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Alabama Crushes Texas Tech in NCAA Tournament Blowout
Red Raiders' season ends in Round of 32 after 90-65 loss to Crimson Tide
Mar. 23, 2026 at 5:21am
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4-seed Alabama routed 5-seed Texas Tech 90-65 in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 on Sunday night in Tampa. The victory helped the Crimson Tide reach their fourth straight Sweet 16, while the Red Raiders' season came to an end with an overall record of 23-11.
Why it matters
Texas Tech's loss to the dominant Alabama squad ends their tournament run and caps off a season that saw the Red Raiders overcome numerous challenges, including the absence of key player JT Toppin due to injury. The blowout defeat raises questions about the team's preparedness and ability to compete with top-tier opponents.
The details
Alabama was in attack mode from the start, disrupting Texas Tech's offense and capitalizing on the Red Raiders' struggles. The Crimson Tide hit 19 3-pointers, with several coming off of offensive rebounds that allowed them to extend possessions. Texas Tech fought hard, but ultimately couldn't overcome the large deficit.
- The NCAA Tournament Round of 32 game took place on Sunday, March 23, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.
The players
Grant McCasland
The head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who took responsibility for not having his team prepared to face the dominant Alabama squad.
Christian Anderson
A Texas Tech player who expressed disappointment in the loss, but also highlighted the special nature of the team and the memorable season they had.
Donovan Atwell
A Texas Tech player who acknowledged it would take time to get over the tough loss, but emphasized the overall success of the team's season.
Nate Oats
The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, who led his team to a dominant victory over Texas Tech.
JT Toppin
A key Texas Tech player who missed the game due to injury, which head coach Grant McCasland said was a significant absence for the team.
What they’re saying
“What a tough night for our team. Man, Alabama was awesome. I thought they were so much more aggressive on both ends of the floor. They got after us defensively.”
— Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Head Coach
“It's going to take a second to get past this one, but we did have a tremendous season in total. I mean, I felt like we went through so many trials and tribulations throughout the season. We were able to bounce back from those.”
— Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech Player
“Felt like at times they kind of punked us, both offensive and defensively. Just to go out and execute and stay poised, stay solid and try to chip at the lead one possession at a time.”
— Christian Anderson, Texas Tech Player
What’s next
The Texas Tech Red Raiders' season has come to an end with this loss, but the team and program will look to build on the successes of this year and come back stronger next season.
The takeaway
This blowout loss to Alabama highlights the challenges Texas Tech faced this season, including the absence of a key player, and raises questions about the team's preparedness to compete with top-tier opponents. However, the Red Raiders' resilience and the special nature of this team suggest brighter days ahead for the program.
