Texas Tech will be the surprise team of the Big 12
This season, Texas Tech isn’t being talked about as a Big 12 contender. That’s no surprise given that McCasland isn’t a high-profile coach with a track record at the major-conference level.
What’s more, the program is coming off of a terrible season defined by chaos and dysfunction. Also, the returning players from last year are not all-conference honorees or NBA Lottery picks.
You won’t find any Red Raiders on the Big 12 preseason all-conference teams. No one is predicting a Red Raider to be player of the year. Few are even giving McCasland a chance to be one of the better coaches in the conference.
However, this year, Texas Tech will be the surprise team of the Big 12. That’s because the whole of the Red Raiders will be greater than the sum of their parts.
Tech has put together a fantastic collection of role players, talents who have come from programs that have asked them to take a bit of a back seat rather than be the focal point. Players like WVU transfer Joe Toussaint, Cambridge, and Warren Washington (also an Arizona State transfer) were all held back a bit at their previous programs with Toussaint even coming off the bench for the Mountaineers.
This year, that trio will show that they are ready to be big-time performers in expanded opportunities. They will show that they are capable of being difference-makers and McCasland will get the most out of them. After all, he has a history of mining every bit of talent possible out of his players at North Texas, players who were not considered superstars in the sport.
Though these new Red Raiders don’t have huge reputations in the sport, they will be some of the best players in the Big 12 and that’s one reason why Tech will surpass expectations. Also, the Big 12, while deep, isn’t going to be as top-heavy as usual.
Kansas is going to win the conference unless something shocking happens. But Houston will find out that life in the Big 12 is much rougher than what the Cougars have been accustomed to in recent years. Baylor returns only one starter and will be relying on some very young players to be key factors.
Texas could be a handful with most of last year’s Elite 8 team returning but is Rodney Terry ready to be a program builder at the highest level of the sport after replacing Chris Beard in mid-season last year? The point is that, outside of Kansas, every Big 12 team has major question marks.
K-State lost its two best players from last year. The Oklahoma schools both have coaches on the hot seat. Iowa State’s best player will be a true freshman. TCU will be without star guard Mike Miles Jr.
The opportunity is there for a well-rounded Tech team to make waves. Will it be easy? Of course not. But This Red Raider team is deep and talented, especially at the guard position and on the wings and that’s where the college game is often decided. So buckle up Red Raiders because basketball season is here and this team could be one of the most intriguing in the country this fall as they make another run to the NCAA Tournament.