It’s going to be a big week for the Texas Tech men’s basketball program.
After securing a win over then No. 6 Kansas in Big 12 Conference action over the weekend, the Red Raiders moved up to No. 19 in the Associated Press Top-25 poll on Monday morning.
A few hours later, Texas transfer Jaylon Tyson was added to the roster after signing an athletic scholarship agreement — meaning he can start practicing with Texas Tech but is unable to play until the next season and maintain four year of eligibility.
More:Chalk one up: Clarence Nadolny, Bryson Williams combine for 39 to help Red Raiders down Kansas
And don’t forget, the Red Raiders still have a 6 p.m. Tuesday matchup against No. 1 Baylor at the Ferrell Center in Waco.
“When you look at our schedule, this front end of it is tough,” Adams said Saturday after the 75-67 win over Kansas. “These top-10 teams. … We’re going to enjoy this one, come back (Sunday) get ready for Baylor. That’s what you have to do.”
More:Former four-star prospect Jaylon Tyson decides to return to Texas Tech
Texas Tech (11-3, 1-1) kicks off a three-game week with the Bears (15-0, 3-0), who are coming off a 76-64 road victory over TCU and in the midst of a 21-game winning streak — the third-longest in the conference’s history.
But, the Red Raiders are also coming off a momentous victory — downing the Jayhawks, who dropped three spots to No. 9 in the latest AP poll.
“It’s always good to be a top-10 team, especially on your home floor,” Texas Tech forward Bryson Williams said after Saturday’s win. “It’s very good for our team and we’ve got the No. 1 team coming up. So, we’ve just gotta know to keep on working hard in practice and games.
“And just know that we have to take care of business on the defensive side of the floor because that’s going to win us games.”
In the Jayhawks triumph, Williams tied his season-high total of 22 points to lead Texas Tech in scoring. The UTEP transfer forward also nabbed eight rebounds as he netted double figures in his second straight contest — both in Big 12 play.
“It was just awesome to see him out there playing like we know he can play with confidence and making so many big plays,” Adams said of Williams. “By far, that was the most exciting part that we can gain from this game here.
“I think Bryson’s got his confidence back and we can use him now more to be that go-to guy like he was (Saturday).”
It certainly helped against Kansas and would be a huge help against the Bears, who average about 83 points per game.
More so, Baylor swept the Big 12 Conference Weekly Awards as James Akinjo (Newcomer) and Adam Flagler (Big 12 Player) netted those accolades.
Akinjo (14.4 points per game) are Flagler (12.3 ppg) part of a quarter of double-digit scores, which includes L.J. Cryers (13.0 ppg) and Kendall Brown (11.4 ppg).
“They’ve got one of the best offenses in the country,” Adams said Tuesday in a video provided by Texas Tech Athletics. “They’re similar to last year — so explosive, they’ve got great guards and three of those guards and any three of them can get three points.
“So, we’ve got to do an excellent job of covering out on those 3-point shots. That’s where their real strength is.”
The Red Raiders, who have played shorthanded in the last couple of games due to injuries and health and safety protocols keeping players out, hope to return some familiar faces.
On Saturday, Adams was pleased to see Mylik Wilson return to the lineup after missing the past five games following minor knee surgery. The former Louisiana-Lafayette guard made his conference debut by netting five points, four rebounds and five assists in 23 minutes in the win over Kansas.
“You look at his stats, he has not had the top season he had last year,” Adams said of Wilson, who owns a 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio that consists of 31 assists to only nine turnovers this season. “But he’s a tremendous athlete and shot the ball really well.”
Terrence Shannon, Jr and Kevin McCullar would be the big names to suit up, if they do Tuesday night. The top-two leading scorers have missed the first two Big 12 games due to injury and are listed as game-time decisions.
Clarence Nadolny, who poured in a career-best 17 points against Kansas, knows this is an important week, which kicks off five games in the next 11 days for the Red Raiders.
Any added depth will be key, but the 6-foot-3 junior guard also admitted the players realized — shorthanded or not — they’re a team that can not only put up a good fight but finish with a victory as well.
“We have a tough schedule, so we’re trying to win as much as we can,” Nadolny said. “Now it’s on to the next one.”
Change of plans
Sardaar Calhoun “has communicated his intentions to transfer” and is no longer with the men’s basketball program, per a Texas Tech news release sent late Monday.
Calhoun, a Florida State transfer, played in eight games and averaged 3.5 points per contest for the Red Raiders. The senior guard netted a season-high eight points in the win over Omaha, shooting 3-for-4 from the field with two 3-pointers.
Calhoun was not with the team during the first two Big 12 Conference games.
After playing one season with the Seminoles, Calhoun elected to transfer to Texas Tech. He averaged 5.3 points per game and played in the NCAA Tournament with FSU. Prior to making his way to Tallahassee, Florida, he began his career with two seasons at Missouri State — West Plains.
NO. 19 TEXAS TECH AT NO. 1 BAYLOR
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Ferrell Center, Waco
Records: Texas Tech 11-3, 1-1. Baylor 15-0, 3-0
TV: ESPN2
Radio: FM 97.3/Sirius XM Ch. 199
Game updates: Follow @AJ_DonWilliams on Twitter for live updates, with postgame recap and interviews to follow on www.lubbockonline.com.
BIG 12 MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
Team Big 12 record Overall record
Baylor 3-0 15-0
Oklahoma 2-1 12-3
Texas 2-1 12-3
Kansas 1-1 12-2
West Virginia 1-1 12-2
Texas Tech 1-1 11-3
Oklahoma State 1-1 8-5
Iowa State 1-2 13-2
TCU 0-1 10-2
Kansas State 0-3 8-6
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