Texas Tech Men

Red Raiders different but energetic

By LANCE LAHNERT

In mid-October Kansas and Illinois, two of college basketball elite men’s programs, squared off in a 3½ hour scrimmage.

The standout players off each team were Kevin McCullar Jr., for Kansas and Terrence Shannon Jr. for Illinois.

Sound familiar? Yes, those two guys did have excellent years for Texas Tech last year.

So with the two-year-old NCAA portal paving an easy way for players to transfer – which McCullar and Shannon did – that’s simply the new way of Division I hoops.

With that in mind, when second-year Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams looks at his 2022-23 roster and sees only three returnees and one starter in Kevin Obanor back from last year’s 27-10 Sweet 16 team and he’s seriously pumped up, he doesn’t sound crazy.

“That was a great team last year and had some great leadership out of Bryson Williams, and several guys bought in,” Adams said. “So that was a totally different team with six or seven transfers and a lot of older players. Half of this year’s team is underclassmen, and so we are different.

“I think for most Division I coaches, especially in the Power 5, these rosters are changing all the time because of the portal. That’s just going to be the wave of the future. Fortunately, my background is mostly junior college, and I had a new team every year. So it’s a little easier for me to adjust as a head coach.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 7 Northwestern State Nov. 10 Texas Southern Nov. 14 Louisiana Tech

8 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. Nov. 21 Creighton @ Maui, Hawaii 1:30 p.m. Nov. 22 Arkansas or Louisville @ Maui, Hawaii TBD Nov. 23 TBD @ Maui, Hawaii TBD Nov. 30 Georgetown 7 p.m. Dec. 7 Nicholls 7 p.m. Dec. 13 Eastern Washington 7 p.m. Dec. 17 Jackson State @ Houston TBD Dec. 21 Houston Christian 1 p.m. Dec. 27 South Carolina State 7 p.m. Dec. 31 TCU @ Fort Worth TBD Jan. 3 Kansas 8 p.m. Jan. 7 Oklahoma 6 p.m. Jan. 10 Iowa State @ Ames, Iowa 7 p.m. Jan. 14 Texas @ Austin TBD Jan. 17 Baylor 8 p.m. Jan. 21 Kansas State @ Manhattan, Kansas 1 p.m. Jan. 25 West Virginia 6 p.m. Jan. 28 LSU @ Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1 p.m. Jan. 30 Iowa State 8 p.m. Feb. 4 Baylor @ Waco 12 p.m. Feb. 8 Oklahoma State @ Stillwater, Oklahoma 7 p.m. Feb. 11 Kansas State 6 p.m. Feb. 13 Texas 8 p.m. Feb. 18 West Virginia @ Morgantown, W.V. 11 a.m. Feb. 21 Oklahoma @ Norman, Oklahoma 8 p.m. Feb. 25 TCU 11 a.m. Feb. 28 University of Kansas @ Lawrence, Kansas 8 p.m. Mar. 4 Oklahoma State 5 p.m.

Kevin Obanor maneuvers inside during Texas Tech’s 77-64 win over Texas Feb. 1 in former Red Raider coach Chris Beard’s first game in Lubbock after he left to lead the Longhorns. Mark Adams’ Tech team also defeated Texas 61-55 Feb. 19 in Austin. (Photo courtesy of TexasTech.com)

Team chemistry is the key

“The key always is going to be team chemistry and getting these guys to learn the system, complement each other and put the team first. If we can have a team that understands to be unselfish and play for the name on the front of the jersey, play for each other, make those extra passes, take charges and get on the floor, that a coach and fans want to see, we will have great results.

“We feel like we recruited the right guys, and our character with this team is as good or better than we have ever had here. These guys are focused on what’s important.”

As one can tell from those comments, the man who coached the West Texas A&M men’s basketball program from 1987 to 1992 is fired up.

“We have a lot of new players,” said Adams, who at age 65 last year coached his first DI season as a head coach, saw his Red Raiders go 18-0 at home and reached the Sweet 16, losing to Duke and its retiring Coach K. “And we are a little younger than last year. This team has a lot of energy and enthusiasm and wants to be coached.”

