The Texas Tech men's basketball team has also been experiencing a number of influenza cases, but it's not limited to players.
Tech coach Grant McCasland was bedridden for two and a half days this week and had a fever of 103 degrees at one point, Tech athletics director Kirby Horcutt said Wednesday.
Hocutt said McCasland did not accompany the team as is customary the day before the Red Raiders' 79-73 loss to Baylor on Tuesday. Instead, he arrived in Waco around lunchtime on game day.
“I thought Coach Mack did a great job,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said after the game. “I know he was under the weather and they had some players who were under the weather. One thing about his team is they're always going to fight to the end and never It means not giving anything.”
Hocutt said Tech starters Pop Isaacs, Joe Toussaint and Warren Washington and reserve Lamar Washington have all come down with the flu, and three players on the Tech football team have also been tested in the past week. He confirmed that he had tested positive.
That period coincided with a three-game losing streak after Tech (16-6, 5-4 Big 12), No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25, peaked at No. 15.
Lamar Washington missed Tech's 75-72 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday, and Warren Washington missed the game against Baylor.
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Drew spoke fondly of Kansas State coach Jerome Tan and McCasland, both former Baylor assistants. “His hard work and dedication to Baylor basketball helped make Foster Pavilion a reality,” McCasland said. McCasland was on Baylor's staff from 2011 to 2016, during which time the Bears went 125-56 and made four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Baylor opened Foster Pavilion this season.
Drew again mentioned McCasland's illness when asked about his thoughts on coaching McCasland.
“I didn't want to spend too much time with him because I knew he was sick,” Drew said casually. “I'll show him how much he loves me. He just bumped his fist and pushed me away.
“Again, this is a really competitive job, and it's tough to play a family member. But at the same time, without his contributions here, we wouldn't be here right now. I always appreciate his and I'm rooting for Coach Tan.'' Unless we're playing them. ”
Texas Tech will play Central Florida (13-8, 4-5) Saturday at 3 p.m., then host No. 8 Kansas (18-4, 6-4) Monday at 8 p.m.
