Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 5th 2024
Preview and Prediction
After succumbing to a defeat against North Carolina State in the initial round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Texas Tech will commence the 2024-25 season against Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday armed with abundant motivation.
The Red Raiders, who were ranked No. 22 under the guidance of first-year coach Grant McCasland prior to the NCAA Tournament last season, will be led by a group of four returning players eager to elevate the program to greater heights: Kerwin Walton, Darrion Williams, Chance McMillian, and Devan Cambridge.
"I believe the desire to win games in the NCAA Tournament has never been more apparent with this team," McCasland stated. "The returning players have made a conscious effort from the start that the outcome of last year's tournament was not satisfactory. The main reason for the excitement surrounding our team in the preseason is due to the determination of our returning players to achieve a better result this season."
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After securing only the second postseason appearance in the history of the program, and the first since the 2011 NIT, Bethune-Cookman revamped their roster, retaining four players who contributed to the team's qualification for the College Basketball Invitational. Wildcats coach Reggie Theus announced the addition of 11 new players to complement senior guard Reggie Ward Jr., junior guards Seneca Willoughby and Simeon Womack, and swingman Mason Dorsey, who played 97 minutes as a true freshman last year.
Transfers Antwann Jones (UCF) and Jesus Carralero Martin (Missouri) bring valuable experience from Power Five conferences. The Wildcats also boast size with the addition of transfers Daniel Rouzan (Manhattan College), Jerome Beya (Tennessee Tech), and David Onanina (Eastern Kentucky), all standing at 6-8 or taller. Last season, Gianni Hunt (Cal State Northridge) and Jarrell Love (Baton Rouge CC) averaged double figures in scoring for their respective programs.
"During the offseason, our main task was to essentially rebuild our entire roster," Theus explained. "Our coaching staff has put in a tremendous amount of effort to address various areas, and I believe we have successfully acquired the necessary pieces in these key areas."
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Recap NOV 5TH 2024
Darrion Williams posted 17 points, six rebounds and six assists while Kerwin Walton and scored 21 points as Texas Tech turned a late-first-half rally into a 94-61 season-opening win over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday in Lubbock, Texas.
Williams shot 7-for-12 from the floor while pacing the Red Raiders in assists. Walton drilled seven 3-pointers on 12 attempts.
Texas Tech's JT Toppin produced 19 points and eight rebounds, and Chance McMillian hit four treys and logged 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Red Raiders led by as many as 43 points and shot 51.5 percent in the second half after doing its damage over the final five minutes before the intermission.
Reggie Ward Jr., whose 15 points and seven rebounds led the Wildcats, converted a layup with 4:50 to go in the first half, slicing Texas Tech's lead to 33-28.
The Wildcats were feisty from the opening tip, trailing 12-10 at the first media timeout and later responding to a Red Raiders run that yielded a 22-14 advantage with consecutive 3-pointers from Jesus Carralero Martin and Trey Thomas to close to within 24-22.
However, after Ward pulled Bethune-Cookman to within five points, the Red Raiders delivered the knockout blow.
Devan Cambridge, Williams and McMillian drilled successive 3-pointers that extended the lead to 42-28 and forced a Wildcats timeout. However, Texas Tech did not relent, and shortly after Daniel Rouzan missed a pair of free throws for Bethune-Cookman, Walton sank a 3-pointer before Williams turned an offensive rebound from Walton into a layup and a 48-28 lead.
Texas Tech capped its 17-0 blitz to close the half with a steal by Toppin that resulted in a Federiko Federiko dunk. The Red Raiders' 50-28 halftime lead was a result of shooting 9 of 15 from behind the arc while not allowing the Wildcats an offensive rebound.
Toppin, Walton and McMillian combined for 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting before the break. Williams scored all 17 of his points in the first half.