In Lubbock, Texas, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are making waves in the college basketball scene. Despite missing standout forward JT Toppin, the No.
16 Red Raiders (20-7, 10-4 Big 12) have shown resilience and determination. Head coach Grant McCasland is confident that the team fans saw dominate Kansas State 100-72 is what they can expect moving forward.
McCasland emphasized, “That’s going to be our team from here on out. It’s about keeping players on the floor who exhibit the fight and grit we need defensively.
We’ll be subbing quickly to maintain that energy, as we did against Kansas State. That’s our focus going forward.”
Next up, the Red Raiders face the Cincinnati Bearcats (15-12, 7-7), a team on a hot streak with four consecutive wins, including a significant 84-68 victory over then-No. 8 Kansas.
McCasland acknowledged the challenge, saying, “Cincinnati is playing with great offensive flow. They’ve always been elite defensively, and their confidence is growing.
Their guard play is impressive, and they’re tough and physical. They’re spacing the floor well, making them tough to defend.”
Looking ahead, McCasland stressed the importance of team rebounding, especially without their conference-leading rebounder. “Team rebounding is key for us.
It’s about being connected on defense and how well our guards can rebound. The better they do, the better we perform as a team.
It’s a collective effort in pursuing the ball and being aggressive, not just in rebounding but in securing those loose balls.”
The Red Raiders will tip off against Cincinnati at 6 p.m. at the United Supermarkets Arena, aiming to maintain their momentum and showcase their defensive prowess.