Texas Tech Ranked No. 20 in First Post-Season AP Poll

Red Raiders look to extend season in NCAA Tournament matchup against Akron

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:35pm

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-10, 12-6) have been ranked No. 20 in the first Associated Press Men's Basketball Top 25 poll of the postseason, despite a loss to No. 6 Iowa State in the Big 12 conference tournament. The Red Raiders will face No. 12 Akron in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, as the 5th seed in the Midwest region.

Why it matters

Texas Tech's ranking at No. 20 in the AP Poll extends their program record to 28 straight appearances in the rankings, showcasing the team's consistent success. The matchup against Akron is one of the highly anticipated opening round games of the NCAA Tournament, as both teams have had strong seasons and will look to advance in the Big Dance.

The details

The Red Raiders will lean on sophomore guard Christian Anderson and senior guard Donovan Atwell, who have been the driving force for the Tech offense since senior forward JT Toppin went down with a season-ending injury in February. Akron, led by senior guard Tavari Johnson and senior forward Amani Lyles, finished the regular season with a program-record 29 wins and won the MAC tournament title.

  • Texas Tech finished the regular season with a 22-10 record and a 12-6 mark in Big 12 play.
  • The Red Raiders lost to No. 6 Iowa State in the Big 12 conference tournament.
  • Texas Tech will face No. 12 Akron on Friday, March 20th at 11:40 AM CDT in Tampa, Florida.

The players

Christian Anderson

Sophomore guard who has been the driving force for the Texas Tech offense since the injury to senior forward JT Toppin.

Donovan Atwell

Senior guard who has been a key contributor to the Texas Tech backcourt this season.

Tavari Johnson

Senior guard for Akron who led the MAC in scoring, averaging 20.1 points per game.

Amani Lyles

Senior forward for Akron who was selected to the All-MAC First Team after an excellent season.

John Groce

Head coach of the Akron Zips, who led the team to a third consecutive MAC tournament title.

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What they’re saying

“You gotta start with our guard play... (Christian Anderson) is just our leader. He knows how to win.”

— Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Head Coach (CBS Sports)

What’s next

The winner of the Texas Tech-Akron matchup will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Texas Tech's consistent ranking in the AP Poll and their NCAA Tournament berth demonstrate the program's sustained success, while the matchup against Akron promises an exciting opening round game as both teams look to extend their seasons in the Big Dance.