ESPN’s Big Monday returns on Feb. 2, and oh boy, is it a good one, as the Kansas Jayhawks travel to Lubbock to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Our Kansas vs. Texas Tech prediction has the projected starting lineups and a full score forecast with analysis for this exciting Big 12 showdown.
Kansas vs. Texas Tech Projected Lineups and Key Matchups
Kansas Jayhawks Starting Lineup
- Darryn Peterson (21.3 PPG)
- Melvin Council Jr. (13.7 PPG)
- Tre White (14.8 PPG)
- Bryson Tiller (8.4 PPG)
- Flory Bidunga (12.8 PPG)
Texas Tech Red Raiders Starting Lineup
- Christian Anderson (19.7 PPG)
- Jaylen Petty (12.0 PPG)
- Donovan Atwell (12.0 PPG)
- LeJuan Watts (9.0 PPG)
- JT Toppin (22.4 PPG)
Kansas vs. Texas Tech Prediction and Preview
Both of these teams showed signs of weakness over the weekend, but there were also good moments for both programs, and that is what makes this game so interesting.
Kansas held serve at home with a win over BYU, but it was another game that Darryn Peterson failed to play start-to-finish, and it nearly cost the Jayhawks by way of a Richie Saunders heater.
This is a very good team (13th in our power rankings) that can be great, but can also have lapses. Their defense was what jumped off the screen in the first half of their win over the Cougars, and while Peterson was at the center of it, this is a thoroughly talented roster around him.
The result was a negative for Tech on Saturday, a loss at UCF that snapped a five-game win streak. They trailed for 90% of that game, and the only reason they had any life down the stretch was JT Toppin, their standout forward who has the ability to dominate for extended stretches.
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His skill, along with Christian Anderson’s upside (3+ made triples in four of his past five), makes this team a threat to beat anyone, but the downside has to be factored in when handicapping them.
In the loss over the weekend, they were outscored by 12 points in the paint and allowed multiple Knights to post double-doubles. That’s not supposed to happen in any game when you’re built from the inside out, never mind when you hold a reasonable talent edge.
No outcome from this game would truly surprise me, and that’s why it’s appointment viewing. We are awaiting news on Peterson and his availability, for me, dictates the direction this game goes.
Prediction: Kansas 77, Texas Tech 73
How To Watch Kansas vs. Texas Tech
- Date: Monday, Feb. 2, 2026
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Lubbock, TX
- Arena: United Supermarkets Arena
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: FuboTV
