Grant McCasland's No. 19 Red Raiders embrace the fight as they chase a statement upset over Duke at Madison Square Garden.
Texas Tech is treating Saturday night in Madison Square Garden less like a showcase and more like a street fight.
Coming off a win over Northern Colorado, the No. 19 Red Raiders are staring down undefeated No. 3 Duke, a Blue Devils squad that has already clipped four ranked teams this season, and Grant McCasland is making one thing clear: they're not flying to New York just to pose for pictures.
"It's a great time to be playing college basketball, and we're excited to be going to Madison Square Garden to face a tremendous Duke team," McCasland said.
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The praise was real, especially for Jon Scheyer's blend of youth and experience and for one obvious problem ... freshman star Cameron Boozer.
Boozer is averaging 23.3 points and 10.2 rebounds and already has a reputation for taking games over late.
McCasland pointed to Duke's win over Arkansas as Exhibit A, where Boozer "just took it over down the stretch" and brought a competitive edge that separates him from most players in the country.
But Tech's mentality is simple: respect, not fear.
"Our intent is not to play them but to win them," McCasland said. Whether it's Northern Colorado or Duke, the message is the same - compete, scrap, and do everything possible to help the team win.
The twist this time is the stage with a new road environment, a likely Duke-heavy crowd, and a March-style feel in December.
Behind the scenes, this Red Raider group is still evolving. McCasland pointed to growth in accountability as a major step, praising veterans like JT and Christian for communicating more in the last two weeks than in the past two years.
Players are not just calling out teammates, they're owning what they need to do better, a hallmark of teams that hold up in pressure games.
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In terms of rotations, don't expect McCasland to tip his hand.
With guys in and out, Tech is experimenting, but the head coach is clear that effort is non-negotiable. Against one of the top defensive teams in the country, versatility will be Tech's counterpunch.
"We’re a versatile group and can score inside and out," McCasland said. The plan? Challenge them in practice, give them confidence in the Garden, and then let it rip. Saturday night is less about the name on the other jersey and more about seeing what this Red Raider team really is when the lights are brightest.