No. 19 Texas Tech hosts Bethune-Cookman behind surging backcourt

Much of the preseason chatter around No. 19 Texas Tech Red Raiders was focused on who the Red Raiders didn't have.

Former Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin still is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in February. Jamichael Stillwell, a fifth-year forward who transferred to Texas Tech late in the cycle, currently is ineligible after an appeals court ruling went against him in September.

But Game 1 of the 2026-27 season showed the Red Raiders what they do have, and which players likely are to be the focal point as the season unfolds.

Damarion Dennis, Cruz Davis and the Red Raiders will be back on the court Thursday night to face Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in Lubbock, Texas.

That pair of guards transferred from Wyoming and Hofstra, respectively, and neither was the most heralded portal addition of the offseason. Dennis, in particular, was rated only a three-star in 247Sports' transfer rankings.

Yet Dennis stole the show in Texas Tech's season-opening 76-42 win over visiting Jackson State on Monday. His game-best 22 points came on 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range and a 4-for-4 showing inside the arc, all in 23 efficient minutes off the bench.

Davis, last year's Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year, drew the start at point guard and tallied 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and a whopping six steals.

Their performances not only supported a Texas Tech team without Toppin or Stillwell but also came on a night when starting forwards Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell combined to shoot 0-for-11 from the field, a blip unlikely to occur again this season.

"The steady play of Cruz Davis and Dennis was awesome," Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland said. "Those two guys really gave us a lift, and that's kind of what this team's gonna be. Every night, I think we got a couple guys that can play great, and we've got a deeper team. And as we continue to get guys healthy, it's the right mix."

Before the Red Raiders test themselves against No. 3 Illinois on Tuesday, they will face Bethune-Cookman (0-1), the team selected No. 1 in the SWAC preseason poll.

The Wildcats began their sixth season under the direction of former NBA star Reggie Theus with a game against Furman at the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Mari Jordan scored 22 points -- including four 3-pointers -- but Bethune-Cookman trailed most of the way and fell 79-70.

The Wildcats were without power forward Daniel Perez-Rouzan due to a concussion. He started 65 games for the team over the past two seasons and was an All-SWAC honoree each year.

"We've gone through a lot of changes," Theus told the Field of 68 before the game. "Thirteen new guys, we've got two starters (who are out), but listen, the guys got to play. If you're as good as you're supposed to be right now, then you're not very good, so you've got to get better as each game goes on."

The other projected starter who sat out appeared to be Karmello Branch, a transfer guard who averaged 12.1 points per game for Kansas City last season. It was not clear whether either player would be available for Bethune-Cookman on Thursday.

--Field Level Media