It’s fair to feel conflicted about the James Dickey era of Texas Tech basketball. On one hand, he was responsible for the program’s greatest NCAA Tournament run prior to the arrival of Bob Knight, 1996’s Sweet 16 appearance, but on the other hand, the second half of his time in Lubbock was marred by sanctions and a rapid descent to the bottom of the Big 12.
Head coach from 1991-92 until 2000-01, in each of his first six years he posted a winning record while taking the Red Raiders to the NCAA Tournament in 1993 and 1996. Over that time, he had a cumulative record of 119-58 while guiding Texas Tech to the 1993 Southwest Conference Tournament title, the 1995 SWC regular-season title, and the 1996 SWC regular-season and tournament crowns.