Red Raider thoughts four weeks out

LUBBOCK, Texas – Four weeks from today is when the 99th season of Texas Tech basketball officially begins. Nine newcomers, five returners, and a new coaching staff led by Grant McCasland are set to host Texas A&M-Commerce on November 8 at the United Supermarkets Arena. A new era in a tradition rich program begins that night.

Where is this team at with 28 days until tip-off? Their responses tell this story.

Kerwin Walton: "Our team has a lot of competitiveness and grit. A lot to prove. We have a chip on our shoulder that is going to help us stay together and push each other to be competitive in everything we do."

Devan Cambridge: "Everyone on this team has a great work ethic. Everyone cares. They're all genuine. I feel like we've come together in a really short amount of time. That's important because it can take you a long way if you truly want each other to be successful."

Lamar Washington: "Our bond is great. I feel like everyone on our team comes in with the mindset to win. Get better. Work hard. That's our mindset."

D'Maurian Williams: "Everyone is super close. That's going to help us win."

Warren Washington: "I like the progression we've had in putting the defensive scheme into place and what we need to do offensively. The chemistry has been developing throughout the summer and in preseason practices. It's really getting better every week. There's a togetherness that is there. We've got guys who are unselfish and want to play together. It's all coming together."

Pop Isaacs: "We're gelling really well within the team and our coaches. It's all about getting better every day and growing together."

Joe Toussaint: "I feel like we're all coming together. We all like playing with and for each other. We all love to hoop. Everyone is excited about playing soon but are ready to keep putting in the work that it's going to take to win."

Chance McMillian: "I feel like we've learned what each other is capable of doing and now we're pushing each other for even more. There's a togetherness and trust that we've already built. When we're not on the court practicing, we're hanging out together at home. It helps having teammates like we have. It builds towards wins."

Robert Jennings: "There's a family atmosphere within our team. We come in everyday ready to push each other to be better in a supportive way."

Darrion Williams: "I like our camaraderie as a team. It all happened really fast in the summer and we built chemistry that has carried over to the court."

KyeRon Lindsay: "Our intensity and competitiveness are impressive right now. I like how our connection has grown since we all got here together as a team."

Jack Francis: "We're a connected team off the court and are competitive on it. It can get chippy out there during practice, but we know it's all love and all we're trying to do is make each other and the team better every day."

Eemeli Yalaho: "I like how everyone loves to compete and how together we are as a team already."

Drew Steffe: "Everyone is really close. I really feel like we are a brotherhood already. It's clicking for us."

Grant McCasland: "We are pursuing winning every day. This team has grown to appreciate that process. You can tell that we are connected and together right now."

Walton: "We see ourselves as underdogs. I think that will play a big part in how we approach this season and make a name for ourselves."

Cambridge: "Fans are going to see a lot of excitement from us. Highlight plays. Coach Mac is really big into the fundamentals too. He stands on fundamentals. I've already learned a lot from him there. This team is about hard work and defense, grit and grind. But we're also going to be exciting."

Isaacs: "You're going to see a high-level energy team shooting a lot of 3s and having fun. We'll play fast. It'll be fun to watch for sure."

Yalaho: "We play hard and are a good shooting team."

Lindsay: "Off the court, we're funny and cool. On the court, between the lines, we know what we need to do to become a better team."

D'Maurian Williams: "We can be a little goofy at times, but we all know how to lock-in and be serious. Winning is our main personality."

Toussaint: "I see winners on our team. People who will do anything to win. We all play hard, fast, and smart. We're diving on the floor, taking charges, really anything to win. We pump each other up and want each other to succeed."

Jennings: "Tough is the word to describe our team. We're getting tougher by the day. We come in ready to push each other to be better. Coach has the saying, 'TTW'. Toughest Team Wins. We believe in it."

Francis: "We're a team that wants each other to reach our full potential."

McCasland: "This group leans on shooting and offense more right now. There's excitement on that side of the ball. I love our team speed and think there will be a change in what people may have originally thought about our team."

Darrion Williams: "We're serious and focused. We know our expectation. To win. That's our only goal."

Lamar Washington: "Our team is made up of guys with hard work and determination. We get to it every day. We say, 'It's just work'. There are no bad days. Just work to get through and get better from."

McMillian: "We're a funny group. Being funny and goofy around each other gives us comfortability. That helps us on the court."

Warren Washington: "We're relentless. You'll see that we are a team full of hardworking guys who will play to the last possession. Every possession is our last."

Darrion Williams: "I want to see us keep growing together leading into the season. Our coaches are working with us individually and as a team to put a lot of things in going into the season. We're focused on improving and being connected in everything we do."

Steffe: "Our personality is hardworking and winning. That's who we are. I think it will lead us to win a lot of games."

Lindsay: "Honing in on our defensive intensity is important. We have a lot of skilled players, so continuing to work on our defensive scheme and communication is going to make us even better."

Yalaho: "We still need to keep working on our rebounding."

Walton: "It's important for us to stay together and be cohesive leading into the season. We've worked really hard since the summer. I think we're doing a good job of taking coaching and continuing to work hard every day. Some teams struggle with bringing consistency every day, but I think this team can do that. I think that's something we can focus on right now."

D'Maurian Williams: "We could still figure each other out a little more. On the defensive end. It's our first time in this new defense."

Isaacs: "You never really want to key on one thing to improve on. You just want to keep getting better in everything this time of year. We're building for a March run. Not a January run. That comes from working hard every day."

Toussaint: "We need to keep working on our communication together. Talking more and being on the same page. Little details like huddling and high-fiving more. We need to keep doing the things that bring us closer together."

McMillian: "Getting used to and ready for the physicality that is coming is important right now. It's a high level of play that we're going to be going up against."

Cambridge: "Defensive communication is something we're still developing. Knowing what to say. When to say it. As long as you're communicating, I think you can work through anything to win."

Francis: "We can reach our full potential if we keep doing the little things right and listen to our coaching staff. We're a team that believes in each other."

Steffe: "I think we can improve on our defensive communication. If we can straighten it out then we're going to be a really good defensive team."

Warren Washington: "Getting better defensively every day is important over the next month. Everyone has to continue buying in and doing even more to help us win. We've done a great job so far. It's about continuing to do what we've been doing and not getting satisfied."

Lamar Washington: "Our defensive rotation can improve. It's come along way from the beginning though. I like where we're at."

McCasland: "Ultimately games are won and lost in how you win in the margins. We feel like embracing physicality and defense is going to be what separates this team. If we can make those improvements in a short amount of time, I think that will give us the best chance to win in the way we want to."

Introducing Season 99

Follow the journey to the start of the 99th season of Texas Tech basketball in this all-access series that makes its debut on Thursday. ??#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/1ST8sxesTM
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) October 11, 2023

Texas Tech University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Devan Cambridge

Jack Francis

Pop Isaacs

Robert Jennings

Chance McMillian

Joe Toussaint

Kerwin Walton

Lamar Washington

Warren Washington

D'Maurian Williams

Darrion Williams

Eemeli Yalaho

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