MONSTER ENERGY BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAYS

October 20, 2026

Grant McCasland

Donovan Atwell

JT Toppin

Darrion Williams

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Media Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Texas Tech.

Coach, new seasons bring new energy, new excitement. You're coming back after another NCAA tournament appearance. A win there. You have some now familiar faces back with you. What makes this off-season unique for you and Texas Tech?

GRANT McCASLAND: It was definitely an interesting off-season. I had more people offer to be part of our basketball team than ever before (smiling). Took us a little while to put this roster together.

I mean, you win with returners. Especially in this league who has had dynamic players in the Big 12, these guys to my left are the reason why it will be great.

Starting with JT Toppin, the five-for-five topic seems to be consistent. But is JT going to be healthy and win is the only question I get asked more.

He's here today so everybody can ask him yourself (smiling).

I love these guys. We have a staff that's all together again. They'll tell you the key to our strengths are our returners, then the staff we have put together. I think we've got the best staff in college basketball. Every day we get better because we have the right people in the building.

THE MODERATOR: Let's talk about Darrion for a minute. How did that conversation start?

GRANT McCASLAND: We could have a "30 for 30" on this one. The truth is, he and I have always been coach. He's probably the best coach on the floor that I've been around. To give him credit, he really cares about people.

He was encouraging me last season. He would say, I'm watching the team, coach, everybody looks great. I miss you.

We've had some heart-to-hearts. I've had to apologize to him genuinely. He's apologized to me about some things. I think that's what life's about, how do you get better together.

After the season was over, he was rehabbing in Lubbock. He actually paid for school himself, which is more expensive than you think. He came back to Texas Tech because he wanted to get his degree from Texas Tech, be in Lubbock.

He just said all along, Hey, coach, if this five-for-five deal happens, save me a scholarship.

We already had one, communicated all the way through. Got to the end of the summer, felt like it could be a real possibility. We were both together in the same building getting ready for what was next. The timing was right, which makes you think it was divine in a lot of ways.

Q. Darrion, emotionally speaking, why was a return to Lubbock the right thing for you?

DARRION WILLIAMS: I think for starters, I think coach just brings the best out of me as a basketball player. We've had a lot of heart-to-hearts, whether good or bad. It's never affected our relationship. It's all real and authentic.

Also I wanted the chance to play with JT Toppin again. We talked a lot during the year. There's nothing like playing with you, man. He's really one of one. He's the best player in the country. And I want to get my degree.

THE MODERATOR: What did you learn in the ACC that maybe was new and unique that you bring back to Big 12 competition?

DARRION WILLIAMS: I think we play a different style at NC State than we play here at Tech. The difference with the Big 12, it's a lot deeper. The teams who end up at the bottom could go to other leagues and end up somewhere towards the middle or the top of it, to be honest.

THE MODERATOR: JT, your rehab and recovery has been a huge topic of conversation. How are you progressing along the way and how close to return do you feel like you are right now?

JT TOPPIN: I feel like I'm great right now. My trainer, big Mike, shout-out to him, he's been helping me along the way. He says I'm right on schedule, where I need to be.

I've been taking it slow. Coach Mac in the program, the coaching staff has been supporting me through this process. I feel like I'll be coming back very, very soon.

THE MODERATOR: High expectations for yourself. How do you manage wanting to be back and right where you were?

JT TOPPIN: I just embrace it all in the treatment room. I put the work in as if I'm playing on the court. That's really how I embrace it, just put the work in so I can come back faster.

It's really been working for me. Watching these guys compete every day just helps me, drives me, helps me to keep going.

THE MODERATOR: Donovan, do you feel like there will be enough three-point shots available with these two guys back in the fold?

DONOVAN ATWELL: You know, for sure. Shoot, I feel like a lot of my threes came from JT (laughter). But no, I'm excited to play with these guys, especially get to play with Darrion for the first time. I'm excited. His leadership, what he brings to the table is pretty impressive. So I'm excited.

THE MODERATOR: What do you feel makes this Tech squad different than the ones you've previously played with?

DONOVAN ATWELL: That's a good question. I would probably say the depth. I feel like we're -- through and through we are deep on this team. We all know how to play basketball the right way. All really high-level players.

I think also just we have a lot of guys that have a lot of experience, a lot of older guys that can help lead this team coaching-wise. Just knowing what we need to do out on the court is going to help a lot. I think that will help, for sure.

THE MODERATOR: We'll take a few questions.

Q. Coach, JT Toppin being a Pre-Season All-Big 12 team, you being picked top four in the Big 12, what are your expectations for you guys going into to Rupp Arena with or without JT in that lineup?

GRANT McCASLAND: Yeah, we haven't shied away from competition at Texas Tech. It's the one thing we're excited about. Playing on the road, playing at Kentucky, will be a great start. It will be a great test.

I'll tell you, these guys will tell you, our defense is better than it's been. That's the area, if we could say one thing, I would like to see us improve, especially in this exhibition game and moving forward, is how well do we defend, can we rebound at a high level because JT is one of the best rebounders in the country and we don't have him. Jamichael Stillwell, we don't know if we'll have him participating in that game.

Cruz Davis, Dra Lawhorn. I love our roster. Dennis. We've got a great team. As these guys have told you, our depth is really important. So I think just strengthening that depth and seeing that early will really be of benefit.

Q. Coach, this is the second straight season you've been ranked in the pre-season top 25. How do you plan to keep the team focused on the play on the court instead of that number?

GRANT McCASLAND: Yeah, last year actually we had quite a few ups and downs. JT will even tell you. It was the first time in the history of Texas Tech basketball we were ranked all the way through the season from the beginning poll till the end.

I think consistency in our work habits, how we practice. You can watch us every day, these guys practice unbelievably hard. We have freshmen that come in that now know -- DaKari Spear is the highest-rated player we signed at Texas Tech, but his work wouldn't tell you what his ranking was. You wouldn't know any different by the way we compete every day.

These guys practice as hard as anybody in the country. That's what I think allows you to maintain the consistency that isn't determined by a number written through a poll.

Q. Donovan, what does it mean you, last year you stepped up big-time to continue developing and assisting for your teammates, not only in going into this season?

DONOVAN ATWELL: I think for me, it's a new team. A lot of new guys on this team. So being able to adapt, especially we're a very deep team, so I know the roles are going to change. Being able to adapt to that is going to be key for that.

Being able to be that leader, this being my fifth year, I played a little bit of basketball in my past (smiling), so being able to bring that aspect is going to help as well. So I'm excited.

Q. Grant, there's a lot of experience sitting on that stage right now. How much of a luxury is that when you get into the wars that is the Big 12?

GRANT McCASLAND: Yeah, these guys know it's a long season. There isn't a part of it you don't appreciate. I think all these guys appreciate every opportunity they get to compete. I don't care if it's in practice. JT would tell you going through the injuries, Darrion has gone through his share of 'em, then Donovan has been as consistent of a player that we've ever had at Texas Tech.

You just know that you have to be at your best every day. I mean, you can't pick a day that you're like, I'm going to be all right, kind of let it...

These guys approach it like it's their last day to play basketball every time they play. The young guys see the intensity at which you have to approach a scouting report against a Division II team in a scrimmage is just as important as playing in a game in the Big 12 and how do you have that approach every day. That's what these guys have meant to our program. Their experience tells us you got to compete every time you get an opportunity with everything you have.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, gentlemen, for your time today.