Stevenson feels weight gains will help him succeed early on the court

There are undoubtedly a lot of questions at guard heading into the 2016-17 Texas Tech basketball season.

Sure, junior point guard Keenan Evans is back in the saddle once again, and he's expected to be the maestro that makes Chris Beard's motion offense go. But, aside from reserve Devon Thomas, the rest of the Red Raiders' offensive production at both guard positions rode off into the sunset with Devaugntah Williams and Toddrick Gotcher.

Now, Quinnipiac transfer Gio McLean and JUCO All-Americans Shadell Millinghaus and Niem Stevenson are expected to fill those shoes.

The expectations are undoubtedly the loftiest for Stevenson, a gifted scorer who can put the ball in the basket in a myriad of different ways and will likely be the team's starting shooting guard when Tech opens up the season a week from Friday.

After getting adjusted to the high standards set forth by Beard and the coaching staff throughout the offseason, the JUCO transfer feels like he's ready to roll.

"It's been going good. High intensity, and everybody is buying into the process, and we're starting to really get the chemistry right. Things are going good. I've adjusted well, and I've really just been trying to keep with the process."

Keeping with the process and adjusting to Big 12 play meant Stevenson needed to focus on one goal to get his body ready for the coming challenges: Putting on weight.

In fact, Stevenson has crossed the 200 pound threshold and feels better than ever physically.

"I've put on about 20 pounds. I didn't ever think that (I could do that), and especially not as fast as I did, either. But, it feels good," he said. "It's really just helped me with the physical toll in getting ready for the Big 12. It helps with playing, getting stronger, faster, everything."

But adding weight wasn't going to help him gel with his teammates any quicker. Fortunately, that part was easy, as Stevenson and the rest of the team have unanimously noted that the group of returners and newcomers had chemistry from the start for one reason.

"Just being honest with each other. We really all trust each other, and that's helped with the communication. We all know what we want, so we've all just bought in right now."

And now, with a scrimmage on Friday night and official tipoff less than two weeks away, Stevenson can't wait.

"I feel good about our team. Through learning and Coach Beard's process, we've just been learning and taking it day by day. It's intense, but it's fun. We're all definitely getting each other better."