The Arizona Wildcats are firmly on the top-16 seed line, boasting a 23-1 overall record and a 10-1 conference mark, with a quad record of 9-1 in Quad 1 games, 6-0 in Quad 2 games, 1-0 in Quad 3 games, and 7-0 in Quad 4 games. Meanwhile, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, with a 17-6 overall record and a 7-3 conference record, are projected as a top-4 seed, having gone 6-6 in Quad 1 games, 3-0 in Quad 2 games, 5-0 in Quad 3 games, and 3-0 in Quad 4 games. This non-conference matchup has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes, particularly in terms of quad records, with Arizona looking to strengthen its case for a top seed and Texas Tech seeking to bolster its chances of a top-4 seed.
Arizona Wildcats' 85.5 Points Per Game Average is 2nd in the Nation
The game is scheduled for February 14, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET, and will be held at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, with streaming available on the ESPN app.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have had a solid season, with a 17-6 overall record and a 7-3 conference mark, good for 20th in the NET rankings. They have gone 6-6 in Quad 1 games, which is a notable achievement, considering the strength of their schedule. Over their last three games, they have gone 1-2, with a 73-68 win over Oklahoma, followed by a 75-65 loss to Baylor, and a 70-64 loss to Kansas. With their recent form being inconsistent, they want to bounce back against the Arizona Wildcats.
Key Matchups
The Arizona Wildcats have been dominant this season, with a 23-1 overall record and a 10-1 conference mark, earning them a 2nd ranking in the NET rankings. They have an impressive quad record, with 9-1 in Quad 1 games, 6-0 in Quad 2 games, 1-0 in Quad 3 games, and 7-0 in Quad 4 games. Over their last three games, they have gone 2-1, with a 85-78 loss to UCLA, followed by a 90-70 win over Arizona State, and a 95-85 win over Oregon. With their high-powered offense, averaging 85.5 points per game, they want to continue their strong form against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The Arizona Wildcats' offense, which averages 85.5 points per game, will face off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders' defense, which allows 65.2 points per game. Arizona's offense is led by their 51.2% field goal percentage, which is 5th in the nation, while Texas Tech's defense is fueled by their 32.5% three-point defense, which is 15th in the nation. The pace of the game will be interesting, as Arizona averages 74.2 possessions per game, while Texas Tech averages 68.5 possessions per game. With Arizona's offense being one of the most efficient in the nation, averaging 1.23 points per possession, they want to exploit Texas Tech's defense, which allows 0.95 points per possession.
CHD Scout Prediction
Texas Tech
69
Arizona
88
For the Arizona Wildcats, players to watch include Azuolas Tubelis, who is averaging 19.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, and Kerr Kriisa, who is averaging 12.2 points and 5.5 assists per game. For the Texas Tech Red Raiders, players to watch include Kevin McCullar, who is averaging 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and De'Vion Harmon, who is averaging 13.4 points and 3.5 assists per game. With no notable player momentum data available, these players want to make an impact in the game.
Tournament Stakes
The CHD Scout prediction has the Arizona Wildcats winning by 19.3 points, with a 93.7% win probability. This prediction is based on Arizona's strong offense and Texas Tech's inconsistent recent form. With Arizona's offense being one of the most efficient in the nation, and Texas Tech's defense being one of the stingiest, this game will be an interesting matchup.
This game has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes. A win for the Arizona Wildcats would strengthen their case for a top seed, while a loss would not significantly hurt their chances. For the Texas Tech Red Raiders, a win would be a significant boost to their resume, particularly in terms of quad records, while a loss would not significantly hurt their chances of a top-4 seed. With both teams having strong quad records, this game will be an important one for their tournament seeding.