No. 20 Texas Tech men’s basketball will face the University of Wyoming at 2 p.m. Sunday in the United Supermarkets Arena with an emphasis on improved transition play off of defensive possessions.

The Red Raiders brought down 29 defensive rebounds against the University of New Orleans Wednesday afternoon, but head coach Grant McCasland said he didn’t see enough aggressiveness transition to offense. Regardless, Tech beat the Privateers by 32 points.

McCasland said Wyoming’s offensive presence will be a factor in Sunday’s contest, and the Red Raiders will need to raise their effort defensively to get the victory.

“For us, it’s like, how can we have more energy and be more competitive and be tougher defensively that can keep creating opportunities for us offensively?” McCasland said.

The Cowboys have a 6-1 record with the No. 36-ranked scoring margin in the country at 18.1 points, compared to Tech’s scoring margin of 10.7 points. With that margin of victory, Wyoming is No. 7 in the nation in points scored off the bench with 43 per game, according to NCAA statistics.

Wyoming’s leading scorer, senior guard Leland Walker, averages 12.6 points per game for the Cowboys. Walker spent his first two collegiate seasons at Eastern Kentucky University before playing last season at Florida Atlantic University.

Comparatively, Tech’s leading scorer, junior forward JT Toppin, ranks No. 18 in the country with 21.6 points per game. Additionally, Toppin is No. 5 in rebounds per game with 11.3, according to NCAA statistics.

McCasland praised Wyoming’s coaching staff for the Cowboys’ offensive output and said Wyoming is a team that can provide good experience on the defensive end for Tech.

“I just know that they’ve got a team that on any given night, because they’re well-coached, they can score enough on you to beat you, and they’re going to be tough,” McCasland said.

The Cowboys and Red Raiders do have some familiarity besides playing one another in non-conference play last season.

Current Wyoming head coach Sundance Wicks served on Tech assistant coach Jeff Linder’s staff from 2020-23 while Linder was the head coach of Wyoming. In 2024, Wicks spent a season as the leading man at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay before returning to the Cowboys.

McCasland said he’s known Linder since the two were coaches together at Midland College from 2004-06. He said Linder’s been not only a friend but a valuable asset to the Red Raiders’ coaching staff.

“You know coach Linder’s the best man,” McCasland said. “ … I think we’ve got the best coaches, and I’m not talking about myself. I think we got the best coaches, and our staff is really prepared and has done a phenomenal job.”

The Red Raiders’ and Cowboys’ matchup will be streamed on ESPN+ with live statistics and ticketing options found on the Tech Athletics website.