By Lubbock Chronicle Staff
Texas Tech climbed three spots to No. 16 in Monday's Associated Press Top 25, setting up a matchup with No. 3 Illinois on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at United Supermarkets Arena. The 2-0 Red Raiders have now appeared in a program-record 31 straight AP polls, according to Texas Tech Athletics.
A first for Lubbock
Illinois, a 2026 Final Four team, will be the highest-ranked nonconference opponent ever to play Texas Tech in Lubbock and the seventh nonconference top-10 team to make the trip. The previous high was No. 4 SMU on Feb. 9, 1957, when the Red Raiders won 68-67. The most recent top-10 opponent on Tech's home floor was No. 9 Arizona in 2012.
What's at stake
Tech brings a 48-game nonconference home winning streak into the game, the third-longest in the country behind Auburn and Baylor. The Red Raiders are 25-0 in nonconference home games under coach Grant McCasland. Their last such loss came in overtime against No. 15 Kentucky on Jan. 25, 2020.
Illinois is averaging 116 points a game after wins over FDU and Penn. Andrej Stojakovic leads the Illini at 22.5 points per game. Tech is led by Cruz Davis at 15.0 points, 4.5 assists and 4.5 steals per game, and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is coming off a 25-point game against Bethune-Cookman.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. Central
Where: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock
Watch: Peacock and NBC Sports Network
For more on the matchup, read the Chronicle's Illinois game preview.
