JT Toppin focused on chemistry building, defensive improvements
JT Toppin‘s name is one of the most known in college basketball. The reigning 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year, and 2025-26 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year looks to continue his dominance as he heads into his Junior campaign. The Red Raiders have massive expectations going into the 2025-26 season coming off an Elite 8 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Looking ahead…
Texas Tech utilized the transfer portal during the offseason to pick up multiple highly-rated players, including Luke Bamgboye, Josiah Moseley, Donovan Atwell, LeJuan Watts, and Tyeree Bryan.
The Red Raiders also added multiple non-portal freshman with the likes of Jaylen Petty, Marial Akuentok, and Nolan Groves.
Chemistry is a huge part of a locker room, and a team’s overall environment. Toppin spoke on what he’s most looking forward to as the season tips off on November 4th.
“Really, just to play with my new teammates. Because we built that chemistry, we hung out together. So really, just to play out here with my new teams.”
JT also spoke on where he thinks the team’s chemistry is currently at, and how it’ll grow progressing into the season’s tip off.
“Oh, it’s pretty good. It’s it’s hard to say right now because we haven’t played a game. So once you play a game, you get to really see.”
“But through the scrimmages, it’s pretty good. We haven’t had everybody play yet either, so really, just first game we’re gonna we’re gonna see.”
The defense, and rebounding emphasis
Everybody remembers last season’s explosive offensive, but the defense was also extremely solid. Toppin believes the offense is replicating last year’s production with the new additions, but defense and rebounding will have to improve throughout the season.
“Defense. We have to be a whole lot better on defense and rebound. We have got to rebound, better offensive rebounding and really just defense, because the offense is there.”
The competition
The Big 12 will be extremely talented, being one of, if not the best college basketball conference this season. There are multiple names that will give Toppin a run for his money as he looks to go back-to-back as Big 12 Player of the Year. But JT Toppin believes these specific players will give him the biggest challenge.
“There’s a lot of players we got this year.”, “I mean, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Houston has Milos Uzan, (Emanuel) Sharp, Tug (JoJo Tugler), with some more people, but I can’t name them right now. But we have got a lot of people in this.”
Toppin also believes there are multiple talented players on the Red Raiders roster who will give him some good competition.
“We have got so much talent. LeJuan (Watts), JP (Jaylen Petty), Don (Donovan Atwell), Chris (Anderson), it’s a lot of talent.”
Opening game difference + weight gains
JT Toppin prior to his arrival at Texas Tech last season spent his time at New Mexico. Toppin knew the Big 12’s physicality would be much different compared to the Mountain West’s, but the experience during last season will carry over this time around.
“The difference, I say just the preparation I got. Because last year I was coming from a mid-major conference, so I had to be ready.”
“And I had to see how it was going to be physically. So now I know so it’s really just helping my team. I feel like I gotta help my teammates. It should help me be a leader. I didn’t have to do that as much last year, but really just being a leader, stepping up and taking that role.”
Toppin was also asked about his weight, and muscle change during this offseason. It’s safe to say he was putting in a lot of work this summer as he gained 10 lbs.
“Gotta be in the weight room. I gained 10 pounds, so weight room, gain some muscle, shooting, and ball handling. I gotta be able to pass it more this year. Defend at multiple positions this year.”
Passing skills
Building on Toppin’s statement regarding offseason training, he believes his ball handling training during the offseason will translate nicely into the passing game. Providing his teammates opportunities to highlight their strengths.
“Really, just the same as last year. Really just building that chemistry with my teammates so they know that I could pass, and they know where I pass it from. They know the spacing of it, so I already know where they’re at. So yeah, it’s going to be the same as last year.”
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