Sports
'I love being back out here': Tech Basketball Takes the Court
Texas Tech men's basketball opened its first out-of-season practice for the 2026-27 season Wednesday inside the Womble Practice Facility, with 14 players on the floor and, by all accounts, a lot of work already lined up. The scene inside the Womble was about as far from the chaos dominating college athletics headlines as you can get.
The scene inside the Womble was about as far from the chaos dominating college athletics headlines as you can get. Basketballs bouncing, music blaring, whistles, players hyping each other up. Coaches have already made clear the roster has plenty to improve on, but the mood in the gym did not reflect any anxiety about that.
One player summed it up plainly: "Today was great. It's a blessing to have our whole squad together. Coach was right when he said we have a lot to work on but I know everyone here is ready to work and become a team. We have to come together faster than some other teams."
For Red Raiders fans who have watched the program navigate roster turnover and the broader turbulence of the transfer portal era, getting 14 guys in the same gym and actually practicing together is not nothing. It is a starting point. The energy on day one does not guarantee wins, but it signals a group that at least wants to be there.
College basketball is a mess nationally right now, and Tech's guys are in the gym smiling about it.
Common questions
How many players showed up to Tech's first offseason practice?
- Fourteen players were on the floor for Texas Tech's opening out-of-season practice Wednesday. Despite coaches acknowledging there is plenty to work on, the mood in the gym was upbeat, with players hyping each other up and focused on coming together as a team.
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