{"id":146975,"date":"2026-02-02T00:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T00:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/146975\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T00:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T00:40:13","slug":"texas-tech-basketballs-grant-mccasland-tips-hat-to-ucf-fans-after-big-upset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/146975\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Tech basketball\u2019s Grant McCasland tips hat to UCF fans after big upset"},"content":{"rendered":"

Texas Tech basketball\u2019s Grant McCasland tips hat to UCF fans after big upset<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Texas Tech basketball<\/a> team suffered an upset defeat at UCF on Saturday. Texas Tech\u2019s loss snapped a five-game winning streak<\/a>. Following the loss, Red Raiders head coach Grant McCasland praised UCF\u2019s effort.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a great road environment. I was really impressed with the turnout, and just the energy in the building,\u201d McCasland said after his team\u2019s 88-80 loss, per Sons of UCF.\u00a0 \u201cYou can tell that this is a team that plays well at home. We just had about as bad a start as you can have\u2026.I think UCF deserves a ton of credit for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the loss, Texas Tech is now 16-5 on the season. The Red Raiders are 6-2 in the Big 12. UCF improved to 17-4 with the win, and 6-3 in the conference. It was a signature win for a Knights squad looking to return to March Madness this season.<\/p>\n

Texas Tech struggled against UCF on Saturday<\/p>\n

McCasland said UCF really out toughed his Red Raiders team all night. UCF won the rebounding battle, 34-22. The Red Raiders managed just four offensive rebounds in the game.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cThey whipped us on the glass really good, and that\u2019s kind of been our strength recently,\u201d McCasland said. \u201cThey beat us on 1-on-1 plays going to the basket.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texas Tech had not lost a game since a defeat to Houston on January 6. The Red Raiders committed 13 turnovers against the Knights, which was frustrating for McCasland to watch.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got a long way to go and a lot to learn, and I think UCF was just more physical, more aggressive, and tougher than we were for 40 minutes,\u201d the Texas Tech coach said.<\/p>\n

McCasland is in his third season in Lubbock. He has made the NCAA tournament in each of his previous two seasons<\/a>. The head coach, who is known for coaching strong defense and team rebounding, was not happy with his team\u2019s effort<\/a> in those areas against UCF.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were late man, we were late all game long. We were not ready to play, and that\u2019s 100 percent on me,\u201d McCasland said postgame.<\/p>\n

Texas Tech will have to shake off the loss quickly. The Red Raiders are in action again on Monday against Kansas.<\/p>\n

Related: Houston HC Kelvin Sampson appreciates JoJo Tugler\u2019s progress in Cincinnati win<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: Florida basketball\u2019s Todd Golden takes subtle shot at Nate Oats after blowing out Alabama<\/a><\/p>\n