Texas Tech is almost at the finish line of preseason camp, and with the opener against Jackson State set for November 2, a couple of players have already made a strong early impression.
The most noticeable stock-up performance came from guard Damarion Dennis in the exhibition against Kentucky. Dennis put together 11 points, two rebounds and a steal while going 5-for-11 from the field, good for 45.4%. He also logged nearly 26 minutes, which lines up with the kind of role he appears headed for once the games count.
That matters because Texas Tech’s offense is expected to lean heavily on its guard depth early on. Grant McCasland used a four-man backcourt rotation in the exhibition, with Dennis joined by Cruz Davis, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Dakari Spears. Among that group, Dennis looked the most polished and efficient against the Wildcats, and that’s a promising sign for a team looking for steady scoring from the perimeter.
Another player who helped his case was 6-foot-8 forward Josiah Moseley. Rebounding was already a concern for Texas Tech entering the season, especially with two key frontcourt pieces, Jamichael Stillwell and JT Toppin, expected to be out to start the year. Moseley gave the Red Raiders something to build on in that area.
Last season, Moseley averaged 13.9 minutes, 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Against Kentucky, he played 18 minutes and finished with 4 points on 2-for-4 shooting, but the bigger number was 10 rebounds, easily the highest total on the team. If he can keep producing on the glass, his role could grow as the season moves along.
Texas Tech enters the year ranked No. 19 in the AP Preseason Top 25 and No. 16 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The Red Raiders were also picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, with JT Toppin earning a unanimous spot on the Preseason All-Big 12 team.
There’s plenty riding on health, too. McCasland added depth through the portal, bringing in Cruz Davis, Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell to give the roster more scoring options on the wing and in the backcourt. But the early stretch will still hinge on the return timelines for Toppin and Jamichael Stillwell.
Until then, incoming freshman Bassala Bagayoko and the returning underclassmen will be asked to carry a heavy load in the frontcourt. And before Big 12 play arrives, Texas Tech will get a major test of its ceiling with games against No.
3 Illinois at home and No. 2 Duke at Madison Square Garden.
For a team with real expectations in Lubbock, the talent is there. Now the Red Raiders need the pieces to come together.
In Other News...
Arizona Just Got A Painful Reality Check In The Rankings
Texas Techs win over Arizona carried a little extra weight beyond the scoreboard, because it came in a weekend full of movement near the top of the college football picture. Ohio States surprise loss at USC shook up the rankings despite the Buckeyes out-gaining the Trojans, and Georgia answered its own setback with a dominant win over Florida, even if the passing game still looked uneven. In that kind of environment, every quality victory matters, and the Red Raiders kept their own playoff case very much alive by taking care of business against Arizona.
For Texas Tech, the result was more than just another conference-style statement. It helped strengthen a rsum that is starting to look the part of a team with real College Football Playoff ambition, especially with other contenders around the country showing cracks. Arizona, meanwhile, was left to absorb a painful reminder of how quickly the rankings can turn when a high-profile matchup slips away, and the Wildcats now have to regroup while the Red Raiders keep building momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Just Sent A Big 12 Message Fans Needed
Texas Techs latest win did more than add another mark in the standings. The Red Raiders handled Arizona 34-26 in a Big 12 game to move to 7-1 overall, and they did it with the kind of run-first control that can travel late in the season. JKoby Williams powered the offense with 186 rushing yards and a touchdown, giving Texas Tech a clear edge in a game where Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita still managed to throw for 417 yards.
Arizona also left Lubbock with a concern beyond the loss, as wide receiver R.J. Mosley suffered a lower-body injury and stayed behind for further evaluation. For Texas Tech, though, the bigger takeaway was the message it sent in the Big 12 race: this is a team that can win in a physical game, protect its place near the top, and keep the championship conversation squarely in view. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Just Created A Quarterback Debate Fans Didnt Expect
Joey McGuire made a notable change under center against No. 22 Arizona, handing the start to Thomas Castellanos in a game that carried real weight for Texas Techs Big 12 push. The move paid off in a 34-26 victory that showed up in more than just the final score, with Castellanos accounting for 261 total yards and three touchdowns while avoiding turnovers as the Red Raiders improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
What makes the decision linger is how Texas Tech won around him, too. The Red Raiders controlled the line of scrimmage and got strong play from their linebackers, which gave the offense room to breathe and made the quarterback spot feel even more interesting going forward. After a win like this, McGuire has given the fan base something it did not expect to be discussing this late in the season. [Read more 🡒]