After falling to North Carolina State in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Texas Tech will open the 2024-25 season against Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday armed with ample motivation.
The Red Raiders, ranked No. 22 under first-year coach Grant McCasland entering the NCAA Tournament last season, will be paced by a quartet of lettermen anxious to lead the program to greater heights: Kerwin Walton, Darrion Williams, Chance McMillian and Devan Cambridge.
"I think the hunger has never been more evident with this group to win games in the NCAA Tournament," McCasland said. "The group that we have that came back has made a concerted effort from the beginning that the finish that we had last year just wasn't what they came here for. A big reason why everybody is back and why there's so much excitement in the preseason for us is really because of the returners' determination to have a better finish to the season."
Following just the second postseason berth in program history, and the first since the 2011 NIT, Bethune-Cookman reshaped a roster that returns four players who helped the Wildcats qualify for the College Basketball Invitational. Wildcats coach Reggie Theus announced 11 newcomers to team with senior guard Reggie Ward Jr., junior guards Seneca Willoughby and Simeon Womack, and swingman Mason Dorsey, who logged 97 minutes as a true freshman last year.
Transfers Antwann Jones (UCF) and Jesus Carralero Martin (Missouri) bring Power Five experience. The Wildcats have size in transfers Daniel Rouzan (Manhattan College), Jerome Beya (Tennessee Tech) and David Onanina (Eastern Kentucky) -- each 6-8 or taller. Last season, Gianni Hunt (Cal State Northridge) and Jarrell Love (Baton Rouge CC) averaged double figures in scoring for their respective programs.
"We entered the offseason tasked with essentially retooling our entire roster," Theus said. "Our staff has worked incredibly hard to address a number of different areas this summer, and I think we have been able to bring in what we need in these key areas."
--Field Level Media
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