Texas Tech is back in the Sweet 16 after a 13-year wait - and the Big 12 just might be on the verge of a pretty good NCAA Tournament.
Of course, the significant portion of Lubbock that migrated to the American Airlines Center on Saturday was focused on advancing to the tournament's second weekend. For the first time since 2005, Tech delivered, gutting out a 69-66 victory over Florida.
Tech had to survive two late 3-pointer misses by Egor Koulechov and KeVaughn Allen after Keenan Evans lost the ball in wild scramble.
"A little bit of destiny out there," Tech coach Chris Beard said.
The Red Raiders advance to the East Region in Boston on Friday, against either second-seeded Purdue or 10th seed Butler.
After press conference moderator Charlie Fiss noted that Tech was headed to the Sweet 16, Beard said: "Say it again."
For the Red Raiders (25-9), the NCAA tournament represents a second chance at a special season.
It's not that the regular season wasn't satisfying and impressive but there were way too many lingering questions, from Evans' toe injury when Tech had sole possession of first place to Zach Smith's early foot injury.
Now the Red Raiders are capitalizing on that second chance.
"It's amazing," Evans said. "Coach Beard came in and said we were going to make the tournament next year. He kept his word and here we are."
Evans took over the second half again, with 14 points in the final 20 minutes. He hit 5 of 8 shots and found Zhaire Smith for a lob dunk that put Tech up five with 29.4 seconds remaining.
"I told him he would do another 360 dunk but that didn't work out," Evans said.
In his last five games, Evans is averaging 16.6 points and shooting 70.3 percent - in the second half alone.
"I thought Keenan Evans was terrific," Florida coach Mike White said.
Tech's two freshmen -- Smith (18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists) and Jarrett Culver (11 points, nine rebounds) -- seem to be adjusting to the NCAA stage.
Zach Smith again provided valuable bench minutes with six points and three rebounds and one big block late when Beard went to a small lineup.
Florida led by as many as seven points in the first half, but needed a Koulechov put-back just before the buzzer for a 33-32 lead.
An emotional Beard was pumping up his team and the crowd throughout.
"I felt like we worked so hard to get this seed and play in Dallas," Beard said, "so I got a little out of my comfort zone and kind of turned cheerleader a little bit."
Tech (25-9) became the second Big 12 team to advance to the second weekend, joining Kansas. The Big 12 became the first conference in a balanced tournament so far with two Sweet 16 teams. Kansas State against ultimate Cinderella UMBC and West Virginia facing in-state rival Marshall will try to join them on Sunday.
As much as the conference had talked about its high RPI and seven teams in the field, coaches had even acknowledged it was time for the Big 12 to deliver when it mattered.
Now it may be on the verge of clearing a key hurdle.
