We are now only a few weeks away from one of the best times of the year: the start of the 2022-2023 college basketball season. I am as excited as can be. Just like last year I am going to go through previewing each of my preseason top 25 teams. I will start with #25 and then work my way all the way up to #1.
To start off this year we have Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have an enormous amount of roster turnover. Only one of their top nine minutes-getters from last season returns. That all makes them one of the more interesting teams in my rankings.
You can look back at my Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings from January to see how much things have changed between then and now.
Preseason College Basketball Rankings: #25 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders
We all remember Kevin Obanor from the 2021 NCAA Tournament when he and 15 seed Oral Roberts upset 2 seed Ohio State and made a run to the Sweet Sixteen, and came just two points away from the Elite Eight. This year in his second season in Lubbock he will be counted on to become the leader of this team. He is Texas Tech’s best returning player by far. His numbers did drop off last year in what was his worst collegiate season so far, but that can be attributed to multiple things. For one, he wasn’t the number one or two guy like he was in his three years at Oral Roberts. Second, going from the Summit League to the Big 12 can be a difficult adjustment. But now that he is used to it I expect to see him perform like he did at Oral Roberts.
Despite the fact that they lost so much, Texas Tech has a whole bunch of talented newcomers. They are bringing in a four-man recruiting class that is highlighted by three top-100 prospects. The number one player in their class is Elijah Fisher. Fisher reclassified from the 2023 class, but he turns 19 in January so he is college-aged. He averaged 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game over the summer at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Mexico. The Toronto native is not a great long-range shooter right now, but with guys like Obanor and UNC transfer Kerwin Walton on the roster, it should not be a big issue. Fisher should be able to compete for a starting spot from day one. Richard Isaacs and Lamar Washington are two other freshman who could potentially have an impact.
The big thing for Texas Tech is its transfer class, rightfully ranked as the best in the country. The headliner is perhaps Texas transfer Jaylon Tyson. Tyson played very little for the Longhorns last season before entering the transfer portal on January 10th. He was a top 40 recruit coming out of high school. He can score consistently from all three levels and has special skill, size, and strength out on the wing. Another one of their transfer that I find very interesting is Fardwas Aimaq. Aimaq averaged just short of 19 and 14 last season for Utah Valley and was one of the best players in the WAC. He could be one of the best big men in the Big 12 this year.
Texas Tech also brings in a trio of transfer guards. De’Vion Harmon from Oregon and Kerwin Walton from UNC as the two obvious immediate starters. Walton is a good shooter who is coming off a run to the national championship game with the Tar Heels. Harmon, meanwhile, is on his third school in four years. His numbers dropped off across the board last year as a Duck on what was one of the most disappointing teams of the season. However, he should rebound this year. Gardner-Webb transfer D’Maurian Williams averaged over 14 points per game last season and should have an impact off the bench.
This team will once again be a great defensive team. Mark Adams will have his elite defensive unit from day one once again in year two. They ranked eleventh in points against average and second in defensive rating last season. However, they were only an average offensive team last year. How quickly all these newcomers gel will determine how this year’s offense performs.
Projected Lineup:
C – Fardaws Aimaq (18.9 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG at Utah Valley)
PF – Kevin Obanor (10.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG)
SF – Jaylon Tyson (1.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG at Texas)
G – Kerwin Walton (3.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.1 BPG at UNC)
G – De’Vion Harmon (10.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG at Oregon)
