BY JEFF WALKER
A-J SPORTS EDITOR

As Texas Tech begins the Big 12 Conference tournament today against Texas A&M, the Red Raiders’ only chance of extending its season is by winning.

Tech needs four wins to earn the Big 12’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

A long shot? Sure, about the same odds as winning the lottery.

Several teams in the past, however, have hit the jackpot.

A team with a similar resume as the Red Raiders accomplished the feat last season — Georgia.

The Bulldogs entered the Southeastern Conference Tournament last in the East Division with a 13-16 record and only four conference wins.

Tech (13-18) has three conference wins, but one came against a ranked opponent, then-No. 9 Kansas. Georgia didn’t beat any ranked opponents last season.

Tech finished the regular season 0-10 on the road, winning one neutral-site game against Mississippi State. Georgia was winless on the road last season until its final road game. The Bulldogs beat Auburn, who finished last in the SEC West Division.

Then came the last year’s wacky SEC Tournament.

Georgia started with an overtime win over Mississippi. A tornado came through Atlanta that caused damage to the Georgia Dome, so the Bulldogs were forced to play two games in one day — beating Kentucky in overtime during the day and Mississippi State at night on the campus of rival Georgia Tech.

The Bulldogs earned the SEC’s bid the following day with a 66-57 victory over Arkansas.

“It’s a great memory and something to look forward to because of that memory,” said Georgia interim head coach Pete Herrmann, who was an assistant last season but moved in as interim head coach Jan. 29 after Dennis Felton was fired. “It was so unusual because of the tornado, and then you have two games in about 12-to-14 hours. The amazing thing was how our players never seemed to be mentally or physically fatigued. They went after it strong and went after it each game, especially (the semifinals) against Mississippi State and Arkansas (in the finals). … Maybe it was the underdog role or a ‘Rocky’ type mentality that we had, I don’t know. … It was a once in a lifetime experience and certainly as satisfying as anything I’ve been involved with in 40 years of basketball.”

The experience was unique for the Bulldogs, but a team making the NCAA Tournament with a sub-.500 record isn’t so unique.

If the Red Raiders make the field of 65, they would go in with a 17-18 record — not the worst, but they would be tied for the third-most losses by a team in the NCAA Tournament.

Coppin State holds the record most losses, making the field last season with a 16-20 record. Most of the time when a team has a sub.-500 record, though, it’s been a team from a smaller conference that won its conference tournament.

Oakland (Mich.) in 2005, Florida A&M in 2004, UNC-Asheville in 2003, and Siena in 2002, made the NCAA Tournament with sub-.500 records. All of those teams — including Coppin State — were part of the play-in game, and all of them — except Coppin State — won the play-in game before receiving a No. 16 seed and a first-round loss to a No. 1 seed.

Before worrying about the NCAA Tournament, though, Tech must concern itself with the road ahead. Despite being the 11th seed, the Red Raiders received a favorable draw in that they won’t have to face the top two teams — Kansas and Oklahoma — or the team that has been arguably most difficult for Tech to beat (Texas) until the semifinals.

First, the Red Raiders must find a way to beat today’s opponent, Texas A&M, which they haven’t been able to do this season.

“You’ve got to look inside with their two bigs (Chinemelu Elonu and Bryan Davis),” Tech head coach Pat Knight said. “That always causes problems, and our post defense wasn’t very good when they played (in Lubbock). You also can’t let (Josh) Carter get away from you. We did a better job of making him work (in College Station).

A win over A&M would pit Tech against Missouri. The Tigers recorded 20 steals and forced the Red Raiders into a season-worst 29 turnovers in a 97-86 home victory. Despite the sloppy play, Tech was within seven with 6:20 to play.

“I think we’ve gotten better. The record doesn’t show it, but these kids are still competing and they’re playing hard,” Knight said. “We’re getting better. We’ve been in every game, really, in the Big 12 season. The kids fighting and haven’t given up and that’s why I’m looking forward to the Big 12 tournament and see if we can play a few more games and see what we can do.”

College basketball

• What: Big 12 Conference Tournament

• Who: Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M

• Where: Ford Center, Oklahoma City

• When: 8:30 p.m. today

• Records: Tech 13-18, 3-13; A&M 23-8, 9-7

• TV: MyLubbockTV

• Radio: KKAM 1340 AM; KQBR 99.5 FM