Those three Tech returners are Obanor, a 6-8 super senior forward, 7-0 forward redshirt sophomore Daniel Batcho and 6-6 junior forward KJ Allen.

Combined, the trio started 33 games last year – all of those by Obanor – and each should contribute big minutes with Adams particularly seeing a massive transformation in Batcho’s game because of his off-season work.

Obanor was a force last year for Tech, transferring from Oral Roberts. He is a preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention selection, averaging 10 points and 5.5 rebounds last season.

Obanor also showed an outside game, leading Tech in 3-pointers made with 48, and caught fire late, averaging a double-double in all three of Tech’s NCAA Tournament games.

Batcho, meanwhile, saw the floor in all 33 Tech games, averaging 9.9 minutes of playing time, 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Allen saw action in 19 games, averaging 7.6 minutes of playing time, 1.5 points and one rebound per game.

“We have three returners in Kevin Obanor, Daniel Batcho and KJ Allen, and all three have made huge progress,” Adams said. “I’m excited for the fans to just see that when we start playing games. Daniel Batcho is just a different player than he was last year. A lot of times in practice he separates himself from the other players because he’s a 7-foot guy who is athletic, and he’s worked on his scoring. He’s just a completely different player, and I think people are going to enjoy watching him play. I’ve told other people and our coaches I think Daniel has a chance to play in the NBA in a couple of years.”

Portal goes both ways

With just three returners, Adams completed his roster by dipping into the portal – coming away with some eye-openers in a good a way as well as signing four freshmen. Tech will open the season at home Nov. 7 against Northwestern State with a roster of 13.

The most intriguing transfer is 6-11 Fardaws Aimag, who starred at Utah Valley State University in the Western Athletic Conference. Aimag was the 2021 WAC Player of the Year and added WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021 and 2022.

In 2021 he averaged 15 rebounds a game, the first player in NCAA DI ball to produce that number in more than 40 years. The past two seasons at Utah Valley, he averaged 16.9 points,

Texas Tech Red Raiders Roster Name, Ht., Pos., Class, Hometown

Kevin Obanor, 6-8, F, Sr., Houston, Texas Lamar Washington, 6-4, G, Fr., Portland, Oregon Richard Issacs, 6-2, G, Fr., Las Vegas, Nevada D’Maurian Williams, 6-3, G, Jr., Phoenix, Arizona Robert Jennings, 6-7, F, Fr., Desoto, Texas KJ Allen, 6-6, F, Jr., Los Angeles, California Fardaws Aimaq, 6-11, F, Sr., Vancouver, British Columbia Daniel Batcho, 6-11, F, Soph., Paris, France CJ Williams, 6-1, G, Fr., Fayetteville, Arkansas Jaylon Tyson, 6-6, G, Soph., Plano, Texas Elijah Fisher, 6-6, G, Fr., Toronto, Ontario, Canada De’Vion Harmon, 6-2, G, Sr., Denton, Texas

Kerwin Walton, 6-5, G, Jr., Hopkins, Minnesota

Kevin Obanor Daniel Batcho KJ Allen

Coach: Mark Adams

Asst. Coaches: Corey Williams, Al Pinkins, Steve Green Chief of Staff: Rick Cooper; Adviser: Sean Sutton Player Personnel Director: Darryl Dora Player Development Director: Luke Adams 2021-2022 record: 27-10, 12-6 74 College

Daniel Batcho dunks the ball at United Supermarkets Arena during the 2021-22 season. Batcho, a 7-0 redshirt sophomore from France, is one of only three Texas Tech returners in 2022-23. (Photo courtesy of TexasTech. com)

14.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

He did suffer a foot injury in September, and his availability for the opener remains in question.

“Fardaws is big on the floor and off the floor,” Adams said. “He has a great personality and is a leader. He’s great to coach and fun to be around. He may have more skill than any other big guy that has been here. He can score inside and outside, and you look back at his resume back at Utah Valley, he was player of the year and defensive player of the year. Even though this is a little higher level in practice, he has fit in well, and when he’s on the floor you can just feel and see his presence.”

