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The first week of practice has everybody on the Texas Tech basketball team feeling good about the season ahead.
That’s usually the case in September when all the pieces start coming together and games are still six weeks out. On the surface, Grant McCasland has a much deeper team in his second year as head coach of the Red Raiders, who tied for third in the Big 12 standings before falling to eventual Final Four team NC State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
McCasland also knows that on paper, and on court, are two very different things.
“Every coach thinks they’re deep this time of year,” McCasland said after Thursday’s practice, “and then you get to the season and you realize you need more. I do think we’re at a great start in regards to guys that understand what we’re trying to do as a team. When you have that and they are excited about being a part of this, I do think you see how the depth would be an advantage for us. With this group, up to this point, we can go deep than what we did last year and it’s a credit to these guys because of their work.”
Getting players like Darrion Williams — a third team all-Big 12 selection last year — plus sharpshooters Chance McMillian and Kerwin Walton back for another year was a great starting point for McCasland. From there, he and his staff hit the transfer portal to build around them, bringing in point guard Elijah Hawkins (Minnesota), guard Kevin Overton (Drake), and big men Federiko Federiko (Pittsburgh) and JT Toppin (New Mexico).
REWIND: How JT Toppin wound up as Texas Tech basketball’s biggest offseason addition
Tech also got a late commitment from four-star guard Christian Anderson, who has already generated some buzz in the preseason. Anderson helped lead Germany to the FIBA U18 Eurobasket championship during the summer. He had 31 points and five assists in the title win over Serbia in early August.
“Christian’s a winner and it’s evidenced by his whole career,” McCasland said. “… Just to win gold and do what he…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-tech-basketball-focusing-depth-192213954.html
Author : Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Publish date : 2024-09-26 19:22:13
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