Breaking news:7 foot guard Flip commitment to Texas tech basketball,boosting over Alabama and Tennessee 

Breaking news:7 foot guard Flip commitment to Texas tech basketball,boosting over Alabama and Tennessee

Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland calls out to his team against Arkansas-Pine Bluff during a non-conference basketball game, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, at United Supermarkets Arena

we really don’t know exactly what the Texas Tech basketball team is just yet.

Mid-December has been a weird turning point for the Red Raiders in each of Grant McCasland’s first two years as head coach. It was Dec. 6, 2023 when Devan Cambridge suffered his season-ending knee injury, forcing a drastic change in player rotations and team identity. Almost exactly a year later, with plenty of rehab and twists and turns in between, Cambridge is no longer with the team yet again.

Losing Cambridge last year was a brutal blow for what he brought to the table, especially on defense. This year, McCasland made a concerted effort to add more depth to the roster to make up for bodies lost to injuries, foul trouble or poor play.

That depth, though, has been challenged since opening night against Bethune-Cookman. A full month into the season, we have yet to see the Red Raiders at full strength. On paper, it looked like Texas Tech could go 10 deep on any given night before the season. They have yet to have that chance.

Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland looks up at the video board before a non-conference basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Dickies Arena at Fort Worth.

Here’s quick summary of the injuries and absences Texas Tech has faced this year.

Point guards Elijah Hawkins and Christian Anderson both missed the first two games, making their debuts together against Wyoming. Hawkins was limited in minutes that first game.

Game four saw Federiko Federiko out with a shoulder injury. He returned later in the week for the Legends Classic in Brooklyn, but it was obvious he was still dealing with discomfort and not as effective has he was early.

Texas Tech returned from Brooklyn to face Northern Colorado and Cambridge was away from the team, the reason listed by the team being personal. Cambridge has since come out to say he is hurt and will seek another medical hardship waiver. Eemeli Yalaho, who missed the first six games, made his season debut.

JT Toppin has missed each of the last two games with a lower-body injury. McCasland said after the DePaul win he felt like Toppin would be able to go against Texas A&M, but that never felt like a reality. And if he’s not able to go against the Aggies, it would be surprising if they put him out there for the final two non-conference games against Oral Roberts and Lamar.