The second season of the McCasland era of Tech Basketball is ready to begin

The ever-evolving landscape of college basketball means that now, more than ever, teams are looking less and less like they did last year.

This is particularly true at Texas Tech, but the continuity behind the roster is much more pronounced this season as we enter the second year of head coaching Grant McCasland.

Under McCasland's leadership in his first season in Lubbock, the Red Raiders exceeded expectations, finishing tied for third in the raucous Big 12 and securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Even though the season ended in disappointment at the hands of eventual Final Four participant North Carolina State, the trials and tribulations it endured to get to this point made Tech's accomplishments all the more impressive.

Despite not being ranked in the AP Top 25 at the start of the season, the Red Raiders are de facto ranked No. 29 after receiving 58 votes to participate in the preseason poll.

While Tech may not have had the best favor in the eyes of voters, the Red Raiders were rated much higher by KenPom (ranked No. 14) and EvanMiya (ranked No. 16).

The stakes and expectations are higher, but a revamped group appears ready to stake its claim as one of the most intriguing squads in the country.

Seven is the number of players who left the program from last season's roster, both due to eligibility exhaustion and the popular transfer portal that captured several.

Headlining this team are the three key returnees who were a big part of last season's success.

Darrion WilliamsComing off an All-Big 12 Third Team selection, is perhaps the most notable of these returnees.

The sophomore sensation's versatility was evident as he averaged 11.4 points per game and 7.5 rebounds to go along with a 45.8 percent shooting percentage from distance.

Williams is now a junior and fully established as a Red Raider. His presence on the court with his diverse skill set and his leadership around the building make him a standout member of the lineup.

The Red Raiders' snipers from deep make up the other two returnees mentioned above – Chance McMillian And Kerwin Walton.

The two played against each other, with the latter serving as Walton's starter for most of the season after an injury Devan Cambridge. Walton shot an absurd 47.8 percent from distance, while McMillian trailed him at around 38.7 percent.

Cambridge could also be considered as a contributor. He has been fully cleared and is expected to make his debut when the rest of the team does, a promising development given the severity of his injury from a season ago.

The fun begins when the discourse surrounding the newcomers gets going. For the second year in a row, McCasland and his staff were able to lure the Mountain West Freshman of the Year to the 806.

First it was Williams, this time it was the transfer to New Mexico Jadyn (JT) Toppin.

The 32nd transfer in the portal loudly Rivals.comToppin is a sports buff who spent some time in the NBA draft process before ultimately deciding to return to college.

A budding connoisseur, Toppin is active all over the place and was a sought-after player during the tumultuous offseason in which he almost took his talents to Austin.

Two guard transfers are expected to play important roles.

The Red Raiders found their point guard in the portal and grabbed him Elijah Hawkins from Minnesota. Hawkins ranked third nationally with 7.5 assists per game last season and is the second-leading returner in that regard behind Purdue's Braden Smith.

Kevin Overton is the other guard transfer who attracted some attention when he came to Lubbock from Drake, where he was a key part of a Bulldogs team that made the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-foot-2 Overton is a true sophomore and brings much-needed length to the wing that Tech was looking for in its roster rebuild.

Fede Federiko is the only 7-footer on the team this season, a transfer from Pitt who adds length and potential shot-blocking ability down low.

One name to pay particular attention to is Freshman Guard Christian Anderson. An Atlanta native and graduate of the prestigious Oak Hill Academy.

Anderson is a skilled guard who made a name for himself at the U18 European Basketball Championships for Germany. Anderson will play a crucial role on the bench behind Hawkins, especially considering there is no other true point guard on the roster other than that pair.

McCasland wasn't shy about admitting that the non-conference schedule this season wasn't as inclusive as he would have liked, a sentiment shared by him and many who chafed at the slate.

The season begins Tuesday against Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m

There is a possible date against it Texas will be played at the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center in New York.

Should the Red Raiders win their opening contest in this multi-team event against Saint Joseph's and the Longhorns do the same against Syracuse, the rivals will meet again.

The real star of the show in the non-conference schedule is a set-in-stone matchup against Texas A&M on Dec. 8 in Fort Worth in what could be a top-20 KenPom matchup — the website currently has the Aggies ranked No. 16.

Originally intended to be a home game, the duel was moved to Dickies Arena.

It's an opportunity for Tech to add momentum to what remains the toughest conference in the country, with its Big 12 opener against Central Florida on New Year's Eve.

Entering their 100th basketball season, the Red Raiders were picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 and will look to exceed expectations again.