After Tuesday’s 87-69 win at Seton Hall, the Texas Tech basketball players returned to their New Jersey hotel rooms to rest before a 6 a.m. flight back to Lubbock. But when Jacksonville’s Ben Smith banked in a 3-pointer to beat Arizona State, they flooded back into the hall.

“That was a great shot, especially coming down at the buzzer to bank it,” Tech point guard John Roberson said. “Everybody ran into the hallway as soon as they hit that shot.”

Coach Pat Knight spent late February and early March preaching the benefits of an NIT berth. If Tech could get some postseason experience this year, he promised, it would prepare them for a possible NCAA run in 2011.

So far, he’s gotten his wish.

Kansas guard Sherron Collins (4) and Texas Tech guard John Roberson (21) dive for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big 12 tournament Thursday, March 11, 2010, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Tech had less than 48 hours to prepare for Seton Hall. The Red Raiders learned of their opponent late Sunday, and at 1 p.m. Monday were en route to New Jersey.

“It was crazy,” forward Mike Singletary said. “We had an idea we were going to be in it, but we didn’t know we’d have to leave the next day. We were rushing a little bit.”

Then when Smith’s bucket fell with 1.5 seconds left, any expectation of facing Arizona State flew out the window.

“I thought the game was over,” Roberson said. “There was like two minutes left and they were down by 12. I thought we’d be playing Arizona State.”

Even plans for hosting have been a scramble. Eight seed Jacksonville defeating top-seeded Arizona State meant Texas Tech would head home for the NIT’s second round; the higher seeded team hosts in the tournament’s first three rounds. Instead of going back on the road to face the Sun Devils, who they held a closed exhibition against before the season started, Tech hosts the Dolphins at 2 p.m. Saturday at United Spirit Arena.

Although the opponents were set Tuesday night, Tech’s ticket office and arena staff learned of the game time and date late Thursday morning. Season ticket holders had just five hours to reserve their regular seats for the game, although many seats are still available.

Tech senior Nick Okorie said he’d hoped for one more home game, particularly after Tech lost to Baylor on senior night earlier this month. When the Raiders earned a five seed, though, he assumed it wouldn’t happen.

“I thought if we pulled off the games against Colorado, beat them twice, and played well against Kansas we would have a top seed in the NIT,” Okorie said. “I thought we’d get a home game that way.”

Now Okorie knows this is his last chance at United Spirit Arena. Tech will face the winner of Memphis vs.
Mississippi, which will be played at 5:30 p.m. today. Because those are the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds, the winner of that game will most likely host.

Okorie said he won’t be thinking about the possibility for another game or his team’s future tournament tickets, but only of ending his home career on a positive note.

“I kind of put everything away and just play,” Okorie said. “When you’re on the court you don’t really think about that. You just think, ‘I’ve got to get the win.’ ”

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*this story edited March 19, 2010