How Texas Tech basketball's GM attacks transfer portal, offseason work
Kellen Buffington's role as Texas Tech basketball GM during March Madness has changed over the years, but the process remains the same.
TAMPA, Fla. — During his first two years as the Texas Tech basketball team's general manager, Kellen Buffington's attention had to be divided in March. Before the recent change of the transfer portal window, which now doesn't open until after the Final Four of the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament, Buffington had to navigate two avenues.
First was his job of connecting with players who had entered the portal , hoping to get them to Lubbock for visits and, eventually, signing them up to be Red Raiders. Of course, this also came while the Red Raiders were in March Madness, something plenty of coaches were negatively vocal about as the portal opened during the tournament. Thankfully, the NCAA changed that window, allowing Buffington and others in similar roles across the country time to be fully with their teams during the biggest games of the year.
Buffington knew it was an untenable position last year as Texas Tech made its way to the Elite Eight. So he had to make a choice. During that run, Donovan Atwell had entered his name into the portal.
The perfect fit for Texas Tech's style of offense, Buffington knew he had to connect with the UNC-Greensboro transfer. It just came with a caveat. "I called him, but in that moment I was like, you know what?
Continue to the original source for the full article.