The season opener gives Texas Tech a chance to show what this roster can be right away, and a few names stand out before Jackson State comes to Lubbock.
Cruz Davis is the one who can make the whole thing click. Texas Tech brought in two 20-point-per-game scorers through the transfer portal in Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, but Davis’ biggest job goes beyond putting the ball in the basket.
The Red Raiders need him to run the offense, settle possessions, and keep the scoring options organized. His value comes from being the distributor the rest of this group can lean on.
Darrion Williams enters with plenty of attention from the home crowd, and his role is already clear. With Jamichael Stillwell and JT Toppin still sidelined awaiting their season debut, Williams becomes a key part of the front court early on.
At 6’6”, he gives up size at power forward, but Texas Tech is counting on his versatility. He can stretch the floor from outside and still do damage around the rim, which makes him a useful piece in Grant McCasland’s offense.
He could also be the kind of player Texas Tech trusts when the game tightens up later in the season.
The biggest concern for this team right now sits in the frontcourt, where height is still a question. That makes Bassala Bagayoko especially important in the opener.
The 6-foot-10 Mali newcomer is expected to start at center, and Texas Tech will need him on the glass after rebounding was an issue in the exhibition against Kentucky. Bagayoko has the size and talent to help steady that area early.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is another guard worth watching because of what he brings on both ends. He adds perimeter scoring, gives Texas Tech another dynamic option in the backcourt, and can help spark the defense and transition game.
Against Jackson State, his perimeter defense against the opposing backcourt will matter, and he’s also a player to watch offensively if he gets rolling. The expectation is that he can score 15 or more points in the game.
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For Texas Tech, that makes the next stretch especially relevant, even if the Red Raiders are not the only team with something to prove. The conference schedule is about to start separating contenders from the pack, and the outcomes around the league could shape how much room there is for a Big 12 team to climb. BYUs upcoming tests are part of that picture too, with every result carrying more weight now that the playoff field is beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas Tech Opens With One Rotation Question Fans Can't Ignore
Texas Tech heads into its Nov. 2 opener against Jackson State with the kind of early-season roster puzzle that tends to linger until the first few games sort it out. The Red Raiders have spent the preseason sorting through roles around Cruz Davis, Darrion Williams, Bassala Bagayoko and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, with injuries forcing some positional shuffling and leaving the staff to balance fit, depth and continuity at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.
The broad outlines are clear enough for now, but one rotation question still hangs over the lineup picture and could shape how Texas Tech starts the season on CBS Sports Network. With several players expected to shoulder expanded responsibilities, the Red Raiders are trying to settle on the right mix before conference-level stakes arrive, and the answer may not be fully obvious until the first real minutes are in the books. [Read more 🡒]