Texas Tech will enter the 2016 season picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 standings, the league office announced Thursday morning as part of its preseason poll.
The Red Raiders received 38 points in a vote by the conference coaches, trailing preseason favorite TCU (57) as well as Oklahoma State (55), Texas (53) and Oklahoma (45). TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas all garnered three first-place votes.
Tech received 12 points more than sixth-place West Virginia while Kansas and Kansas State finished in a tie for seventh with 18 points and Baylor rounded out the poll with 14 points.
This is the second-straight year the Red Raiders have been projected to finish fifth or better in the league standings as the Red Raiders were picked fourth in the 2015 preseason poll. Tech had not previously been picked to finish fifth or better in back-to-back years since the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
In each of the last two seasons, the Red Raiders have finished higher than the preseason poll projected. Tech closed the 2014 season in fourth place after starting the year picked to finish eighth overall. The Red Raiders ended the 2015 campaign in a tie for third overall, marking its highest league finish since the 2004 season.
Tech head coach Tim Tadlock boasts one of the most experienced rosters of his tenure this season as 19 letterwinners, including seven position starters, return from 2015 where the Red Raiders finished 31-24 overall and 13-11 in Big 12 play.
The 2016 season officially begins on Feb. 19 when the Red Raiders host Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the start of a four-game series at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. on Opening Day.
Red Raider fans still wishing to purchase season tickets can still do so by visiting the Texas Tech Ticket Office website or by calling 806-742-TECH.
(Press Release Provided by Texas Tech Athletics Department)
