McCasland addresses local media
September 24, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – With a complete roster and schedule now solidified, Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland sat on the press conference dais for the first time this season to address the local media ahead of his third season leading the Red Raiders. Through two seasons, McCasland is 51-20 and has led the program to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances – reaching the Elite Eight last season. The 2025-26 squad includes six returners and eight newcomers – highlighted by JT Toppin who earned consensus all-America honors and Big 12 Player of the Year last season as a sophomore and Christian Anderson who earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors. The newcomers include five players from the transfer portal in Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara), LeJuan Watts (Washington State), Josiah Moseley (Villanova), Luke Bamgboye (VCU) and Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) along with three incoming freshmen Nolan Groves, Jaylen Petty and LaTrell Hoover. Returners looking to make impacts this season are Jazz Henderson, Leon Horner, Jack Francis and Marial Akuentok who were each on the roster that went 28-9 overall and 15-5 in conference play to finish second in the Big 12 standings before the NCAA Tournament run.
Below are selected quotes from McCasland's media session to help preview a season which begins at home on November 4 against Lindenwood and includes non-conference matchups against Illinois, Wake Forest, Memphis of Purdue, LSU, Arkansas and Duke ahead of the 18-game conference schedule.
On starting the season: "We're excited about our basketball team and looking forward to our first game on November 4. We've got a long way to go, but we have newcomers who love hoops and love being here. They are phenomenal teammates."
On the non-conference schedule: "With the Big 12 going from 20 games to 18 games, we needed to add a few games that we knew would be significant. That matched the strength of schedule for our league. After that, playing in the Metroplex is a big deal. Having the opportunity to play there against quality opponents. Then trying to create a home court, neutral court combination. Our strength of schedule is significantly better but we do want improve the games on our home court. We'll be able to do that with our home-and-home series with Illinois."
On Toppin: "I think the first thing JT needs to do in order to improve is to get better defensively when he's guarding multiple actions and he's not just guarding someone with some size. Since we do have good size on this team with Luke, Marial and LaTrell, we can slide him all over the place. He's maybe 12 pounds heavier than last year and stronger. We had an NBA scout in today and he noticed his ball handling has improved. He's worked on it all summer. His first step and decision making. He's always been a great passer. That's the part I've said multiple times being the most underrated part of his game. He's such a willing passer. The first time someone is open, he passes the ball. He's not selfish at all. He's very unselfish as a player. I think he's more comfortable handling the ball and not feeling like every time he's on the perimeter that he needs to prove that he can shoot a 3. He's a really good basketball player. Beat you off the bounce from the perimeter. I think his decision making has really improved from all over the floor. I'm really excited for him to compete because I think he's as versatile as anybody in the country and with the guys we have around him that can shoot, he doesn't feel like he will have to take over a game by himself. His activity defensively, ball handling and his body has improved in such a way that I think he can deliver blows on offense and defense without giving up ground."
On Anderson: "I don't know of a guy who has the work ethic, confidence, feel for the game, the way he embraces big moments, handles adverse situations – he just has it all. Something I don't think has been communicated enough is just how physical, strong and athletic he is. He's legit 6-3 and he's physical and athletic. Everyone saw the highlight of him against Slovenia and Luka when he was with the German national team that had grown men and NBA players. His athleticism popped. That's one thing about Christian that has improved. He's got more explosiveness to how he's moving and he's big. At that point guard spot, if you can apply physicality and score from distance, he really has all the tools. I think he's one of the best guards in the country. I really do." Â
On Watts: "Being around LeJuan Watts, his passion for this and feel for the game, it just feels like his jump and being around him and how much he really wants to be great every day. You know when recruiting them their impact possibility. He's such a versatile player that we feel like needs to be involved. It doesn't mean they have the work ethic and approach that matches that expectation. His has. He just really lives it every day. It's been a joy to see him improve and I think he will have a great season."
On underclassmen: "Jazz has been awesome. Leon has made a big jump. He's physical and is scoring in a lot of different ways. Those two guys will be fun to watch who are returning. Nolan Groves is going to play. Jaylen Petty is going to play. They're going to play. I don't know how much just now because we're just starting practice, but I think both of those guys can make significant impacts. They just have right approach and can guard. They can both score. Nolan averaged 30 a game and was the Minnesota player of the year. Honestly, he's physical and has a good feel. Jaylen has a really high ceiling. I could see him having a similar impact that Christian had last season as a freshman and that's saying a lot."
On newcomers: "With Christian Anderson and JT Toppin back, two guys that I think are the best playmakers in the Big 12, you need to have guys who can score and have good feel. Have character and want to win. I think the key component to that was finding guys that we felt created space on the floor. Luke vertical lob threat is another way to create space around the rim but he has good feel and can make shots around the perimeter. It's a skilled and competitive group that wants to win. That was the focus, to create space for our returners so we have opportunity to put teams in a tough situation. We have to get better defensively and that starts with caring about winning so we can push them to be better than we were last year."
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