A few weeks ago, while preparing to be the sideline reporter on an Arizona State-Texas Tech game, I was asked by a producer whom I believed should be the Big 12 Player of the Year. I had to think for a second.

Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said JT Toppin "kind of flops his body around" after Texas Tech basketball star dominates with 30 points and 14 rebounds.

JT Toppin had 30 points and 14 rebounds as ninth-ranked Texas Tech led throughout in a 91-75 win over Colorado.

Texas Tech sophomore JT Toppin has been selected as one of five Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame finalists for the 2025 Karl Malone Award. The Dallas-native ranks third in the Big 12 in scoring, rebounding and shooting 56 percent from the field for Texas Tech this season.

Award season is around the corner, so here's a look at the cases for Texas Tech basketball's JT Toppin and Grant McCasland to earn the Big 12's highest honors.

Texas Tech has built one of the best basketball teams in the nation this season. Grant McCasland’s group looks like it could potentially contend for a national championship after navigating a very difficult Big 12 slate with relative ease.

JT Toppin scored 22 points, freshman Christian Anderson had a season-high 21 points with five 3-pointers in his first career start and ninth-ranked Texas Tech beat West Virginia 73-51.