The reported return of senior player has been one of the most significant developments in the Texas Tech basketball team this offseason. Of course, his performance next season will be dependent on his ability to recover from a knee ailment that forced him to miss all but eight games in 2023-24.
Grant McCasland, head coach of Texas Tech basketball, was asked about Cambridge and his knee surgery rehabilitation during a press conference on Tuesday. Fortunately, he seemed positive about the former Arizona State transfer’s growth.
“Devin Cambridge has really made huge strides,” McCasland added. “He’s playing around in the gym and shooting.” He’s not meant to be doing much, but he’s moving well, I think in a straight line, and a lot of the things you want to see in terms of strength, he’s right on time to play next season. You never know when that will happen, but I would expect it to be in the first semester and during the non-conference play. We’ll get him out there, and he looks excited, renewed, and wonderful.
Cambridge’s resurgence could be a significant part of Tech’s 2024-25 season. If he can regain the form he had in his eight games this season, he will be an invaluable asset to the Red Raiders.
In the seven full games he played before to his injury, he scored in double figures five times and averaged 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds. Furthermore, at the time of his injury, he was playing his best basketball of the season, having scored at least ten points in four consecutive games and 17 and 16 points in the previous two games against Michigan and Butler.
Fans may not remember Cambridge because we saw so little of him, but he may be an extremely significant asset to the program. Prior to his season-ending injury, he not only started as Tech’s power forward, but he also played long minutes as Tech’s biggest player on the court when 7-footer Warren Washington was on the bench.
Despite being only 6-foot-6, Cambridge showed enough athleticism and knowledge to guard other teams’ big men. On offense, as Tech’s 5-man, he generated significant mismatches by drawing opposition rim protectors away from the goal.
When he was out, the Red Raiders definitely lost some variety. However, his injury created a chance for one of his teammates.
Guard Kerwin Walton saw little action in the first seven games of the season. He averaged only 8.3 minutes per game and never scored more than three points.
However, with Cambridge out for the season, Walton was placed into the starting lineup, and he would make every start for the remainder of the season. During those games, he averaged 9.5 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Walton improved as a starter, averaging 46.3% from three-point range. He also improved dramatically as a defender, transitioning from a liability the previous season to a solid player on that end of the floor this season.
It was a case when one player’s misfortune created an opportunity for the next man up. Now, Tech may get the most out of both Walton and Cambridge in 2024-25, making the Red Raiders a deeper and more flexible club given how different the two players’ games are.
Cambridge will not have to take the weight next season, especially if Tech acquires another quality winger. However, his return to the court might be a significant lift for a squad that witnessed the impact of injuries in the Big 12 this season.
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