When Kansas State faced a daunting deficit against Texas Tech, interim coach Matthew Driscoll encouraged his players to keep their heads up, reminding them that early leads can be deceptive.
Despite Driscoll's motivational words, the Wildcats couldn't claw their way back, falling 100-72 to the Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
K-State (11-16, 2-12 Big 12) had shown promise earlier in the week with a decisive 90-74 victory over Baylor. However, their momentum stalled on the road against a formidable Texas Tech squad (20-7, 10-4 Big 12).
The Wildcats quickly found themselves trailing by 22 points as the Red Raiders dominated, even without their star forward JT Toppin, sidelined for the season.
Donovan Atwell led the charge with 26 points, while Christian Anderson contributed 21, as Texas Tech averaged an impressive 1.49 points per possession.
K-State fought valiantly, narrowing the gap to 70-60 with just over nine minutes left. But Texas Tech responded with a blistering 30-10 run, putting the game out of reach.
PJ Haggerty led K-State with 17 points, and Nate Johnson added 10 in the effort.
Looking ahead, K-State will face Colorado on the road this Wednesday.
Here are some key takeaways from Saturday’s action:
Dorin Buca’s untimely injury
K-State faced additional challenges when 7-foot center Dorin Buca, hailing from Italy, suffered an ankle injury. He exited the game after just four minutes, leaving the Wildcats' frontcourt thin, especially with Elias Rapieque already out.
This forced Driscoll to rely on a four-guard lineup, with Khamari McGriff and Taj Manning handling the paint. Marcus Johnson, a reserve forward, was available but didn’t see action.
If Buca remains sidelined, Driscoll might need to adjust his rotation further. However, there's hope on the horizon with Abdi Bashir returning to practice. While he was ruled out for this game, his potential return could bolster the offense with his shooting ability.
Nate Johnson’s continued strong play
Senior guard Nate Johnson is thriving under Driscoll’s leadership. Following a season-high 33 points against Baylor, Johnson delivered another solid performance with 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 34 minutes against Texas Tech.
Driscoll has given Johnson more freedom on the court, allowing him to handle the ball more than he did under the previous coach, Jerome Tang.
Texas Tech’s resilience without JT Toppin
Without JT Toppin, some might doubt Texas Tech's Final Four potential. Toppin, the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2025, is irreplaceable. However, the Red Raiders showcased their depth and talent with 13 three-pointers and five players scoring in double figures.
Grant McCasland’s coaching acumen keeps Texas Tech competitive, and they remain a formidable force in the Big 12. The Red Raiders are still a team to watch as March approaches.