No. 10 Texas Tech has the Huge 12 Preseason Participant of the Yr in JT Toppin and the Huge 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Yr in LeJuan Watts.
Whether or not the expertise and early accolades translate right into a convention title is as much as coach Grant McCasland and his employees.
Texas Tech earned a No. 3 NCAA Match seed and made a run to the Elite Eight final spring. With a equally formidable staff in tow, the Pink Raiders will open the brand new season Tuesday in opposition to visiting Lindenwood in Lubbock, Texas.
Toppin, a multitalented ahead, was a second-team All-American and earned preseason All-American recognition this fall after averaging 18.2 factors and 9.4 rebounds in his first season at Texas Tech. The Pink Raiders additionally introduced again fourth-leading scorer Christian Anderson, who had 10.6 factors per recreation and shot 38% from 3-point distance as a freshman.
Darrion Williams, Likelihood McMillian and Elijah Hawkins have been amongst those that left both as a consequence of commencement or a switch, however McCasland used the portal to his profit as properly. Watts, specifically, stands out on the wing. After his freshman 12 months at Jap Washington, he carried out even higher at Washington State (13.7 ppg, 6.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 42.2% from deep).
In response to his new coach, Watts’ influence is seen not simply on paper, however on the observe flooring.
“Being round LeJuan Watts, his ardour for this, his really feel for the sport … being round him and (seeing) how a lot he actually needs to be nice daily,” McCasland mentioned this offseason. “You already know in recruiting him that they have an effect risk due to our place. He is such a flexible participant that we felt like he wanted to be concerned.
“He does not simply find it irresistible; he lives it daily.”
Different switch names to know in Lubbock embrace Donovan Atwell (13.3 ppg at UNC Greensboro final season) and Tyeree Bryan (10.4 ppg, 42.9% 3-point capturing at Santa Clara).
Texas Tech was picked third within the Huge 12 preseason coaches’ ballot and second by the media. The Pink Raiders nonetheless should overcome defending champion and title favourite Houston.
They gained 23 and 28 video games in McCasland’s first two seasons, however there isn’t any resting on their laurels in Lubbock.
“I believe we have simply put collectively the correct mix of offensive gamers, the place our largest areas (to enhance), and we have made this very clear from the start, is simply how significantly better can we get defensively,” McCasland mentioned this week. “… I simply know we have got to enhance on the defensive facet of the ball considerably if we will get the place we need to get.”
Lindenwood has spent three seasons in Division I to date and posted its greatest document as a program in that point final 12 months, going 16-17 and 10-10 within the Ohio Valley Convention. The Lions have been tied with Morehead State for fifth within the 11-team league’s preseason ballot voted on by head coaches and sports activities info administrators.
The Lions are hoping for continued progress this season. They hosted Southern Illinois for an exhibition recreation this week and pushed the larger faculty earlier than falling 86-76. Middle Milos Nenadic, a switch from Maine, led all scorers with 21 factors on 10-of-14 capturing together with 5 assists.
“I believed our guys actually battled and did a great job,” coach Kyle Gerdeman advised Lindenwood’s athletics web site. “I believe we made progress from the final day out and I believe we obtained higher from the place we have been per week in the past.”
Lindenwood can be aided by the return of final 12 months’s high two scorers, Anias Futrell (12.8 ppg) and Jadis Jones (12.5).
–Area Stage Media
