Texas Tech Faces Kansas Without Star Point Guard

The United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, was buzzing with anticipation on Monday night as No. 13 Texas Tech prepared to host No. 11 Kansas in a pivotal Big 12 basketball clash. Both teams entered the contest with identical 16-5 records and a 6-2 mark in conference play, having won a combined nine of their last ten games. With the winner set to join Iowa State in a tie for third place in the Big 12 standings, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Yet, the Red Raiders faced an unexpected challenge before the opening tip: starting point guard Christian Anderson Jr. was nowhere to be seen on the court or the bench.

Anderson’s absence was a major talking point leading up to the matchup. The sophomore guard had started all 21 games for Texas Tech this season, anchoring the team’s offense and providing steady leadership. However, as the teams warmed up, it became clear that something was amiss. Tyeree Bryan was listed in Anderson's place in the starting lineup, a late change that caught many by surprise. According to the Texas Tech radio broadcast, Anderson was ruled out of the starting lineup due to illness. The TV broadcast added that he would be evaluated at halftime with a possibility of playing in the second half, but as the first half unfolded, Anderson remained absent from the bench and did not participate in pregame warmups.

This development left head coach Grant McCasland and the Red Raiders with a significant void to fill. Just a few weeks prior, McCasland had mentioned that Anderson was "banged up from playing so many minutes," but there had been no indication of an impending absence on the Big 12-mandated availability reports, including those released 90 minutes before tipoff. The sudden nature of Anderson’s illness forced Texas Tech to adapt on the fly, with Bryan stepping into the starting role for one of the season’s most crucial games.

Despite the setback, the Red Raiders entered the contest with momentum. Ranked 20th in KenPom and boasting the 10th-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the nation, Texas Tech had won four of their previous five games. Their only recent stumble was an 88-80 loss to Central Florida, but impressive victories over ranked opponents BYU and Houston had kept their confidence high. The betting odds even favored Texas Tech, with a spread of -4.5 and a moneyline of -210 as of game day, reflecting the home team’s strong recent form.

On the other side of the court, Kansas arrived in Lubbock fresh off a 90-82 win over BYU, powered by standout freshman guard Darryn Peterson. Peterson, in just his 11th game of the season, had quickly established himself as a key contributor for the Jayhawks, joining fellow star freshman AJ Dybantsa in elevating Kansas to the upper echelon of the conference. The Jayhawks, ranked No. 11 nationally, were eager to keep pace in a fiercely competitive Big 12 race, with only Arizona and Houston boasting better conference records entering the night.

As the game tipped off at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) on ESPN, fans and analysts alike wondered how Texas Tech would cope without their floor general. Would Bryan rise to the occasion? Could the Red Raiders’ offensive efficiency hold up against a Kansas defense known for its toughness? And, perhaps most pressing, would Anderson make a dramatic return after halftime?

According to the Texas Tech radio team, Anderson’s absence was officially attributed to illness. The team and coaching staff remained tight-lipped about the specifics, but the hope lingered that he might be able to contribute in the second half. At halftime, Anderson emerged from the locker room and began warming up with his teammates, fueling speculation that he could check in at any moment. However, observers noted that he didn’t appear close to actually entering the game, and his status remained day-to-day as the contest progressed.

While the men’s team grappled with its own roster drama, Texas Tech athletics had reason to celebrate on the women’s side. Senior guard Snudda Collins was named Big 12 Player of the Week on February 2, 2026, after a sensational performance in the Lady Raiders’ victory over No. 12-ranked TCU. Collins poured in 28 points, tying her career high, on 9-for-20 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range. She also added five rebounds and seven free throws, propelling Texas Tech to a statement win and earning her third Big 12 honor of the season—her first as Player of the Week.

Collins’s hot streak didn’t stop there. In the previous game against Iowa State, she tallied 16 points with two three-pointers, shooting 6-for-13 from the floor. Over the week, she averaged 22.0 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting and went 9-for-11 from the free throw line. Impressively, all of Collins’s points this season have come off the bench, and she now leads the team with 15.5 points per game. According to Texas Tech University Athletics, “Collins tied for the team lead with 21 double-digit scoring games and led with four 20+ point games as of February 2, 2026.”

With the Lady Raiders sitting at 21-3 overall and 8-3 in Big 12 play, Collins’s emergence as a reliable scoring threat has been a key storyline. The team looks ahead to a conference matchup at Houston on Saturday, February 7, as they aim to build on their impressive season and solidify their position among the conference elite.

Back in the men’s game, the absence of Anderson continued to loom large as the second half began. The Red Raiders leaned on their depth and offensive prowess, but the question of whether their star point guard would return hung over the arena. For Kansas, the opportunity was ripe to capitalize on Texas Tech’s uncertainty and make a statement on the road. With both teams battling for Big 12 supremacy, every possession took on added significance.

As of this writing, the outcome remains unresolved and the action is ongoing in Lubbock. Fans are glued to their screens, waiting to see whether Anderson’s illness will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the night or if a dramatic return is in the cards. One thing is certain: the Big 12 race is heating up, and both Texas Tech and Kansas are right in the thick of it.

For now, Red Raiders supporters will hope for good news on Anderson’s health, while the program as a whole can take pride in the remarkable achievements of both its men’s and women’s basketball teams this season. The story continues to unfold, and all eyes remain on Lubbock as the Big 12 drama reaches a fever pitch.