Texas Tech basketball has made it a habit in recent years, through several different head coaches, to not frontload the schedule. At all. I understand the reasoning behind the light non-conference, I do, but when you see elite matchups early in the season you want your team to be a part of them too.

The good news is that the Red Raiders have baked in opponents like LSU in the SEC Big 12 Challenge and Georgetown in the Big East Big 12 Challenge. The other highlight features a trip to Hawaii to play three games in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. That Invitational will get you a guaranteed game against Creighton and then possible matchups with Arkansas, Louisville, Ohio State, Arizona, and others. There's also an intriguing matchup with former Red Raider assistant Talvin Hester and his Louisiana Tech squad.

Those are the highlights.

The rest of the schedule features Northwestern State, Texas Southern, Nicholls, Eastern Washington, Jackson State at a neutral site, Houston Baptist, and South Carolina State.

The 13 total games feature a wide range of opportunities and should have the team ready for the grueling slog of Big 12 Play, without making the team too burned out early.

The Red Raiders were 8-0 in non-conference home games last season, and have won 68 out of their last 69 contests in the United Supermarkets arena.

I don't want to make it seem like this is a terrible non-conference slate, it's the usual suspects for the Red Raiders with some sneaky matchups with a couple of really solid programs thrown in to test the team. It's also a roster that will need to come together after replacing a large chunk of production from the Sweet 16 team of last season.

Regardless of the high-profile matchups that are missing from this non-con, there are plenty of storylines to watch with Texas Tech basketball in 2022-23 and I can not wait for the season to get going on November 7th. According to Texas Tech, Single game tickets for Red Raider Basketball home games will go on sale later this fall with more information being released at a later date.

Texas Tech Basketball beats Notre Dame to go the Sweet 16

The 13 Best Hole in the Wall Restaurants on 50th Street in Lubbock

These buildings might be unassuming from the outside, but the kitchens absolutely know what's going on. I wasn't as strict on this one as I was on my 34th Street version which you can read if you keep scrolling, but I defend my choices below. If you can get a cash loan in the same strip mall as your pizza, it might be a Hole in the Wall.

The 10 Best 'Hole in the Wall' Restaurants on 34th Street in Lubbock

34th Street is known locally as "where the work gets done," but it's also where the eats go down. (Side note: I also might be the only one that says that because nobody else I know remembers that.) Back to the point, these buildings might be unassuming from the outside, but the kitchens absolutely know what's going on.

More From Talk 103.9 & 1340