McCasland, Toppin prepare for rematch against Arkansas
Texas Tech is set to take on the #17 Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday at the American Airlines Center. The Red Raiders have yet to beat a ranked team this season, and securing one against the Razorbacks, who have a win over #6 Louisville, will be huge as conference play inches closer.
The Red Raiders are quite familiar with Arkansas, especially since they met last season in the Sweet 16 with an 85-83 win in overtime, and the winning bucket came from Darrion Williams, who is now a member of the NC State Wolfpack. The Razorbacks couldn’t miss against the Red Raiders in March and were up by 16 with 10:30 left in the second half. However, Tech came alive and was within three in the final 15 seconds, when Williams also hit a three-pointer to send the game to overtime. Now, without Williams, the Red Raiders will have to find a new recipe to beat an Arkansas team full of several returners from last season.
The Red Raiders are coming off their best performance of the season after beating LSU 82-58 at Dickies Arena, showing several good signs of improvement, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With more guys getting more playing time after coming back from injury and continuing to grow as a group, head coach Grant McCasland believes this group is moving in the right direction. McCasland spoke to the media on Thursday about the LSU game and what they need to do to get the win against Arkansas.
Improving defensively
Tech had a full week off leading up to the LSU game, so they had more time to prepare for the previously unbeaten Tigers. They played Wyoming previously and only secured a 4-point home victory. The defense wasn’t, and still isn’t, where it needs to be, but the win against LSU showed several areas of improvement that McCasland was happy about.
“I thought our ball screen coverage on defense was significantly improved in the LSU game, and I just thought that our rotations and our help side defense was more connected, and we caused more problems and close outs of creating and closing windows and gaps on people quicker,” McCasland said. “Anytime you can make people make shots that aren’t in the flow of what they do, that’s an advantage to the defense, and I thought we were better at that in the LSU game, took a step forward in the right direction.”
Big 12 preseason player of the year JT Toppin has had quite a different story so far this season, with teams now preparing to guard him by mostly bringing a double-team to slow him down. He knows this and is continuing to work on what he can control, but he also realizes the importance of improving the team’s defense as a whole, especially heading into conference play soon.
“We need to work on our defense. I feel like in conference is really when the games are going to come down to defense, because we can score, but can we defend the ball? Work on defense as the non conference goes on so we can get ready for conference,” Toppin told the media on Thursday.
McCasland, Toppin’s point of emphasis to secure a win
With a very physical, fast Arkansas team, the Red Raiders will need to match that physicality, especially in transition. Being able to wear them down defensively, as Tech did against LSU, will play a significant role in beating the Razorbacks.
“You’ve got to start with their with their transition offense. I mean, I can’t imagine a team that’s better than them in the country. I mean, Arkansas is as fast, as athletic, as dynamic and as good at finishing when they have a great rebounding component to the transition offense, and they have a great, you know, shot making component to their offense,” McCasland said. “Watching them from the from the Southern game to, you know, playing against Louisville and playing in real games that are difficult to win. I just really respect the way this team continues to improve, and their ability to help each other get better has improved also.”
Toppin remembers that Sweet 16 game well, and they are going to need some of the same fight the Red Raiders showed in that second half and overtime win to secure a top-25 win against the Razorbacks. Hopefully, with another game in the Dallas area, Red Raider Nation will fill the arena with Tech fans and help swing some momentum in Tech’s favor.
“The game is never over until the clock ticks at zero. That game was insane…definitely excited for this game coming up,” Toppin said. I feel like this game is definitely going to be one of the games of the year for the non-conference so, like, it’s gonna be a great game. I feel like if they (fans) show up, we have no choice but to show out.”
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