The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team is considered one of the country’s best teams going into the 2025-26 season for good reason.
Coming off a trip to the Elite Eight last March, the Red Raiders return one of the conference’s best players along with an emerging star. Coach Grant McCasland has also brought in a solid group of transfers to fill in the roster spots that came up empty after last year’s season.
Here is a preview of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
2024-25: 28-9, 15-5 in Big 12, second place. Reached Big 12 Tournament semifinals before losing to Arizona. Reached Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament before losing to Florida.
Head coach: Grant McCasland is entering his third season as head coach. He is 51-20 in two seasons with the Red Raiders and 403-141 in a head-coaching career dating back to 2004 at Midland College. He played his college basketball at Baylor.
Big 12 history: Texas Tech is an original member of the Big 12, dating back to the merger between the Big 8 Conference and four Southwest Conference schools. Tech has never won a national title but reached the 2019 national championship game. The Red Raiders also won the Big 12 regular season title that year.
2025-26 Schedule: Click here for the full Big 12 men’s schedule.
Texas Tech 2025-26 Roster Review
Gone: Darrion Williams (15.1 PPG), Chance McMillian (14.2 PPG), Elijah Hawkins (9.1 PPG), Kevin Overton (7.8 PPG), Kerwin Walton (6.0 PPG), Devan Cambridge (5.5 PPG), Federiko Federiko (5.1 PPG), Eemeli Yalaho (3.3 PPG), Corbin Green.
Returning: F JT Toppin (18.2 PPG), G Christian Anderson (10.6 PPG), F Marial Akuentok (redshirt), G Leon Horner, G Jazz Henderson (redshirt), G Jack Francis
Incoming transfers: F LeJuan Watts (13.7 PPG at Washington State), G Donovan Atwell (13.3 PPG at UNC Greensboro), G Tyeree Bryan (10.4 PPG at Santa Clara), F Luke Bamgboye (3.8 PPG at VCU), F Josiah Moseley (1.9 PPG at Villanova)
Incoming freshmen: G Nolan Groves (Minnesota Gatorade Player of Year), G Jaylen Petty (state of Washington Gatorade Player of Year), F LaTrell Hoover.
Projected Starting Lineup
G Christian Anderson: The top returning guard who is an All-Big 12 first team candidate.
G Donovan Atwell: A quality scorer from a well-respected mid-major program.
G Tyeree Bryan: See Atwell.
F JT Toppin: Capable of being a national player of the year finalist.
F LeJuan Watts: Should be a nice complement alongside Toppin in the paint and on the wing.
Starting Lineup Crashers
G Jaylen Petty: One of the two well-respected freshmen will make an impact. Early money is on Petty.
Lineup Competition
Between Toppin, Anderson and the portal players, the Red Raiders have a solid starting lineup. McCasland already knows what he has in Toppin and Anderson. He needs to integrate the others and get them on the same page when it comes to playing defense, an area where Tech excels. There isn’t a lot of proven depth beyond the starting five, which is why the development of Groves and Petty could be so critical this season. Additionally, at least one of Akunetok, Bamgboye and Moseley are going to have to step up to give Toppin and Watts some rest.
Early Prediction
McCasland has shown an ability to reload, but this season is different. He had more continuity last year and it showed up in the run to the Elite Eight. He has fewer proven scores, but at least he has Toppin and Anderson. Keeping those two healthy is paramount to success. On paper, Tech feels like a team that will take some lumps early as it figures out its rotations and surge late, which is exactly what you want when it’s time for March basketball. The Red Raiders should challenge for a Top 4 spot in the conference.
