Texas Tech coach laments NCAA Tournament loss to Alabama

Grant McCasland says he didn't have his team ready to face the Crimson Tide's aggression

Mar. 23, 2026 at 5:34am

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Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland spoke to reporters after his team's 90-65 loss to Alabama in the NCAA Tournament. McCasland took responsibility for not having the Red Raiders prepared to face Alabama's aggressive play on both ends of the floor. He praised his team's fight and competitiveness throughout the season, but acknowledged the Crimson Tide were the tougher team on this night.

Why it matters

The loss ends Texas Tech's season and NCAA Tournament run, with the Red Raiders falling short of their goal of advancing deeper into the tournament. McCasland's comments provide insight into the team's performance and his own reflections on what went wrong against a talented Alabama squad.

The details

McCasland said Alabama was "awesome" and "more determined" than Texas Tech, disrupting the Red Raiders' offense and attacking them on every possession. He took responsibility for not having his team ready to match Alabama's intensity, saying "this one's on me." Despite the tough loss, McCasland praised his team's love for each other and the fight they showed all season, even when facing adversity like playing without injured star JT Toppin.

  • The NCAA Tournament second-round game took place on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The players

Grant McCasland

The head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team.

JT Toppin

A key player for the Texas Tech Red Raiders who missed the game due to injury.

Nate Oats

The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“What a tough night for our team. Man, Alabama was awesome. I thought they were so much more aggressive on both ends of the floor. They got after us defensively.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders

“I told these guys, man, I'm so thankful for Donovan, for Christian, for this team, because they do love each other. They really care about each other. And I just didn't help our team be ready to go. That's on me.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders

“I told the guys in the locker room, when you go through tough times together, you've been on a team — I was sad for our team that we just didn't have JT there because he's been such a leader for us, such an inspiration and his competitiveness.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders

What’s next

The Texas Tech Red Raiders' season has come to an end with this NCAA Tournament loss. Coach McCasland and the team will now focus on the offseason, evaluating their performance and looking to build on the positives from this year as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of being prepared and matching an opponent's intensity, especially in the high-stakes environment of the NCAA Tournament. While Texas Tech fought hard, they were ultimately outmatched by a more determined Alabama squad. The loss is a tough one for the Red Raiders, but Coach McCasland's comments suggest the team will learn from this experience and come back stronger next season.