McCasland previews season opener against Lindenwood
The Red Raiders basketball season is set to begin when Texas Tech hosts Lindenwood on Tuesday at 7 pm for their season opener. With several key transfers coming in, a couple of freshmen, and some big returners, the Red Raiders are looking to achieve another successful season. However, they still have a long way to go.
With an intense non-conference schedule, head coach Grant McCasland will get to see how his team responds to significant challenges early in the year and how they can get even better by playing the teams they will face. McCasland spoke to the media on Thursday to discuss their first game against Lindenwood, where his team still needs to improve, and more.
Biggest area that needs improvement
Just looking at the players on this roster, it’s evident that the offense and scoring ability are there. Similar to last season, there are several good shooters, including transfers Donovan Atwell and Tyeree Bryan, and returner Christian Anderson. Even with so much offensive talent, improving on defense is what McCasland wants to see.
“I think we’ve just put together the right mix of offensive players, where our biggest areas, and we’ve made this very clear from the beginning, is just how much better can we get defensively, and this group has embraced that, and really it’s the continuity of your ability and practice to play against each other that makes you better,” McCasland said. “I just know we’ve got to improve on the defensive side of the ball significantly if we’re going to get where we want to get.”
McCasland’s thoughts on the returners
The obvious huge returners for the Red Raiders were JT Toppin and Christian Anderson. McCasland said that he feels really confident in this group because of the extra depth they have, and that includes returners Jazz Henderson and Leon Horner. Henderson didn’t play at all last season due to an injury, and Horner had minimal minutes. With Toppin and Anderson, combined with the transfers, great freshmen, and other returners making strides, McCasland likes the ceiling of this team.
“JT is just, I think he’s just improved. And I know that’s hard for people maybe to think, but he’s gotten better… I think Jaylen Petty is going to be extremely impactful player for us, and I think Nolan Groves is also, I mean, Nolan played in Iowa scrimmage and didn’t necessarily get many minutes in the Oklahoma scrimmage because we were cautious with him, and he played awesome. I mean, his competitiveness and both those guys, really, that’s where I’m telling you. I think we’ve got added depth,” McCasland said. “Jazz Henderson and Leon (Horner) played great in the scrimmage against Iowa. So that’s where I’m telling you, I got a lot of confidence, because we’ve built our program in a way that we throw guys out there, you know, that have different, you know, experiences and levels, and they’re competing and giving us a chance to win in these games.”
Opportunities against Lindenwood
The first game of the new season may not always look pretty, as players knock the dust off, still adapting to a new team and figuring out what works best. McCasland expressed that Lindenwood will be an excellent opportunity to see their own weaknesses and keep finding ways to improve.
“I have so much respect for Lindenwood, having played in Division Two and knowing the progression that they’ve made over the years to get to this level, they’ve got a good team, and they’ve got enough talent that I know in some key components, where they bring back guys, that’s what concerns you. They bring back some guys that I think can can really play and so, but our focus, honestly right now, is, how do we get better every day,” McCasland said. “We respect Lindenwood. We know they’re going to bring a lot of areas that will end up making us better, but our 100% focus is, how do we get better every day, individually and as a team, with the areas that I know we’re going to be exposed, and I know Lindenwod will try to do that.”
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