What an awful way to end a season.
Texas Tech came out completely flat, and just never had a chance. Alabama brought the fight and determination needed to advance in this tournament, and it showed on every possession. They out-rebounded, out-hustled, and out-shot the Red Raiders from start to finish.
It’s hard to pin this entirely on Coach McCasland, but the team felt unprepared top to bottom. The bench was being scraped for answers, pulling players deep into the rotation just trying to find a spark that never came. That’s a bad look.
Now, Alabama did hit some genuinely unreal shots — the kind that would have made this game difficult to win regardless. But the complete lack of fight was what made it so disheartening. This wasn’t a team that got beat. This was a team that never really showed up.
A Texas Tech squad with two All-Americans won’t even live to see the second weekend of the tournament. That’s the part that stings most.
This offseason, there needs to be a serious conversation about identity. What does Texas Tech basketball want to be? The answer starts with bringing in tough, scrappy role players who know their assignments and execute them without hesitation. The talent ceiling means nothing if the foundation isn’t there.
As for right now? Thank God Texas Tech basketball got me to Opening Day. The Texas Rangers are here, and that might be the only glimmer of hope worth holding onto tonight.
See you on the diamond.