Game Info
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-0, 0-0)
Bad Guys: Lindenwood Lions (0-0, 0-0)
When to Watch: Tuesday, November 4th @ 7:00 pm
Where to Watch: United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, TX
How to Watch: ESPN+
How to Listen: 97.3 FM | Affiliates | Varsity Network
The Line: Texas Tech -34.5
Advanced Stats
| TEXAS TECH | STAT | LINDENWOOD |
|---|---|---|
Lineups
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
|---|---|---|
| POINT GUARD | Christian Anderson (6-3/178) | – / – |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Donovan Atwell (6-5/200) | – / – |
| SMALL FORWARD | Tyree Bryan (6-5/215) | – / – |
| POWER FORWARD | LeJuan Watts (6-6/225) | – / – |
| CENTER | JT Toppin (6-9/230) | – / – |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Luke Bamgboye (6-11/220) | – / – |
| SEVENTH MAN | Josiah Moseley (6-8/225) | – / – |
| EIGHTH MAN | Jaylen Petty (6-1/168) | – / – |
| NINTH MAN | Leon Horner (6-4/215) | – / – |
| TENTH MAN | Nolan Groves (6-5/205) | – / – |
| ELEVENTH MAN | Marial Akuentok (6-11/240) | – / – |
| TWELFTH MAN | Jazz Henderson (5-11/180) | – / – |
| THIRTEENTH MAN | LaTrell Hoover (7-0/230) | – / – |
| FOURTEENTH MAN | Jack Francis (6-3/180) | – / – |
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
| POINT GUARD | Mekhi Cooper (6-1/185) | – / – |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Anias Futrell (6-5/195) | – / – |
| SMALL FORWARD | Jadis Jones (6-5/215) | – / – |
| POWER FORWARD | Jeremiah Talton (6-6/220) | – / – |
| CENTER | Kevin Anthony (6-10/245) | – / – |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Dontrez Williams (6-5/195) | – / – |
| SEVENTH MAN | Clayton Jackson (6-2/185) | – / – |
| EIGHTH MAN | Jalen Bouknight (6-0/180) | – / – |
| NINTH MAN | Milos Nenadic (6-10/240) | – / – |
| TENTH MAN | – (-/-) | – / – |
* Assists.
Starting 5
1. Stats. Not a ton to glean from the stats other than Lindenwood is not a quality opponent and this should be a game of dunks on dunks. We’ll see how things go. They aren’t a terrific basketball team, but they did quite well in their conference, which is the Ohio Valley.
2. Scouting. Jones is likely the best player, followed closely by Futrell. Jones is mostly an inside guy, having shot only 7 3-point shots all year last year, while Futrell loves to shoot from deep, he’s just not great at it, making just 26% of his shots (shooting 161 on the year). Jones is the more effective scorer by far, while Futrell is a better all-around player, having better turnover, block and steal numbers. Talton will also get up a ton of shots from deep and is a better shooter, making 39%. Watch out for him.
3. How They Match Up. In the video below, head coach Grant McCasland says that nearly all of Lindenwood is essentially new and in games like this, it’s not so much about the match-ups, maybe the first game especially, and more about the team that Texas Tech wants to be.
4. lagniappe | something given as a bonus or extra gift.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Let’s break down Texas Tech basketball’s roster for the 2025-26 season
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Here’s why Texas Tech basketball’s non-conference schedule is noticeably tougher this season
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Christian Anderson goes pro and 5 other Texas Tech basketball bold predictions for 2025-26
Let’s make one thing clear right now: LeJuan Watts is not Darrion Williams, and it’s not fair to put the “Darrion’s Replacement” label on him.
That being said, there’s a reason the label exists, since they’re about the same size (6-foot-6) and their stat lines couldn’t be more identical. In terms of production, Watts is the ideal replacement for Williams, and he will have the same sort of importance to the team after transferring from Washington State.
Watts could even have a better year than Williams had, statistically speaking, and have a greater impact on the defensive end with a lighter frame. JT Toppin will be the star, and Christian Anderson Jr. the second in command, but Watts will have a season worthy of first team all-Big 12 honors.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s Nathan Giese: Why I’m holding off labeling this Texas Tech basketball team as elite for now | Giese
What stood out about last year’s team was depth, or at least the potential of it. This squad has that as well, but it’s far more inexperienced. Newcomers Donovan Atwell and Tyeree Bryan are the lone seniors on the team who will see significant action. The majority are sophomores and freshmen, many of whom are being asked to adjust their games to fit McCasland’s vision for the squad.
I know that you all aren’t really working, just focused on basketball, and thought that this would be good time to see what you all think. So I’ve got 5 questions. Feel free to answer all of them or none of them in the comments.
1. What non Toppin or Anderson player are you most excited to watch?
For me the easy answer would be Watts, Bryan or Atwell, maybe even Bamgboye, but I’m most excited to see what Josiah Moseley has. A high-end recruit from the Hill Country, Moseley earned a scholarship to Villanova, a basketball factory, and didn’t get a chance to show a lot. I’m thinking long-term and know that Texas Tech needs to re-build that pipeline and needs competent big men when Toppin goes out. Texas Tech could either play small or allow Moseley to receive those minutes, who I want to be a high-motor rebounder and pest around the basket, grabbing put backs and creating some match-up issues.
2. Who is Texas Tech’s biggest challenger?
I’m down to either Houston, BYU, or Kansas as being the best teams in the Big 12, with apologies to Arizona, Iowa State and Baylor who I think will also be very good. If you made me choose, I think that Kansas is going to surprise a lot of teams. That Darryn Peterson may be better than BYU’s AJ Dybantsa.
3. What Big 12 team will be the biggest disappointment and biggest surprise?
I think that Kansas State is maybe going to be better than expected, while I think that Houston may not be as dominant as they have been the past two years. And huge credit to Houston to dominating the conference, but they are working in a lot of young guys and that can be tough to know how to win with young guys. They’ll be good, but just not as good as they’ve been.
4. Who will the top 4 Big 12 finishers be?
Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU and Houston are my 4 picks with Arizona and Iowa State lurking.
5. What is one big Texas Tech basketball prediction?
Texas Tech will have 2 first round draft picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, JT Toppin and Christian Anderson..
5. Official Site. The official site has their preview right here:
The 101st season of Texas Tech Basketball is set to tipoff this week when the No. 10-ranked Red Raiders host Lindenwood at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Sam Houston at 7 p.m. on Friday at United Supermarkets Arena. Boasting its highest preseason ranking in program history after reaching the Elite Eight last season, Tech is also on a 38-game non-conference home winning streak and has won 25 straight season openers.
Grant McCasland is entering his third season and is 51-20 as the team’s head coach while JT Toppin returns for his second after earning Consensus Second Team All-America and being named the Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team last season. Toppin was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year and is also the first player in program history to be named an Associated Press Preseason All-America. The 2025-26 roster has 14 players on it, including Christian Anderson who returns from earning All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors and was selected to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team along with Toppin. The team has six returners and welcomes in eight newcomers, including five from the transfer portal in Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro), Luke Bamgboye (VCU), Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara), Josiah Moseley (Villanova) and LeJuan Watts (Washington State). Watts was selected as the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year along with being added to the Julius Erving Award Watch List. Along with transfers, Tech’s roster was bolstered by adding three freshmen in Jaylen Petty, Nolan Groves and LaTrell Hoover along with returning Jack Francis, Leon Horner, Marial Akuentok and Jazz Henderson from last year’s team that went 28-9 overall and 15-5 in conference play.