Texas Tech University Athletics
McCasland Media Session
October 31, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – Five days before fans flood into the arena for the season opener, local media gathered in the United Supermarkets Arena press conference room to interview Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland about the highly anticipated 100th season of Red Raider basketball. McCasland is entering his second season leading the program following his first year where he led the program to its 20th NCAA Tournament appearance. Here's selected quotes from McCasland's press conference that went just over 22 minutes and can be viewed in full at TexasTech+.
Response on starting the season next week:
"It's great to be back starting the season. We've had an eventful offseason. It's so much fun to get to play a basketball game. Everyone starts talking about what the team could be, recruiting and trying to do a lot of different things. I'm just excited to play. Our team has been practicing extremely hard. This being the 100th season of Tech basketball is really cool. I feel like we have a good quality of depth with six returners who believe in how we are going to win every day and believe we can win the whole thing. The guys with scholarships who transferred in all played in the NCAA Tournament at one point. Guys aren't here because they want to play, they're here because they want to win. I feel like it's ramped up and we're excited to get the season going on the 5th here in the USA."
Response on expectations and how prepared the team is coming into the season opener:
"Every day you get together is huge in college athletics. Especially with the turnover we have. For us, specifically, I think you get in a rhythm in practice where you face the same thing in what you're trying to accomplish. What you need, honestly, is a break in the rhythm. You need to see what teams are going to do differently and their strengths. You can get through practices mindlessly if you're not in the rhythm of preparation of games. Facing something different. I think that is a learning curve in preparation for Big 12 play. How quickly can we pick things up and execute them in games. We are prepared physically, now it's mentally how are you prepared for change for games."
Response on the difference between last season and this:
"The biggest thing in improving from year one to year two, is how do we build this to where we win in the end. You have to have a growth mindset. I feel like a year where we see ways that we can have success as a group is important. Ownership and belief in it. You can't undervalue to have a group that steps on the court with the same mindset and expectation. Not does it sound good, but does it work. I think we have what works now. The guys who returned and on the roster now have a growing belief that we can really win. Not how do we win. But that this is the path to win."
Response on opening against Bethune-Cookman:
"Coach Theus is a terrific coach. I went back and watched a lot of his teams play. Spent time watching him when he was at New Mexico State. They play the game with a lot of confidence. They are aggressive on offense and defense. They have transfers with experience. We better have ourselves prepared more than over consuming ourselves in what they're going to do. We haven't seen them play. You don't know what changes are coming. I think we have a grasp on tendencies, but I think we have done significant preparation in how do we get our team to face anything. Throw anything at us and we'll be prepared. I know it'll be a great test and we're excited about tipping it off against a great opponent."
Response on expectation on how the team will play to begin the season:
"I don't think anything bothers me at this point in regard to how we start. The finish is the most impactful component to all of this. How we grow and get better. I want to see our team's energy and effort when competing defensively and sharing the basketball on each possession. Being effective in what we know our team needs to be physically and defensively. Offensively, getting the right shots and the right people shooting them. How aggressive we can be, getting to the free-throw line and putting pressure on the rim. Make teams defend us without settling. I do think we've got a good inside-out-attack where we can put pressure on the basket and don't have to just settle for a 3 early in the possession. The right ones, we don't care what time it is. We want them to shoot because they can really shoot it. I want to continue seeing progression and improvement."
Response on his mindset of growth throughout a season:
"You can't be consumed about results. You have to embrace the everyday process of getting better. You can't say this didn't work out and let that change what you think your team's identity is. Your identity is how you grow and get better. From games and practices and keeping everyone engaged to continue improving. You're always learning and growing… I think you'll see our team grow as much as any team in the country as the year goes on. It's a real compliment to our guys and us taking everyone's experiences in to formulate what will prepare us to win in the Big 12 and in position to win a championship."
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Response on starting the season next week:
"It's great to be back starting the season. We've had an eventful offseason. It's so much fun to get to play a basketball game. Everyone starts talking about what the team could be, recruiting and trying to do a lot of different things. I'm just excited to play. Our team has been practicing extremely hard. This being the 100th season of Tech basketball is really cool. I feel like we have a good quality of depth with six returners who believe in how we are going to win every day and believe we can win the whole thing. The guys with scholarships who transferred in all played in the NCAA Tournament at one point. Guys aren't here because they want to play, they're here because they want to win. I feel like it's ramped up and we're excited to get the season going on the 5th here in the USA."
Response on expectations and how prepared the team is coming into the season opener:
"Every day you get together is huge in college athletics. Especially with the turnover we have. For us, specifically, I think you get in a rhythm in practice where you face the same thing in what you're trying to accomplish. What you need, honestly, is a break in the rhythm. You need to see what teams are going to do differently and their strengths. You can get through practices mindlessly if you're not in the rhythm of preparation of games. Facing something different. I think that is a learning curve in preparation for Big 12 play. How quickly can we pick things up and execute them in games. We are prepared physically, now it's mentally how are you prepared for change for games."
Response on the difference between last season and this:
"The biggest thing in improving from year one to year two, is how do we build this to where we win in the end. You have to have a growth mindset. I feel like a year where we see ways that we can have success as a group is important. Ownership and belief in it. You can't undervalue to have a group that steps on the court with the same mindset and expectation. Not does it sound good, but does it work. I think we have what works now. The guys who returned and on the roster now have a growing belief that we can really win. Not how do we win. But that this is the path to win."
Response on opening against Bethune-Cookman:
"Coach Theus is a terrific coach. I went back and watched a lot of his teams play. Spent time watching him when he was at New Mexico State. They play the game with a lot of confidence. They are aggressive on offense and defense. They have transfers with experience. We better have ourselves prepared more than over consuming ourselves in what they're going to do. We haven't seen them play. You don't know what changes are coming. I think we have a grasp on tendencies, but I think we have done significant preparation in how do we get our team to face anything. Throw anything at us and we'll be prepared. I know it'll be a great test and we're excited about tipping it off against a great opponent."
Response on expectation on how the team will play to begin the season:
"I don't think anything bothers me at this point in regard to how we start. The finish is the most impactful component to all of this. How we grow and get better. I want to see our team's energy and effort when competing defensively and sharing the basketball on each possession. Being effective in what we know our team needs to be physically and defensively. Offensively, getting the right shots and the right people shooting them. How aggressive we can be, getting to the free-throw line and putting pressure on the rim. Make teams defend us without settling. I do think we've got a good inside-out-attack where we can put pressure on the basket and don't have to just settle for a 3 early in the possession. The right ones, we don't care what time it is. We want them to shoot because they can really shoot it. I want to continue seeing progression and improvement."
Response on his mindset of growth throughout a season:
"You can't be consumed about results. You have to embrace the everyday process of getting better. You can't say this didn't work out and let that change what you think your team's identity is. Your identity is how you grow and get better. From games and practices and keeping everyone engaged to continue improving. You're always learning and growing… I think you'll see our team grow as much as any team in the country as the year goes on. It's a real compliment to our guys and us taking everyone's experiences in to formulate what will prepare us to win in the Big 12 and in position to win a championship."
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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Monday, September 22