A marquee college basketball contest between Duke and Michigan is now without the Wolverines, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders are coming to the rescue.
Television hysterics have rendered Michigan unable to participate in a previously scheduled matchup at Madison Square Garden in New York City, according to Matt Norlander at CBS Sports. MSG and NYC are within the Big Ten‘s market, and thus the suits said no. The parties attempted to reschedule the game at the Miami Marlins ballpark, but couldn’t reach a consensus on the itinerary.
Dusty May officially walked away from Ann Arbor for the Dallas Mavericks head coaching job earlier this summer after leading Michigan to its first national title since 1989.
So, in comes Texas Tech, representing the Big 12, in a December non-conference test against Jon Scheyer and his Blue Devils for a second straight season. Christian Anderson and LeJuan Watts combined for 37 points, and JT Toppin added another 19, as the Red Raiders handed Duke its first regular-season loss at MSG.
It’s a win for Texas Tech, and for Grant McCasland, entering his fourth season in Lubbock with three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since making the in-state jump from North Texas in 2023. The upcoming season greatly benefits from the return of the All-American Toppin, who confirmed his return earlier in the offseason after tearing his ACL during a February regular-season game against Arizona State.
Texas Tech, the No. 5 seed, fell to No. 4 Alabama 90-65 in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament in Tampa.
Back in the Garden this winter, the Red Raiders have another opportunity to knock off a Blue Blood program for just the second time in school history.
