Double-T Nation Daily Diatribe | 2011-02-08

We're still talking a bit about recruiting.  Scout has already recognized the job that DE coach Robert Prunty did on the recruiting trail and now Rivals joins the fray naming Prunty as one of the nation's top 25 recruiters:

Robert Prunty, Texas Tech
Buzz: Prunty was responsible for eight of the Red Raiders' 12 total defensive signees and only two - Kindred Evans and J.J. Gaines - came from the state of Texas. The rest came from completely new areas to Tech. Prunty was the deciding factor for Pennsylvania defensive ends Branden Jackson and Desimon Green, both of whom committed on signing day. He also fought off plenty of SEC teams for the signature of four-star Mississippi junior college defensive end Leon Mackey. The former head coach at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia is still a high-profile name when it comes to high school prospects across the country and it showed this year.

Just think, a year ago, Prunty was the head coach of a high school football team and of course we still don't know how good of a coach he is, but he's a helluva recruiter and that's a big part of the process.

ESPN's David Ubben talked at length about head coach Tommy Tuberville's 2011 recruiting class and at length about recruiting.  And Tuberville gets it as he says that the recruiting rankings don't mean as much as players actually contributing:

"It’s essential that you have an 80-90 percent rate of kids that come in and maybe they're not be great players, but they can contribute to wins at your school," Tuberville said.

He estimates that about half of his 27 signees will have a chance to either start or be in the rotation as freshmen.

I would be shocked if 13 or 14 signees contributes next year and that's not a direct quote so we'll see, but I'd be incredibly surprised to see that many 2011 signees actually contribute next year. How about a morning-assignment of your top 10 players that you think could contribute in 2011.

Tuberville also talks about cointinuing to throw the ball, why he recruited so many pass rushers and how late signee, Muleshoe DE Cooper Washington, ended up at Texas Tech:

"You’ll have guys who commit really early to Nebraska or a Texas or Oklahoma and we’ll tell him, 'Hey, you're committed. We understand that. But just stay in contact. Make a phone call once a week or whatever, hey, how you doing? Everything going alright? Stay in touch in case something happens,'" Tuberville said.

Here's a YouTube video of Odessa High RB Bradley Marquez on signing day . . . Turfburner's Jay Beck takes a look at the quarterback signees that could make a difference in 2011 . . .

Big 10 blog and conference realignment expert Frank The Talk, opines that the talk that it's just a matter of time before Texas A&M moves to the SEC is bullsh:

If there’s one overarching takeaway that you should get from this blog post, it’s that what Texas A&M wants to do means jack.  I’m very certain Aggies all across America (especially the younger ones) would love nothing more than to move to the SEC, yet that’s irrelevant.  What really matters is what Texas A&M is allowed to do, and with a Molotov cocktail of an SEC that doesn’t really want to expand, Texas state politicians that are out to quash any move that will injure Texas Tech and Baylor, and ESPN specifically wanting the Big 12 to live, that leaves with Texas A&M with virtually no options outside of staying right where they are.

Go read the whole thing, it's worth your time this morning along with some thoughts on Texas Tech . . . Dr. Saturday's Matt Hinton also thinks that TAMU might be making a 1 year run at a Oklahoma for king of the Big 12 . . . Rivals takes a look at where the DI signees come from and as you might expect, there are a ton of football players in Texas . . .

LAJ's Courtney Linehan writes that PF Robert Lewandowski is a coachable player and doesn't take criticism personally.  Here's head coach Pat Knight:

"I think when the season’s done you’ll look at the stats and see he’s had a heck of a year," Knight said. "I love the kid. He’s coachable. I can get on him and he doesn’t sulk; he listens."

Linehan also talks to PK about some of the other post players, PF Paul Cooper and SF Jaye Crockett:

"I thought they competed," Knight said. "That’s been the main thing, You’ve got to compete first before the Xs and Os come into it.

"Lew worked hard against one of the better players in the country. Jaye, as a freshman, didn’t back down and play scared. Then I’ve got to give Coop credit, Coop battled."

And yesterday, PK went on an ESPN chat to discuss playing in some sort of tournament next year and generally about the season.  And it's somewhat uncomfortable as Sports By Brooks (SBB is a blog and Brooks runs the website, has bad things to say about Craig James, and appears to be more connected than me) tweeted last night that if PK is terminated, Billy Clyde Gillispie will be the next head coach at Texas Tech.  Personally, I would love the move, but I find this an odd statement to make since the search for the athletic director is currently underway and you would think that the new AD would have a decision in this process, but Brooks indicates that perhaps the decision has been made.

Rush The Court's Owen Kemp takes a look at the Big 12 . . .

There aren't just a ton of college baseball websites and/or publications out there, but I love the fact that Texas Tech has referenced the best college baseball blog blog in the interwebs, College Baseball Daily.  Although I would guess that maybe the folks at Texas Tech may not know that CBD is a purely a blog and the guy that runs that site, Brian Foley, really loves college baseball. 

Anyway, CBD's William Knox preview article on the Big 12 and if you're into college baseball then there's not a better link for you this morning.  Knox has this to say about the Red Raiders:

The question mark this season for the Red Raiders happens to be Dan Spencer’s specialty, pitching. Last season, Texas Tech went beyond the expectations of many to finish in the top half of the conference, thanks in large part to pitcher Chad Bettis, a second round pick by the Colorado Rockies. Bettis led the Red Raiders in wins, saves, and strikeouts, splitting time as a starter and closer. The Red Raiders replace 10 of the 15 pitchers from 2010. On the field, Texas Tech boasts one of the top lineups in the conference. Led by 2010 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Barrett Barnes, junior DH/OF Scott LeJeune, and sophomore 2B Jamodrick McGruder, there should be no problem for the team that tied for second among batting averages last season. Barnes is expected to move to the outfield after spending his freshman season at first base.

Definitely worth your time this morning and make sure and give the folks at CBD a click or two a s they do fantastic work.