Grant McCasland talks Texas Tech basketball’s offseason
Before heading off to the FIBA U18 AmeriCup training camp, Texas Tech basketball coach Grant McCasland talks the Red Raiders’ offseason so far.
Who will the Texas Tech basketball team be playing in its 2024-24 season schedule? Glad you asked.
The Red Raiders are looking to build off of Grant McCasland’s successful first year as head coach where they went 23-11, tied for third in the Big 12 standings and landed a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual Final Four team NC State.
McCasland and the Texas Tech staff have been assembling a roster to match or better that finish in his second campaign. Returning to the fold are Darrion Williams, Chance McMillian, Devan Cambridge and Kerwin Walton, whose returns will be bolstered by the transfer portal additions of JT Toppin (New Mexico), Elijah Hawkins (Minnesota), Kevin Overton (Drake) and Federiko Federiko (Pittsburgh).
More: Texas Tech basketball transfer portal tracker: Who’s in, who’s out for Red Raiders?
Division I basketball teams are allowed up to 31 games in their regular-season schedule for any team competing in a multi-team event, which Texas Tech is with two games in the Legends Classic. Coupled with the Big 12’s move to a 20-game conference schedule, the Red Raiders can have 11 non-conference games.
Here’s a look at the 2024-24 schedule as we know it. Games have been revealed through a combination of team/event announcements and open records requests.
We’ll continue to update this list as more games become known.
Texas Tech basketball 2024-25 schedule
TBD: vs. Texas A&M
As of June 5, this game is still penciled in for November 29, as originally agreed to. However, Texas A&M is reportedly headed for a multi-team event in Las Vegas during that time. The Avalanche-Journal reported in May that the two sides were looking to find another date for the game.
The return game is still scheduled for the 2025-26 season at College Station. The date of that game, according to the contract obtained by the A-J through an open records request, is supposed to be finalized by July 1. The preferred date is Nov. 14, 2025, with Nov. 7 “also a possibility.” Tech is also trying to have a game on Nov. 29 whether it’s against A&M or somebody else.
TBD: vs. Wyoming
This game comes as part of the arrangement between Texas Tech and Wyoming that landed Jeff Linder in Lubbock as an assistant coach with the Red Raiders. Alex Taylor of the Wyoming Tribune reported this deal in May. The Cowboys went 15-17 last season with an 8-10 mark in Mountain West action. Wyoming holds a 7-5 mark in the series history with the teams last Dec. 14, 2002. The Pokes are also slated to visit Lubbock during the 2025-26 season.
Friday, November 8: vs. Northwestern State, 7 p.m.
Texas Tech is paying Northwestern State a guarantee of $105,000 for this early-season tilt. The Red Raiders most recently opened the 2022-23 season at home against the Demons, winning 73-49. Tech is 7-0 all-time against NSU, having played ever two years since 2018. The Demons went 9-23 last season, including a 7-11 mark in Southland Conference play.
Monday, November 18: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7 p.m.
The Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff will head to Lubbock for the first time since 2019 for a guarantee of $110,000. Tech has won all three meetings, last winning 65-47. The Golden Lions finished 13-18 overall and 8-10 in SWAC action last season.
Thursday, November 21 & Friday, November 22: Legends Classic (Brooklyn)
Announced back in March, the Red Raiders will be part of the four-team Legends Classic in the Barclays Center at Brooklyn. Official game times and TV designations will be announced later. Other competing teams include Syracuse (20-12, no postseason), Saint Joseph’s (21-14, NIT first round) and Texas (21-13, NCAA Tournament second round).
Wednesday, Dec. 4: vs. DePaul, Time TBD
This game was announced in April as part of the Big 12/Big East Battle. DePaul has won all three contests against Texas Tech all-time, which includes a 65-60 overtime win in a 2019 battle. DePaul went 3-29 last season and 0-20 in Big East play. Game time and TV designation will be announced later.
Monday, December 16: vs. Oral Roberts, 7 p.m.
A rematch of last year’s non-conference contest which Tech is paying $95,000 to ORU. Texas Tech is 8-1 all-time against the Eagles, winning last year’s contest 82-76 on Dec. 12. Oral Roberts finished 12-19 last season, including a 5-11 record in Summit League play.