MBB: Tarleton Texans 2024-25 Team Preview
The Texans won a program-best 25 games in 2023-24...what will they do for an encore?
Freddy Hicks is back. Billy Gillispie is back on the sidelines after missing most of the 2023-24 season.
And that is about all we know of the 2024-25 Tarleton Texans.
Okay, there is more to it. But, it is true that after a record-setting year, the Tarleton men’s basketball team will have a lot of new faces, and a lot of questions to answer early on.
What’s even more challenging is the the non-conference slate that Texans face with a whole new roster.
Tarleton has increased its win total every season since joining the Division I ranks.
The Texans had 10 wins in their debut season in 2020-21. 14 wins the following season. 17 wins in 2022-23. And, as everyone knows, 25 wins in 2023-24.
Here is the problem in 2024-25. There are a ton of new faces, and arguably the most challenging non-conference schedule of any WAC school.
How will the Texans handle things?
Let’s get to know the 2024-25 Tarleton Texans.
Head Coach:
Billy Gillispie, 4th season (43-46 overall, 23-25 WAC)
Overall record: 191-154
2023-24:
25-10 overall, 16-4 WAC
Finished 2nd in regular season standings, lost in WAC semifinals
Key Losses:
Devon Barnes - UTEP
Jakorie Smith - Eligibility
Traviar Jackson - GCU
Emmanuel Innocenti - Gonzaga
Lue Williams - Eligibility
KiAndre Gaddy - Eligibility
Adam Moussa - CBU
Dario Domingos - UT Permian Basin
Key Returners:
Izzy Miles
Bubu Benjamin
Newcomers:
Freddy Hicks - Arkansas State
Ronnie Harrison Jr - JUCO
Marty Silvera - Division II
Collin Course - Division II
Dantwan Grimes - Baylor
Nick Krass - Oregon State/JUCO
Chris Mpaka - JUCO
One thing that sticks out, and they aren’t named under the newcomers, is that Tarleton has a lot of freshmen on the roster. 50 percent of the roster is freshman, which includes redshirt freshman Joseph Martinez.
Freddy Hicks returns to Tarleton after a stint at his dad’s Alma Mater Arkansas State for a year.
But, that is about the only experience Billy Gillispie has on this roster. Dantwan Grimes played in just 12 games at Baylor.
The problem with a mid-major is the roster turnover. Like you can see above from the departures, Tarleton was like a G-league club getting poached because all of its starters, and even some bench guys had a productive 2023-24 thus warranting more attention from bigger programs with deeper pockets.
Projected Starting Lineup:
G - Izzy Miles
G - Dantwan Grimes
G - Bubu Benjamin
F - Freddy Hicks
F - Ronnie Harrison Jr.
There isn’t a ton of size at Wisdom Gym. Freshman Andy Sigiscar stands at 6’9 as the tallest player on the Tarleton roster.
So, 2024-25 might be similar to the first three seasons at the Division I level where the Texans will pressure the guards on the perimeter, cause problems with entry passes, and just be a little more physical than opponents.
It has caused chaos in previous years. So, why go away from it?
Scheduling News:
One word comes to mind when talking about the 2024-25 Tarleton non-conference schedule: BRUTAL!
The Texans take on two ACC schools in the first three games. At SMU and at Florida State.
Sure, there is a home game against Sam Houston between those two ACC opponents.
But, the bad news is Sam Houston won the Conference USA regular season title, and simply reloaded for 2024-25.
There are trips to Baylor, Michigan, UTEP, Oklahoma State and UCF as well as an intriguing MTE with games against Iona, Hofstra, and Indiana State…some pretty good mid-major opponents.
The good news is that Tarleton gets to start off the new year and WAC play at home on Jan. 4 against UT Arlington. And we all remember how that trio of games went in 2023-24. Tarleton won both regular season games by two. But, Brandyn Talbot sent the Mavericks to the WAC title game with a late 3-pointer to avoid the sweep.
Outlook:
It is challenging to put together an outlook for a team when you don’t know anyone on the roster, along with the lack of Division I experience on the roster.
However, Billy Gillispie-coached teams have a way of surprising people. 25 wins probably won’t happen in 2024-25. The non-conference schedule is brutal. So, to get to 25 wins, the Texans will have to pull off some massive upsets.
Is Freddy Hicks healthy? Some have said that at Monday’s exhibition game against UT Tyler, Hicks was in a boot. Perhaps it was a precautionary thing. It was an exhibition game after all. But, the Texans will need a healthy Freddy Hicks if they are to have more success in their first season as full Division I members.
There are a lot of question marks regarding the 2024-25 version of the Tarleton men’s basketball team.
And the reality of the situation is that we probably won’t know what this team is really about until Jan. 4.
How will the Texans handle adversity through the first two months of the season? Or, perhaps, how will Tarleton handle success if it comes?
Billy Gillispie teams always compete. But, will that equate to success in 2024-25?