Texas Tech Falls to TCU in Home Finale

Head Coach Grant McCasland expresses concerns over team's inability to maintain physicality against top opponents

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The 10th ranked Texas Tech men's basketball team suffered a 73-65 defeat to the TCU Horned Frogs in their home finale, a game that was marked by the team's inability to maintain physicality against a physical opponent. Head Coach Grant McCasland met with the media after the game to discuss his concerns over the team's tendency to struggle against physical teams, as well as the challenges they face in maintaining their offensive production while also being competitive on the defensive end.

Why it matters

This loss highlights a recurring issue for the Red Raiders, who have struggled to maintain their momentum after big wins against top-ranked opponents earlier in the season. McCasland expressed concerns about the team's lack of physicality and their inability to consistently compete at a high level, which could be a significant obstacle as they prepare for the postseason.

The details

In the loss to TCU, the Red Raiders were unable to match the Horned Frogs' physicality, leading to foul trouble for key players like Luke Bamgboye. The team also struggled with turnovers, with point guard Christian Anderson's assist-to-turnover ratio dipping. McCasland acknowledged that the team's reliance on perimeter scoring and lack of size around the basket has made them vulnerable to physical teams, and he is working to find the right balance between maintaining their offensive prowess and being more competitive on the defensive end.

  • The loss to TCU came on senior night, with players like Donovan Atwell, Tyree Bryan, and Jack Francis playing their final home game in a Red Raider uniform.
  • The Red Raiders will have one final regular season test against the BYU Cougars, who they defeated earlier in the season, before turning their attention to the Big 12 tournament.

The players

Grant McCasland

The head coach of the Texas Tech men's basketball team, who met with the media to discuss the team's loss to TCU and their preparations for the postseason.

Donovan Atwell

A senior player for the Texas Tech men's basketball team who played his final home game for the Red Raiders.

Tyree Bryan

A senior player for the Texas Tech men's basketball team who played his final home game for the Red Raiders.

Jack Francis

A senior player for the Texas Tech men's basketball team who played his final home game for the Red Raiders.

Christian Anderson

The Texas Tech point guard, whose assist-to-turnover ratio dipped in the loss to TCU.

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What they’re saying

“Because of the nature of how it's turned out, yes. I do think that when you play a really physical team, it does take a lot out of us because we have skill. And if you were to characterize our players, you wouldn't say that we're a physically imposing team.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach (on3.com)

“We made some substitutions. And, you know, give TCU a lot of credit. Give these teams we're playing for credit. We're talking about Cincinnati, Iowa State, and this team (TCU) is second in turning people over percentage wise So I mean, it's not like it's a shock.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach (on3.com)

“We've improved over the last four games pretty consistently in every area. I thought we were prepared for tonight. But, you know, Coach Dixon and TCU have been doing this to a lot of teams, and they've been rebounding, and they've been getting the foul line.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The Red Raiders will have one final regular season test against the BYU Cougars, who they defeated earlier in the season, before turning their attention to the Big 12 tournament. With the team securing a top 4 seed, the double bye will provide a buffer to refocus and fine-tune any corrections to make a postseason run.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the Red Raiders' ongoing struggle to maintain their physicality and intensity against top opponents, which could be a significant obstacle as they prepare for the postseason. However, McCasland remains optimistic about the team's ability to learn from this experience and make the necessary adjustments to be successful in the tournament.