A quiet day on the news front. Will post a Big 12 Basketball Snapshot this morning. I originally started with Arizona, but got busy and it’s been a while, so Arizona State is up next.

On the Court

College Hoops Daily’s Jon Rothstein has preseason power rankings, with Texas Tech projected 7th overall. Here’s Rothstein’s projected starting lineup and I think this hits in the right spots with a deeper bench than last year, but only one true center in Federiko.

7. Texas Tech
Projected Starting 5:
G Elijah Hawkins
G Chance McMillian
F Darrion Williams
F JT Toppin
C Federiko Federiko
Projected Bench: Eemeli Yalaho, Kerwin Walton, Kevin Overton, Christian Anderson, Devan Cambridge
Key Newcomers: Elijah Hawkins (Minnesota), Federiko Federiko (Pitt), Kevin Overton (Drake), Christian Anderson, JT Toppin (New Mexico)
Key Losses: Joe Toussaint, Warren Washington, Pop Isaacs

There’s also questions about projecting Texas Tech 7th overall and would maybe argue they finish above Cincinnati at #6, but it’s tough to argue much higher than that at this point.

24/7 Sports’ Isaac Trotter has very lengthy scouting reports on every transfer in the Big 12. This is really long and detailed and includes looks at TJ Toppin, Elijah Hawkins, Federiko Federiko, and Kevin Overton. Here’s a bit on Toppin, but this is a long read.

JT Toppin, from New Mexico

Expected role: Starting forward

Toppin was an enormous, late addition to this Texas Tech transfer haul, and Grant McCasland will have no trouble getting the co-Mountain West Freshman of the Year forward onto the floor. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound big man should slot in as Texas Tech’s starting 4-man, and he can be one of the most impactful defenders on the roster. Toppin can slide his feet on the perimeter and offer legitimate rim protection. Toppin was a stocks (steals and blocks) machine last year at New Mexico, and he’s so good on the glass. Toppin has to grow as a shooter, both from downtown and from the free throw line, but Elijah Hawkins should generate so many good looks for Toppin around the rim.

It’s hard to see Toppin failing at Texas Tech and the ceiling is so high.

On the Gridiron

24/7 Sports’ Matt Zenitz was the first to report that Texas Tech general manager James Blanchard agree to new terms making him one of the highest paid front office figures in college football. We’re about to find out how good Blanchard is in identifying talent.