The Texas Tech Red Raiders saw their NCAA Tournament run come to a tough end, and head coach Grant McCasland didn’t hesitate to take full responsibility following the loss to Alabama.
After the game, McCasland was direct in his assessment, pointing to both Alabama’s performance and his own shortcomings in preparing the Red Raiders.
“Alabama was awesome,” McCasland said. “I thought they were so much more aggressive on both ends of the floor; they got after us defensively, they disrupted us, and they were downhill on every action. I just thought they were in attack mode.”
The Crimson Tide’s energy and execution overwhelmed Texas Tech, as Alabama dictated the pace from the opening tip and never allowed the Red Raiders to find a rhythm. McCasland acknowledged that disparity, but made it clear where he ultimately places the blame.
“This one’s on me,” he said. “I didn’t have us ready to go.”
Despite the disappointing finish, McCasland also took time to praise his team, emphasizing the chemistry and culture that defined the Red Raiders throughout the season.
“I’m so thankful for Donovan, for Christian, for this team, because they do love each other. They really care about each other,” McCasland added. “I just didn’t help our team be ready to go.”
While it is nice to see coaches take ownership of their shortcomings, it also doesn’t heal the wounds left by the blowout loss. Many fans wonder how you, as the head coach, can’t get your team ready to go for the biggest game of the year. That doesn’t get erased just because someone says it falls squarely on them.
For Texas Tech, the loss marks a frustrating end to a season that showed promise, particularly in the grind of the Big 12 Conference. But with a strong foundation in place and a coach willing to take ownership in moments like this, the Red Raiders will look to regroup and build moving forward.
