Scouting the Texas Tech, NC State’s first-round NCAA Tournament men’s basketball opponent

A year ago, it was Creighton.

This year, Texas Tech.

For N.C. State, playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament requires a quick basketball education on the opponent. Texas Tech is the No. 6 seed in the South Region, so that tells you something quickly about the Red Raiders from the Big 12 Conference.

No. 22 Texas Tech goes into the NCAAs with a 23-10 record and coming off a loss to Houston in the Big 12 Tournament. But the Red Raiders won the four games before that loss, beating BYU in the first round of their conference tournament.

The Wolfpack, the 2024 ACC champion, held a Selection Sunday celebration. There were cheers when “N.C. State” appeared on the line below “Texas Tech.” After winning five games in five days in the ACC Tournament, after beating North Carolina for the championship, the Pack knew what was ahead.

Texas Tech finished No. 27 in the NET rankings and had six Quad-1 wins. The Pack was No. 63.

“We don’t know much about them,” Wolfpack guard Michael O’Connell said Sunday of the Red Raiders, “but we will soon. We know they’re a good team. We know we’ll be ready.”

Creighton knocked the Pack out of the 2023 NCAAs with a 72-63 win at Ball Arena in Denver.

Here’s a look at Texas Tech and the matchup with the Pack:

Common opponents

The Wolfpack and Raiders each played BYU and Vanderbilt. Texas Tech beat BYU in the Big 12 regular season (85-78) and then in the first round of the conference tournament (81-67.)

The Pack’s game against BYU was one it would like to forget –especially coach Kevin Keatts, who was ejected late in the 95-86 loss in Las Vegas in the Vegas Showdown.

The Red Raiders defeated Vandy 76-54 in mid-December, and the Pack won 84-78 in late November.

Injury update

Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland sounded optimistic Sunday about two injured players – forward Darrion Williams and center Warren Washington – being available for Thursday’s NCAA opener.

McCasland, in a press conference after the NCAA selections, called Williams “improved” and that Washington was back and practicing with the team.

Williams, a 6-6 sophomore, turned an ankle in the Red Raiders’ Big 12 Tournament game against BYU. He was held out of the semifinal game against Houston.

Washington, a 7-0 senior, has been sidelined for all but one game since a foot injury on Feb. 12. Also of note: Washington played with the Pack’s D.J. Horne at Arizona State last season.

Looking at the stats

Talk about offensive balance. The Red Raiders have five players averaging in double figures and Washington is getting 9.9 points a game.

Sophomore guard Pop Isaacs is the scoring leader at 15.9 points. Williams has averaged 11.4 points and a team-leading 7.5 rebounds a game, and checks in at 47% on 3-pointers.

The Red Raiders were third in the Big 12 in 3-point shooting (36.9%) and second in 3’s made per game (8.3).

If Thursday’s game is decided on late free throws, Texas Tech’s top four scorers all shoot 83.9% or better – Chance McMillian is a 91% shooter at the line.

Historical fact

While the Wolfpack and Red Raiders have faced off a few times in football – the most recent game 2022 in Raleigh – the two have played just one basketball game.

The Pack, coached by Everett Case, won 85-74 in Reynolds Coliseum on Dec. 18, 1954.

QB sighting?

Patrick Mahomes has been known to drop in on Texas Tech basketball games and cheer on his alma mater – the Kansas City Chiefs mega star was at the Final Four a few years back.

Russell Wilson recently signed a one-year contract with the Steelers. He might be around this week. He’s a State graduate although also has some Wisconsin leanings.