Colorado collapses against Texas Tech as Tad Boyle calls performance embarrassing after brutal road defeat
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Feb 13, 2026, 00:20 IST
Colorado endured a humbling 78–44 loss to Texas Tech in late February, a performance that unraveled quickly after tipoff and never recovered. The Buffaloes struggled mightily on offense, shooting under 30 percent and missing 39 attempts, while Texas Tech dominated the paint and the glass. The Red Raiders turned 17 offensive rebounds into 21 second-chance points, with JT Toppin controlling the interior by grabbing 18 boards alone. The defeat marked the team's second loss to Texas Tech this season, but unlike their earlier two-point battle, this meeting was completely one-sided. Once sitting at 12-3 with early conference momentum, Colorado has now fallen to 4-8 in Big 12 play, losing eight of its last ten games. After the game, coach Tad Boyle took full responsibility, calling the performance embarrassing and reflecting on accountability. His remarks highlighted frustration, disappointment, and concern over a team that has sharply declined after a promising start.
This Sunday, Colorado experienced a lopsided score that shook the arena; it stumbled hard, losing 78–44 against ranked Texas Tech. Once the ball moved past tipoff, control faded fast. By halftime, their rhythm had vanished without warning.
Paint dominance shaped Texas Tech’s evening. Boards came easily, points followed. Colorado struggled, hitting fewer than three out of ten field attempts. Missed chances piled up, thirty-nine empty tries. From those misfires, the Red Raiders built momentum, collecting seventeen rebounds below the rim. Those extra chances fueled twenty-one extra-point values. JT Toppin, by himself, grabbed 18 rebounds while taking full control under the basket.
That marked Colorado’s second setback against Texas Tech this campaign. Not more than a month and a half back, the initial clash ended narrowly, only two points apart - yet here it was: total dominance on display. With this loss, the Buffaloes slipped to 4-8 within the Big 12, following early-season optimism.
Frustration showed clearly when coach Tad Boyle spoke after the match.“I’m embarrassed by our performance,” he stated. We’ve got to own this.”
That time in Colorado, the team kicked off the year with a 12-3 record. Right after the conference began, they grabbed two victories fast. Things changed once competition stiffened; since then, eight out of ten matches ended in defeat. A few of those setbacks came against teams ranked number one.
Sixteen years into his time here, Boyle owned every part of the outcome. He brought up his former group at Northern Colorado, those long flights on early commercial jets following matches, as if today’s team had earned nothing close.
“We don’t deserve a charter plane back to Boulder tonight. We got one. We paid for it, but we wasted our money. We wasted our university’s money and that’s on me. I’ll take the ownership of this because I’m the head coach. The buck stops with me. But I’m embarrassed. I’ve not said I’m embarrassed very often, but I’m embarrassed tonight.” Boyle said.
Paint dominance shaped Texas Tech’s evening. Boards came easily, points followed. Colorado struggled, hitting fewer than three out of ten field attempts. Missed chances piled up, thirty-nine empty tries. From those misfires, the Red Raiders built momentum, collecting seventeen rebounds below the rim. Those extra chances fueled twenty-one extra-point values. JT Toppin, by himself, grabbed 18 rebounds while taking full control under the basket.
That marked Colorado’s second setback against Texas Tech this campaign. Not more than a month and a half back, the initial clash ended narrowly, only two points apart - yet here it was: total dominance on display. With this loss, the Buffaloes slipped to 4-8 within the Big 12, following early-season optimism.
Frustration showed clearly when coach Tad Boyle spoke after the match.“I’m embarrassed by our performance,” he stated. We’ve got to own this.”
That time in Colorado, the team kicked off the year with a 12-3 record. Right after the conference began, they grabbed two victories fast. Things changed once competition stiffened; since then, eight out of ten matches ended in defeat. A few of those setbacks came against teams ranked number one.
Sixteen years into his time here, Boyle owned every part of the outcome. He brought up his former group at Northern Colorado, those long flights on early commercial jets following matches, as if today’s team had earned nothing close.
“We don’t deserve a charter plane back to Boulder tonight. We got one. We paid for it, but we wasted our money. We wasted our university’s money and that’s on me. I’ll take the ownership of this because I’m the head coach. The buck stops with me. But I’m embarrassed. I’ve not said I’m embarrassed very often, but I’m embarrassed tonight.” Boyle said.