LUBBOCK, Texas (Texas Tech Press Release) – The Texas Tech men’s basketball program secured an at-large bid to the 2016 NCAA Tournament and the No. 8 seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional as announced Sunday by the NCAA Selection Committee.
The Red Raiders (19-12, 9-9 Big 12) square off with No. 9 seed Butler (21-10, 10-8 BIG EAST) during Thursday’s NCAA Tournament First Round. Tip time is slated for 11:40 a.m. CT from PNC Arena on the North Carolina State campus. The game will be televised by truTV.
No. 1 seed Virginia (26-7, 13-5 ACC) and No. 16 seed Hampton (21-10, 13-3 MEAC) will take the floor 30 minutes following the Tech-Butler contest. The two winners will meet in Saturday’s NCAA Second Round.
Texas Tech collected its 15th overall NCAA Tournament appearance and first bid since the 2006-07 season. The Red Raiders are one of a nation-leading seven teams chosen from the Big 12 conference.
“It’s a great time for Texas Tech Red Raider basketball, and I’m really honored to be leading this program at this time,” Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith said. “It’s a great opportunity for these young men. The players have bought in. They trust, and they believe in what we’re trying to get done. I’m really proud of how we’ve competed all season long especially being as young as we are. Our players have shown a lot of maturity. It’s been a fun group to coach, and I think we can be very competitive against a good Butler team.”
Smith is the second coach in NCAA history to take five programs to the NCAA Tournament and joins current Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger.
The winner from the Raleigh pod advances to the NCAA Sweet 16 and regional semifinal in Chicago, Illinois on Friday, March 25 and will face the winner of the Denver pod which features No. 4 seed Iowa State, No. 5 seed Purdue, No. 12 seed Little Rock and No. 13 seed Iona. The 2016 NCAA Final Four will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.
