025
Give this man his flowers. Absolute banger of a game against the number 1 defense in CBB. Stud. pic.twitter.com/b4QxVmLS2b
— T3 Bracketology™️🏀 (@T3Bracketology) February 2, 2025
WHAT. A. GAME. 🍿
No. 22 Texas Tech snaps No. 6 Houston’s 33-game home winning streak 😨 pic.twitter.com/txTRHQsGIa
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 2, 2025
🚨 TEXAS TECH WINS A THRILLER 🚨
An IMPRESSIVE OT win for @TexasTechMBB 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/9gaHpaMhdj
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 2, 2025
Texas Tech loses both JT Toppin and Grant McCasland to ejections and still finds a way to beat Houston at the Fertitta Center.
That’s as good of a win as we’ve seen this season considering the circumstances.
A breakthrough moment for the Red Raiders.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 2, 2025
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