Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders tabbed 3rd in Big 12 Preseason Poll
October 16, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LUBBOCK – No. 10 Texas Tech has matched its highest slotting in the annual Big 12 Preseason Poll, coming in at third in the 2025-26 Big 12 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll behind only Houston and BYU. The Red Raiders, who are No. 10 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25, finished second in the Big 12 standings last season before advancing to the program's third NCAA Elite Eight.
Houston tops the annual prognostication that reflects the votes of the league's head coaches after being selected by 14 coaches to win the conference. BYU is second in the preseason voting with one first-place vote while Arizona comes in fourth after also garnering one first-place vote. Tech did not receive a first-place vote. The rankings and total points when tabulated were: Houston (224), BYU (204), Texas Tech (200), Arizona (179), Iowa State (170), Kansas (163), Baylor (137), Cincinnati (120), Kansas State (117), TCU (90), West Virginia (79), Oklahoma State (77), Utah (50), UCF (39), Colorado (37) and Arizona State (34) in the 16-team league.
Texas Tech was picked seventh in the Big 12 Preseason Poll last season and eighth in head coach Grant McCasland's first season leading the program. Both seasons have surpassed the poll's expectations with the Red Raiders finishing third in 2024 and second last season. As a program, Tech was also slotted third to begin the 2019-20 season for its top billing leading into a season. The Red Raiders are set to open their season on November 4 against Lindenwood at United Supermarkets Arena.
The Red Raiders are led by JT Toppin who returns from a season where he earned consensus all-America and Big 12 Player of the Year, sophomore guard Christian Anderson who was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team and head coach Grant McCasland who is entering his third season leading the program. The team also added LeJuan Watts who was named the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after averaging 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.4 rebounds last season at Washington State. McCasland is currently 51-20 with two trips to the NCAA Tournament after Tech went 28-9 during the 2024-25 season and finished second in the Big 12 standings with a 15-5 conference record. The team won eight road games in Big 12 play to set a new program record and advanced to the program's third Elite Eight after an overtime victory over Arkansas in the Sweet 16.
Toppin, who was named the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, is coming off a season where he led the Red Raiders with 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 19 double-doubles. Along with being named the Big 12 Player of the Year last season as a sophomore, Toppin also earned consensus all-America, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team honors in a season highlighted by a 41-point performance against Arizona State and 18 rebounds against Saint Joseph's for career highs. Anderson returns after freshman season and a successful summer where he represented Germany in the FIBU U19 World Cup. An Atlanta, Georgia native, Anderson earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors after averaging 10.6 points, 2.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 22 points against Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 victory and had a career-best six assists in a road win at Kansas in his first collegiate season.
The Red Raiders welcomes five players from the transfer portal in Tyeree Bryan (Santa Clara), Watts (Washington State), Josiah Moseley (Villanova), Luke Bamgboye (VCU) and Donovan Atwell (UNC Greensboro) along with freshman additions Nolan Groves, Jaylen Petty and LaTrell Hoover.
Preseason Poll
1. Houston (14) – 224
2. BYU (1) – 204
3. Texas Tech – 200
4. Arizona (1) – 179
5. Iowa State – 170
6. Kansas – 163
7. Baylor – 137
8. Cincinnati – 120
9. K-State – 117
10. TCU – 90
11. West Virginia – 79
12. Oklahoma State – 77
13. Utah – 50
14. UCF – 39
15. Colorado – 37
16. Arizona State - 34Â
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