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Texas Tech lost more than a game out in Tempe, as its men’s basketball program announced that JT Topping would miss the rest of the campaign.
A men’s basketball showdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils proved to be hellish in more ways than one for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Texas Tech announced that star forward JT Toppin would miss the rest of the 2025-26 campaign on Wednesday, confirming that he tore his ACL in their most recent Big 12 contest. Toppin took a tumble during the latter stages of Tuesday’s tilt, which saw ASU upset the 13th-ranked Red Raiders 72-67. Texas Tech entered the contest No. 9 in the latest Ballislife Power Rankings, but obviously won’t have an easy time retaining its position moving forward.
Thus ends Toppin’s second season in Lubbock, one where he was averaging a double-double at 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds a game. The Dallas native became just the second Red Raider to win the Big 12 Player of the Year Award on the men’s level (joining Jarrett Culver from 2019) and those efforts helped Texas Tech reach the regional final round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament for the first time since their national championship run seven years ago.
Tech Will Be Hard Pressed to Replace Toppin’s Frame
Entering Wednesday play, Texas Tech (19-7, 9-4 Big 12) placed fifth in its conference, two games behind leader Houston. The Red Raiders had previously earned a thrilling 78-75 overtime victory over then-No. 1 Arizona on Saturday in Tucson, one that saw Toppin pair 31 points with 13 boards.
Taking over for Toppin’s scoring shouldn’t be too much of a dire issue, as Christian Anderson Jr. and Donovan Atwell have combined to average about 30 points a game. Losing his 6-9, 225-lb. frame, however, could prove costly as the Red Raiders seek another deep tournament run.
Even with the backcourt names handling business, Tech could also turn to the 6-6 LeJuan Watts for a heavier offensive load and diversity in its shooting game now that Toppin’s work by the basket is gone. Watts began the month with a 19-point, 12-rebound effort in a loss to Kansas, but has yet to reach double-figures in either category over the last four games, which have seen him shoot under 30 percent from the field.
JT Toppin, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, is the only player in D-I averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this season.
He finishes as one of five players to do so in a season in Big 12 history, joining:🏀 2008-09 Blake Griffin🏀 2007-08 Michael Beasley🏀… pic.twitter.com/LYMD91f39Y
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 18, 2026
Even with Toppin’s interior prowess, TTU ranks toward the middle of the Big 12 pack when it comes to rebounding rankings: the Red Raiders place ninth in average boards allowed per game and seventh in margin (plus-3.4) so far this season. That struggle could also open up an opportunity for sophomore transfer Luke Bamgboye, a 6-11 center from London. Formerly of VCU, Bamgboye is not much of a threat on offense but is averaging under nine boards per 40 minutes.
The post-Toppin era gets underway when Saturday when the Red Raiders host Kansas State (1:30 p.m. CT, Fox). The final miles of the road to Kansas City’s conference tournament gets no easier after the weekend, as visits to Iowa State and BYU loom equally large.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
