He was hired in 2023 after sensational work leading nearby North Texas and had tons of Big 12 experience on staff at Baylor as well. The Red Raiders really needed to get this hire right and certainly nailed it, already evident when McCasland won 23 games in his debut.
Year two was even more successful, as Texas Tech won 28 games, finished 2nd in the new-look Big 12, and advanced all the way to the Elite Eight. In fact, these Red Raiders held a late advantage over eventual champion Florida and were painfully close to a trip to the Final Four. Regardless it became a fantastic year for Texas Tech and a marvelous effort from these players, though of course things will look a little different this season.
There are just two major players from last season back in Lubbock and we’ll certainly get into them later, but that means there were a lot of bodies to replace for McCasland and company. Darrion Williams really established himself in the frontcourt but is now at NC State and isn’t the only rotation piece at a new school. Texas Tech also saw Chance McMillian and Elijah Hawkins come through in a big way in their final collegiate campaigns.
We’ll detail all the pieces on this roster, both old and new, and try to figure out just what kind of lineup McCasland will be able to field this season. Before we get into too much detail, you’ll quickly understand why expectations are heightened for Texas Tech this season. It’s not just that this team made the Elite Eight last season but the talent back in town might have the potential to make this a year to remember for the Red Raiders.
Projected Starters
Guard – Christian Anderson (Sophomore)
One of those returning weapons from last season, Anderson showed major strides as a freshman with the backcourt and will now assume a larger role. He put up 10.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game largely off the bench for the Red Raiders, but he was basically a sixth man playing starters minutes. Anderson was All-Freshman in the Big 12 and one of the best pure shooters last season and could be in line for an explosive step forward in year two.
Guard – Donovan Atwell (Senior)
Among the major additions in a talented transfer class, Atwell is a 6-5 wing from North Carolina who could find an important fit in this lineup. He comes from UNC Greensboro and was a starter for the Spartans the last two seasons, putting up 13.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last year. Atwell knocked down nearly 40% of his 3-pointers and can really produce on the offensive end, though we’ll see how his game adjusts into the Big 12.
Guard – Tyeree Bryan (Senior)
Another handy wing added into the mix, Bryan put up solid numbers across three different schools, staring his career at the JUCO level. A former starter and double-digit scorer at both Charleston Southern and Santa Clara, Bryan averaged 10.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Broncos while hitting 43% of his 3-pointers and becomes another reliable shooter and scorer.
Forward – LeJuan Watts (Junior)
Watts was Big Sky Rookie of the Year at Eastern Washington before following his coach to Washington State last season. As a sophomore, he was a starter for the Cougars and averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists a game, establishing himself as a stat stuffer and playmaker even as an underclassman. He can certainly assume a major role with these Red Raiders and had very solid shooting metrics last year as well.
Forward – JT Toppin (Junior)
The return of Toppin for his junior season is a major reason why Texas Tech will be in national conversations. A former MWC Rookie of the Year at New Mexico, Toppin arrived last season in Lubbock and was sensational, averaging 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per season. Named both a Second Team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year, Toppin was a monumental presence for the Red Raiders whose game is only growing into his third collegiate campaign and will spearhead this season after leading the charge last year.
Key Reserves
Forward – Josiah Moseley (Sophomore)
While things didn’t go according to plan last season for Villanova, Moseley had moments where he looked the part of a talented young piece. A former Top 70 prospect out of Texas, Moseley is back in his home state after transferring this offseason, coming off a limited freshman season where he averaged just 1.9 points and 2.3 rebounds a game. He’s a strong piece with tons of energy who could become valuable off the bench this season.
Guard – Nolan Groves (Freshman)
Groves is a 6-5 shooting guard from Long Lake, Minnesota who was one of the best high school players from that state last season. While he’s considered just a 3-star recruit, he’s a phenomenal scorer who can affect the game on multiple levels. He’s got decent size even as a freshman and will only continue to grow into his game while competing for backup minutes in this backcourt.
Forward – Luke Bamgboye (Sophomore)
A 6-10 forward born in London who made great strides at the high school level in the states, Bamgboye is coming off a highlight-filled freshman season at VCU. He was a strong asset in the Rams’ frontcourt, averaging 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Bamgboye was All-Freshman and All-Defense in the A-10 and was one of the nation’s best shot blockers, with the Red Raiders hoping that part of his game continues developing, especially with Toppin’s influence.
Guard – Jaylen Petty (Freshman)
Petty is a 6-0 point guard out of Seattle and is the other notable addition of Texas Tech’s freshman class. He put up incredible numbers at the high school level out in Washington and was considered a prospect on the rise before committing this summer, with the potential to rack up points and assists and grow into his strengths in the coming years.
Schedule Outlook
Following a soft landing and a pair of home games to start the year, the Red Raiders have a real challenge at Illinois on November 11. Just a week later they’re off to the Bahamas, facing Wake Forest and either Memphis or Purdue for some intense work in the Baha Mar Championship. There are a few other tuneups on the schedule, but several more games of note in December.
This team will be in Fort Worth on December 7th, facing LSU as part of the US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge. Less than a week later it’s off to Dallas for the Revocruit Rematch against a feisty Arkansas squad. The last major challenge before Big 12 play comes December 20 as Texas Tech faces off against Duke at Madison Square Garden as part of the SentinelOne Classic.
There are no soft landings in the Big 12, as the Red Raiders play at Houston in just their second conference game in early January. They’ll only see three of their league rivals both home and away, getting two cracks not just at those Cougars but also BYU and Colorado. The Red Raiders will be involved in plenty of exciting matchups all season long, notably hosting Kansas in early February and later finishing the regular season in Provo against that talented BYU squad.
Season Outlook
When trying to evaluate this Texas Tech squad you have to look at things from a couple different angles. First and foremost, this team is returning an elite talent in Toppin and bringing back someone like that in this day and age is not easy. It’s not just that NIL and the transfer portal have greatly transformed this sport, but Toppin is such a dominant presence it’s a surprise he’s still in college and didn’t jump right to professional ball.
The questions start around him but that’s where McCasland and his staff busied themselves in the offseason. Atwell, Bryan, and Watts are each talented additions who can shoot the ball, play hard, and will provide important minutes and production this season. Figuring out which of them will have the biggest role or be the best scorer or impact player isn’t easy at this point, but Texas Tech is counting on all of them to step up.
Even with Toppin’s excellence, there are some questions in the frontcourt. The Red Raiders add a dynamic young shot blocker in Bamgboye who could at times share the court with Toppin, but there’s a lot of inexperience behind Toppin on the depth chart. If at any point Toppin is limited or misses time, this team really needs Bamgboye and those other transfer additions to step up.
We can’t ignore what Anderson did last season as a true freshman and he’ll certainly be counted on even more in his second collegiate year. The sophomore year really represents when some prospects take that major step forward and it could be a special season in Lubbock if Anderson and Bamgboye can both progress their games in this regard.
A largely different rotation was refilled with transfers and young weapons, but this is mostly about Toppin’s return to Texas Tech. If the Red Raiders can be an elite shooting team then they can be a factor near the top of the Big 12 standings. If that happens and Toppin has another dominant season, then we could see McCasland’s third year lasting even longer than an Elite Eight run, especially with the versatility in this lineup.