In the high-stakes atmosphere of March Madness, Texas Tech HC Grant McCasland delivered a grounding message to his team after advancing to the Sweet 16. Cutting through the excitement, McCasland emphasized that their purpose transcends public perception and centered his players as they prepare for their upcoming game.
With the Red Raiders riding momentum from victories over No. 14 seed UNC Wilmington and No. 11 seed Drake, McCasland’s locker room address centered on the team’s identity. His message prioritized their collective journey over the surrounding hype, reinforcing the values that have brought them this far in the tournament.
Grant McCasland Encourages Texas Tech Ahead of Sweet 16
Ahead of No. 3 seed Texas Tech’s Sweet 16 showdown against No. 10 seed Arkansas on Thursday, Red Raiders head coach Grant McCasland emphasized the team’s mission.
“The purpose that we’ve been given is greater than what everybody else thinks it is,” McCasland told his team. “It’s what separates us from other people. It’s what will separate us when we play Arkansas on Thursday, too.”
As @TexasTechMBB advances to the Sweet 16 in San Francisco, Coach McCasland delivers a final message to his team, reminding them to stay focused amid the constant distractions that come with each new challenge on the road ahead. pic.twitter.com/7Lua5U8T9Q
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 27, 2025
In a direct challenge to potential distractions, he added, “Don’t get confused. Don’t listen to any of the hype going around you. What we do together and how we play together is what matters.”
The second-year coach warned against the fleeting nature of public attention, noting how quickly fair-weather supporters can disappear.
“People want notes, they can have tickets, and people want your autograph and want to say ‘hi’ to you that did not want to say ‘hi’ to you before,” he observed. “You lose, and those same people do not want to say ‘hi’ to you again. That stuff goes away like this.”
Despite their success in reaching the Sweet 16, McCasland made clear that the team hasn’t reached its ceiling.
“Do not get lost on what got us here and what keeps us where we need to get,” he urged. “Because I will tell you this: we can get better. We did not play our best basketball up there. And we’re going to need to in order to win this whole thing,” he said in reference to the team’s previous tournament performances.
His assessment reinforced that their journey wasn’t complete.
“We are not what we need to be, but we have put ourselves in a position to do what we need to do in order to win these basketball games.” The message balanced acknowledgment of their achievement with a hunger for improvement as they face increasingly difficult competition.
McCasland’s most genuine moment came as he reflected on what he values most about their tournament run.
“The parts that I love about what we’re doing are us being in the locker room together, fighting for each other and figuring out a way to win, not the celebration of winning,” he shared before delivering his most heartfelt sentiment.
“There’s nobody I’d rather do this with than y’all. Nobody.”
SWEET 16 BETTING PREVIEW: NO. 10 SEED ARKANSAS VS. NO. 3 SEED TEXAS TECH
As Texas Tech prepares to face Arkansas at the Chase Center in San Francisco, McCasland’s message serves as both an anchor and a compass.
The No. 3 seed Red Raiders have reached the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in seven tournaments, a testament to the program’s consistent excellence.
Under McCasland’s leadership, this 27-8 Texas Tech team has embraced a philosophy that values relationships and collective purpose over individual accolades or outside validation.
On Thursday evening, when the ball tips off at 10:00 p.m. ET on TBS, that “team-first” approach will be put to its biggest test yet.
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