ODDS AND ENDS | Well, I thought SB Nation's Andrew Sharp's top 5 of everything in sports in 2011 was fantastic, except the part where the Cardinals beat the Rangers.
LADY RAIDER BASKETBALL | RndRckTTU has this covered, but there's no reason I can't mention it again, as the Lady Raiders have now run their record to 11-0, beating Cal State Bakersfield 81-63 (official site box score).
RED RAIDER BASKETBALL | Hey! The first 500 people that show up will get tickets for just $1. That's a heck of a deal on a Friday night. Don't forget that tip-off is at 8:00 pm.
LAJ's Nick Kosmider writes that the team is looking to be more consistent from the three point line and talks that being able to do this begins with rebounds:
"I’d like to get some transition 3’s, but we’re not pushing the ball enough," Gillispie said, "and that usually starts with a defensive rebound. We have to get some more defensive rebounds so we can play a little quicker and get some 3’s in that area, because those are usually wide open."
Also, Kosmider notes that SG Toddrick Gotcher re-injured his ankle against Cal State Bakersfield and is having an MRI. Gillispie doesn't sound too positive:
"He got an MRI, and we’re waiting for the results, but I don’t think it’s going to be good," Gillispie said.
Last, but not least, PF Jordan Tolbert continues to receive some national attention, this time from CBS Sports as the #8 freshman in the country:
8. Jordan Tolbert, Texas Tech (Last Week: NR): 15.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Tolbert is producing as well as any newcomer in the country. The 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 24.3 points in his last four games, shooting 38-for-54 from the field.
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL | If you want to listen to AD Kirby Hocutt then you have two options: Williams and Hyatt Show and Tech Talk. I only had time to listen to the W&HS bit and Hocutt essentially said that over the past 5 or 6 days the discussions began, that head coach Tommy Tuberville wanted Chad Glasgow to be a part of his staff, otherwise he would have let him go before the two most recent defensive hires, and that at the end of the day, things just didn't work out. Hyatt seemed to say at the end of the interview (it really wasn't a question), that there would be some things that would be coming out in the next week or so that he did understand that Hocutt wouldn't be able to comment on them today. I don't know that that is.
LAJ's Don Williams has updated his article and has additional quotes from Hocutt including something similar to what I listened to on the interiviews:
"It’s hard to explain at times why change is inevitable and things just don’t work," Hocutt said. "The timing and fit’s not right. It was a mutual conversation and, ultimately, a mutual decision that it was in the best interests for our football program and in the best interests of Chad personally and professionally to part ways. Those are never easy conversations to engage in for either side, but we wish him only the best."
And those of those (this includes me) that thought that new defensive backs coach John Lovett would be a possibility as the defensive coordinator since he has DC experience at Miami, is not a possibility:
"Right now, it’s my understanding that Tommy’s going to look outside," Hocutt said. "Obviously, things can change. At this time, I know his focus is from outside the current program."
I have a lot more to write about all of this, but just not this morning. Long story short: I think that this is a mess.