NCAA Basketball: Top 25 preseason power rankings for 2021-22 season

When head coach Chris Beard left for rival Texas, that started the exodus of key Red Raider players to either the NBA Draft or transfer portal. However, the promoted assistant turned new head coach Mark Adams has done an outstanding job rebuilding the roster via the portal, with eight newcomers, four each from the frontcourt and backcourt.

Among the newcomer guards is 6’3 guard Mylik Wilson a double-digit scoring guard from Louisiana. 6’6 guard/wing Davion Warren averaged over 21 ppg at Hampton, while Sardaar Calhoun was a 40% three-point shooter at Florida State last season. And Adonis Arms is another 6’6 playmaker that averaged double figures off the bench at Winthrop.

The revamped frontcourt features former top-100 recruit from Arizona Daniel Batcho, East LA Community College (JUCO) transfer Kealon Allen, as well as 6’8 post scorer Bryson Williams, who averaged around 15 ppg during his time at both Fresno State and UTEP.

The biggest name of the group has to be Kevin Obanor, a 6’8 stretch forward that became a national star last March after scoring 59 points to help lead 15 seed Oral Roberts to the Sweet 16. The All-Summit League forward averaged 18.7 ppg and 9.6 rpg on the season overall, on incredible shooting splits of 50% from the field, 46% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line. He’s a great pick-and-pop offensive weapon but will need to be a better defender now at the Big 12 level.

The many incoming transfers for the Red Raiders have taken the attention from the fact that they return three of their top five scorers. That includes wing Terrence Shannon Jr., the team’s second-leading scorer, and possible 1st round NBA Draft pick before electing to return. He gives Texas Tech a go-to offensive option and leader of the locker room.

The two other key returning players are 6’6 guard Kevin McCullar, who is an elite rebounder and capable ball-handler as well. And Marcus Santos-Silva was a double-digit scorer at the center position and solid interior defender man-to-man. He’ll be the biggest beneficiary of Obanor’s presence as teams will have to deal with him on the perimeter.

There’s a ton of size on this roster and there’s a good chance that the primary lineup will feature everyone taller than 6’5. We’ll see how the mid-major transfers play at the Big 12 level and whether a true point guard will emerge but compared to what the roster looked like a week after Coach Beard left, this is the best-case scenario for a program looking to continue the upward momentum.