CBB Rank 2026: No. 27, Texas Tech Basketball

Lots of question marks surround this team. However, if everything pans out, Texas Tech basketball has the talent to cut down the nets.

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Texas Tech basketball.

Since Chris Beard took over, Texas Tech has been one of the best programs in all of college basketball. They’ve made a championship game, two Elite 8 appearances, and have won at least 23 games in each of Grant McCasland’s three seasons as the head coach.

Last year, they finished with that number, but they could have finished with way more if JT Toppin didn’t suffer a torn ACL on Feb. 17. At that point, they were 19-6 at 9-3 in conference play, but would end the season going 3-4 and getting bounced by Alabama in the second round.

The robin to Toppin, Christian Anderson, is gone, heading to the NBA where he is sure to be a star. They do bring back Donovan Atwell, though, the number three scorer from last season and one of the best shooters in the entire country.

Texas Tech fans have to decide if they’re more excited for him to potentially return, or Darrion Williams, the former Red Raider who was a key piece on that Elite 8 run. If he’s eligible, then he immediately becomes one of the best players in the Big 12.

He’s the second of the three 5-for-5 guys, along with JaMichel Stillwell, the UCF transfer who will help a lot with the frontcourt needs while Toppin heals. Again, all three of these players are 5-for-5, so while they have the green light now, there’s always uncertainty if we’ll see them at the end of the season.

Two guys they do bring in that don’t need that waiver are Cruz Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. Both averaged 20 a game at their respective schools and can score from anywhere on the field. It might be hard for both to play together, but having two guys who can get a bucket whenever is scary for opponents and so important in the grueling Big 12 slate.

The big question surrounding the team and the determining factor of how good they’ll be is Toppin’s timeline. Right now, the estimated timeline is December or January, but this is obviously a very serious injury that can’t be rushed. Hopefully, he’s back by conference play and showcasing why he’s a top-5 player in college basketball.

If Toppin can come back 100%, and the 5-for-5 guys are all eligible, this is a team that can win a national championship. However, there are still so many question marks that we don’t know for sure. Just keep an eye on this Texas Tech basketball team all season long, because they could be special.

Head coach: Grant McCasland (11th season overall, 4th at Texas Tech)

2025-26 record: 23-11 (12-6)

2026 postseason finish: Lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament

Notable departures: 

• Christian Anderson (18.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 7.4 APG)
• LeJuan Watts (11.8 PPG,  6.0 RPG, 2.4 APG)
• Jaylen Petty (9.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.2 APG)

Notable non-conference games: 

• vs. Illinois (Nov. 10)
• vs. Louisville (Nov. 24) – Players Era
• vs. Oregon OR Saint John’s (Nov. 26) – Players Era
• vs. Tennessee, Maryland, San Diego State or Iowa State (Nov. 27) – Players Era
• vs. USC (Dec. 13)
• vs. Duke (Dec. 21)

Projected Rotation

PG: Cruz Davis (6-3, 185, Sr.)

2025-26 stats: 20.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44.0 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 83.0 FT% (Hofstra)

SG: Donovan Atwell (6-5, 200, Sr.)

2025-26 stats: 13.5 PPG, 3.2 APG, 0.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 46.3 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 84.1 FT%

*Pending Eligibility

SF: Darrion Williams (6-6, 225, Sr.)

2025-26 stats: 14.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 41.4 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 77.3 FT% (NC State)

*Pending Eligibility

PF: JaMichel Stillwell (6-8, 245, Sr.)

2025-26 stats: 11.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 50.4 FG%, 70.2 FT% (UCF)

*Pending Eligibility

C: JT Toppin (6-9, 230, Sr.)

2025-26 stats: 21.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 54.8 FG%

*Injury timeline unknown

6: Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (6-1, 185, Sr.)

2025-26 stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 49.7 FG%, 41.4 3P%, 83.8 FT% (UNLV)

7: Josiah Moseley (6-8, 230, Jr.)

2025-26 stats: 5.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.1 BPG, 68.6 FG%

8: Damarion Dennis (6-1, 170, Jr.)

2025-26 stats: 11.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 52.0 FG%, 86.1 FT% (Wyoming)

9: DaKari Spear (6-5, 195, Fr.)

247Sports Composite No. 31 ranked recruit

10: Bassala Bagayoko (6-10, 210, Fr.)

2025-26 stats: 4.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG (Spain)

Texas Tech basketball team MVP: JT Toppin

JT Toppin is the best player in the Big 12 and the best forward in college basketball. Offensively, he’s so unbelievably skilled, using his footwork to get past defenders, while also having an automatic mid-range shot. He doesn’t get to the line a lot, but he doesn’t have to because he scores efficiently inside. He’s a monster on the boards as well, finishing 7th in the country in rebounds per game.

Defensively, he doesn’t hold back, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. His only true weakness is his jump shot, but teams have no success forcing him to take it. Again, he’s coming back from a torn ACL, and we don’t have a clear return date for Toppin, but if he can return by conference play and be back to his true self before March Madness, then good luck to everyone else.

Texas Tech basketball make-or-break player: Darrion Williams

Darrion Williams broke out his junior year at Texas Tech, averaging 15 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, as well as 1.3 steals a game. He, Toppin, and Chance McMillian formed a Big 3 that was a historical meltdown against Florida, away from a Final Four appearance. Williams would average 21 and 7 during that run, including a three to send the game to overtime and a layup to win against Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

Instead of returning for his senior year, he decided to test the market and went to NC State. While the stats weren’t bad, the success was, with NC State getting bounced in the first four and his season becoming more or less forgettable. Now, he’s back with McCasland, and with the supporting cast he has at Texas Tech, he can play a similar role and really shine.

He’ll put his back to the basket and go to work, using his body to back down defenders and draw defenses. If he’s eligible to play and can build chemistry with his new teammates, then he becomes one of the most dangerous players in college basketball, and Texas Tech basketball becomes one of the most dangerous teams in the sport.

Key statistic: Three-Point Percentage

Texas Tech was lights out from deep last year, shooting 39.1% from behind the arc. That was the 4th-best mark in all of college basketball, and the best of all Power Five schools. A big reason for that was Donovan Atwell, who shot 46% on over 8 attempts. Christian Anderson also shot 41.5% on eight attempts per game.

This year, they bring back Atwell and add Williams, who shot 40% on nearly six attempts per game. Cruz Davis did the same, and Gibbs-Lawhorn shot 41% on 7 attempts per game. If they can all maintain this efficiency, this team has the potential to be one of the best three-point shooting teams ever. Pair that dangerous outside threat with Toppin inside, and this offense might be unguardable.

Texas Tech basketball 2026-27 projections

Projected conference finish: 5th in the Big 12

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance