Christian Anderson is good to go. Texas Tech’s star guard will suit up for the Red Raiders when they face Akron in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, putting to rest the injury concerns that surfaced during the Big 12 Tournament last week.
Christian Anderson Cleared for March Madness
The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Atlanta scared Red Raider fans on March 12 when he slipped on the Big 12’s controversial LED glass court while receiving an inbounds pass against Iowa State. Anderson grabbed at his groin area immediately, limped to the bench, and didn’t return to the game. Texas Tech went on to lose 75-53.
But the injury turned out to be less severe than it looked. Anderson provided his own update after the game, telling reporters he was feeling good and chalking it up to a misstep on the slippery surface. Texas Tech made the official announcement on Saturday night: Anderson will be available for the NCAA Tournament.
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The timing couldn’t be more important. Anderson has become the Red Raiders’ clear go-to guy since All-American forward JT Toppin went down with a torn ACL in mid-February. Toppin was averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds before his season ended, and without him, Anderson has shouldered the entire offensive load.
He’s been up to the task. Anderson earned All-Big 12 First Team honors, was named the conference’s Most Improved Player, and landed on the AP All-America Third Team. He’s averaging 18.9 points and 7.6 assists per game, the latter ranking fourth nationally. He also broke the Texas Tech single-season assists record with 236 and connected on 105 three-pointers while shooting 42.5 percent from deep.
The Big 12 scrapped its glass floor after Anderson’s injury and several other players experienced slipping issues throughout the tournament. Commissioner Brett Yormark announced the conference would transition back to hardwood for the semifinals and final. The NCAA Tournament, of course, uses traditional hardwood courts.
Texas Tech Faces Akron in Tampa
The fifth-seeded Red Raiders draw 12-seed Akron at 12:40 p.m. ET on Friday at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. The Zips enter on a 10-game winning streak and bring a 29-5 record after winning the MAC Tournament.
Texas Tech, meanwhile, is heading in the opposite direction. The Red Raiders have lost three straight games and haven’t looked like themselves defensively during that stretch. Head coach Grant McCasland acknowledged the challenge during the team’s selection Sunday availability, noting that 5-12 matchups are always dangerous.
The Red Raiders can beat anyone when they’re on. They knocked off Duke, Arizona, Iowa State, and Houston earlier this season. But they’re also capable of laying an egg, as the Iowa State blowout demonstrated. And Akron isn’t just some mid-major afterthought. The Zips share Texas Tech’s love of the three-point line and rank 18th nationally in three-point percentage.
Anderson will need to carry this team. Donovan Atwell can stretch the floor with his shooting, and the supporting cast has shown flashes, but the margin for error is thin without Toppin. If Anderson’s groin is anything less than 100 percent, it’ll show up quickly against an Akron team that plays at a fast pace and looks to force turnovers.
The good news: Anderson has been healthy all season and showed no signs of lingering issues during the team’s practices this week. He’s projected as a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and a deep tournament run would only boost his stock. The Red Raiders reached the Elite Eight last season. They have the talent to make another run, but it all starts with Anderson being himself on Friday afternoon.
