As the collegiate basketball season approaches its climax, the Texas Tech women's team is intensely focused on solidifying its position for the NCAA Tournament. With only a couple of regular-season games remaining, their performance is critical for improving their March Madness seeding. The team recently experienced a challenging road loss following a significant home victory, underscoring the fluctuating nature of their quest for tournament advancement.
The Lady Raiders are set to compete against Kansas in their second-to-last regular-season Big 12 game. This matchup comes on the heels of a 75-68 defeat against Colorado, which followed an impressive 87-56 win at home over Baylor. These results reflect the team's resilience and the competitive landscape of their conference play, as they aim to make a strong final impression before the postseason.
ESPN's latest bracketology report indicates a positive shift for the Lady Raiders. Previously projected as a No. 7 seed, they have now moved up to a No. 6 seed, a boost attributed to their compelling victory against Baylor. This improvement remained stable even after their loss to Colorado, suggesting a solid overall season performance in the eyes of analysts. The projection places Texas Tech in the Sacramento Region 2, potentially facing the winner of a play-in game between No. 11 seeds Princeton and Nebraska, with No. 3 seed Louisville acting as the host.
On the national evaluation front, the Lady Raiders hold a strong position in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings. As of a recent update, they were ranked 27th, a dynamic metric that updates daily and reflects team strength, adjusted for game location, opponent quality, and result. Their record against Quad 1 opponents, the highest tier of competition, stands at 3-2. This includes key road victories against Baylor and West Virginia, and a home win against TCU, alongside recent losses to Oklahoma State and Colorado. Their Quad 2 record is 4-2, with notable wins over Mississippi State, Utah, and Kansas, balanced by losses to BYU and Iowa State. The team's only Quad 3 loss occurred at home against Kansas State, indicating a generally strong performance against lower-ranked teams.
The current phase of the season is pivotal for Texas Tech as they strive to enhance their tournament seed. Their remaining games and upcoming conference tournament will be crucial opportunities to reinforce their resume and secure the most favorable placement possible for a deep run in March Madness.