JT Toppin Torn ACL
Texas Tech basketball announced yesterday that JT Toppin tore his ACL in Texas Tech’s loss to Arizona State. I am legitimately bummed. I feel terrible for Toppin, but eternally grateful that we now live in a world where he was and is compensated for his services. I am guessing that Toppin isn’t thinking about that, but just a few years ago if that happened then that ACL tear could be so devastating on so many levels.
An ACJ injury doesn’t look like much, but it is a small ligament that connects the tibia to the femur and the reason why this is such a big deal is that ligaments don’t heal quickly because the lack of blood flow, different than muscles. This type of injury usually means a 9 to 12 month rehab process. If you are counting down, that would be November of 2027 at the earliest (and that depends on when surgery is) that Toppin would be able to return.
Toppin is the best player in the Big 12, hands-down. That’s obviously an opinion, but I think if you polled coaches, they’d tell you the same thing.
Replacing Toppin is an impossible situation, but I know that Grant McCasland will not settle for anything other than full effort. You all know the roster, it will likely be a combination of Luke Bamgboye and Josiah Moseley filling those minutes. I would expect LaJuan Watts to have a bigger role and I am guessing that McCasland and Jeff Linder are working on maximizing his scoring ability rather than create a situation where Bamgboye and Moseley are asked to produce something that’s not realistic. And maybe it would also be beneficial to attempt to squeeze a bit more from Jaylen Petty, Tyeree Bryan and Donovan Atwell to collectively make up for Toppin’s loss. Of course, they simply are not going to be able to duplicate Toppin’s ability to score in the paint, but I’m looking for solutions, not reasons why this won’t work.
On the Hardwood
The No. 20 Lady Raiders blew out No. 15 Baylor, 87-56, with strong performances from Bailey Maupin who had 22 on 7 of 13 from the floor and Snudda Collins off the bench leading the team with 23 points. The Lady Raiders will head out on the road to Boulder to take on Colorado on Saturday, tip-off at 8:00 p.m.
On the Diamond
Texas Tech softball is in Palm Springs to participate in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic taking on Fresno State, Team Japan, Bethune-Cookman, Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State, and UC Riverside between Thursday and Sunday.
After a rough opening weekend, Texas Tech baseball notched their first win against UTRGV, 21-12. That’s not a typo. Texas Tech gave up 8 runs in the 1st inning, but mostly settled down after that. Thankfully, the Texas Tech offense showed up as freshman SS Linkin Garcia homered 2 times and had 6 RBI while Connor Shouse was 5 for 6. Texas Tech will start a 15-game homestand starting on Friday, hosting Albany.
Admin
I know there’s been some football links and other things like that, I’ll get to them perhaps tomorrow, but rest assured I have not forgotten about them.