Another intriguing newcomer is 6-6 freshman Elijah Fisher out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Fisher reclassified to 2022, making him one of the younger DI players at 18. He doesn’t turn 19 until Jan. 3.

Fisher is a consensus five-star-rated player from ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals and received 21 scholarship offers from elite programs. He competed at the varsity level for Crestwood Academy in Toronto starting in the sixth grade and as a junior last year averaged 28 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals per game.

“Elijah might be the youngest player in all of Division I basketball as he reclassified,” “He has great credentials out of high school,” Adams said. “At 6-6 he can really play four positions. One thing about Elijah that is so impressive is how tough he is and very physical. For being the youngest guy out there, he mixes it up well and doesn’t shy away.”

Joining Fisher in the Tech freshman class of five are walk-on 6-1 guard CJ Williams from Fayetteville, Arkansas, 6-4 guard Lamar Washington from Arizona Compass High, 6-7 forward Robert Jennings of Desoto and 6-2 guard Pop Isaacs from Las Vegas.

“A guy like Elijah has a high basketball IQ,” Adams said. “He has made that adjustment quickly. As have all of our freshmen. We are really pleased with Lamar Washington doing great. Robert

Jennings is doing well. We think all could see big moments for us.”

Steve Green, Luke Adams arrive

Also new to Tech this year are a couple of coaching changes as Adams brought on Steve Green as an assistant coach and Luke Adams as director of player development.

Green coached against Adams many times at the junior college level and made a name for himself at South Plains College, winning three national titles in 22 seasons in Levelland.

Luke Adams is Mark’s son who played at Tech from 2012 to 2015 and spent the past four seasons as head coach at New Mexico Junior College.

“This is a dream come true,” Luke Adams said in his first interview at Tech. “I’ve always wanted to coach with my dad and work together in the same foxhole. We’ve always enjoyed talking to each other about our teams, but now to be on the same team officially is awesome.”

Mark Adams said it’s certainly special to have his son work with him and said Luke brings basketball knowledge and a strong

Asst. Steve Green

Elijah Fisher Luke Adams, Staff

De’Vion Harmon

Robert Jennings Jaylon Tyson Fardaws Aimaq

Richard Isaacs

Kerwin Walton Coach Mark Adams gives a Guns Up in the midst of the wild celebration of his Texas Tech team’s 77-64 victory over Texas Feb. 1 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock. (Photo courtesy of TexasTech.com)

work ethic to the Tech staff.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say this will be special for me,” Adams said in a radio interview on “The Drive at 5” with yours truly. “Luke has earned his way here, and while he still has a lot to learn, he will certainly be able to help our players out.”

Adams knows the Big 12 Conference is a gauntlet night-in and night-out. But he likes what Tech is about on the court and with its fan base.

“We might not have the length of last year, but at the same time we are skilled and better in other areas,” Adams said. “We have a much better 3-point shooting team, and we have players who have experience as combo guard or point guard, so hopefully we will show more efficiency than we did last year.

“I love these guys. They have bought in to our program, and I love the culture of this team. We went out and recruited guys we thought would play hard and fit into our system and play hard and play together. We have four (scholarship) freshmen and love those guys as well. We think all our guys have a high ceiling and have something to grow this team.

““We are excited about the future, and we have high expectations of this team just like Red Raider fans do. We have reminded this team that last year we were 18-0 at home and had sellout crowds, so the fan base expects big things out of them.

“West Texas fans want guys who play hard and play together and show grit on the floor. It’s a tall order, but these guys have embraced that. I’ve been pleased with their intensity, and I think this team can compete with any team in the country.” • • •

Ethan Duncan, who was injured and redshirted as a Red Raider freshman last year, has entered the transfer portal. Duncan, an all-state guard from Trinity Christian High School in Lubbock, is the son of former Texas Tech All-Southwest Conference shooter Todd Duncan, who is the head coach of the Lubbock Christian University men.