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Texas Tech basketball: Mac McClung says goodbye to the Red Raiders

By Matthew Conner

Jan 16, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Mac McClung (0) brings the ball up court against Baylor Bears guard MaCio Teague (31) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Mac McClung (0) brings the ball up court against Baylor Bears guard MaCio Teague (31) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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So much for the idea that hiring Mark Adams as head coach would ensure continuity within the Texas Tech basketball program.  On Sunday, the program lost another key contributor when leading scorer Mac McClung announced that he is leaving the program.

Playing only one season as a Red Raider, the Virginia native said on Twitter that he is preparing for the upcoming NBA Draft while also entering his game in the transfer portal.  This news comes just a day after the program announced that guard Kyler Edwards is also leaving Lubbock via the portal.

What’s more, with the probability that Tech will lose second-leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. to the NBA Draft this offseason, the program is set to lose three of this season’s top four scorers over the offseason.  That’s not what was expected when Adams was elevated to head coach earlier this month.

In fact, in his introductory pep rally in Lubbock, Adams talked about how many of his players had committed to coming back next season.  And while players such as Chibuzo Agbo, Marcus Santos-Silva, and Clarence Nadolny are expected to return Tech is losing a ton of high-end firepower and that is concerning for Tech fans.

Certainly, McClung’s departure stings the most.  Despite his brief time as a Red Raider, he became a fan favorite thanks to his highlight-reel moments and his fiery competitiveness.

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Scoring 15.5 points per game, he was Tech’s top offensive weapon.  He also pulled down 2.7 rebounds and handed out 2.1 assists as Tech’s primary point guard.

Ten times this past season, the Georgetown transfer hit the 20-point mark.  He also had a 30-point game at West Virginia.

This move is a huge blow to the enthusiasm that was prevalent among Tech fans after Adams’ hiring.  In fact, since the day he was introduced to the fan base, he’s seen the program’s only signee in the class of 2021, Jaylon Tyson, flip to Texas, and both Edwards and McCullar say their goodbyes.

Though it’s early, Adams has some serious holes to patch up in his boat as this program is certainly taking on water.  Of course, a few additions through the transfer portal would help assuage the fan base’s fears of falling into irrelevance, and Adamas and Co. have been busy in that area.

But so far, the losses the program has sustained far outweigh the wins and that’s not what this program and fandom needed after the ugly way the Chris Beard era came to an end.  Now, a fan-favorite in McClung has also jumped ship and it feels like the entire program is taking on water.  Here’s hoping Adams can figure out a way to steer the Red Raiders to calmer seas rather quickly.

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