PRESS CONFERENCE @ 10:00 A.M. | Consider this as your open thread for today's press conference to announce Billy Gillispie as the new head coach for Texas Tech. Doors open at 9:15 a.m. and you're supposed to wear red. More details can be found at the official site and I think you can watch the press conference live. Feel free to link if there are other outlets to watch the presser.
MEETING WITH PLAYERS | LAJ's Courtney Linehan writes Gillispie held his first meeting with the players on the team:
"We had a very good meeting in the locker room," Gillispie said. "It was the first time I've had a chance to meet with them face-to-face, and they seem ready to move in the right direction."
Gillispie has also made contact with the five recruits who signed last spring under Pat Knight's staff. He said he's seen most of them play, and is positive about the prospects for next year's team.
One of the goals set during that locker room meeting was to reach the NCAA tournament in 2012. He said once he has fully assessed the roster and recruits he will move quickly to fill any gaps.
"You want to give yourself the best roster to work with starting in October next year," Gillispie said. "I really do think it's all about the players, developing relationships with returnees and recruiting a great class."
MISCELLANEOUS | The Chron's Jerome Solomon opines that Gillispie is where he belongs and DMN's Mike Graham has his season in review, which includes a reference that SF Jaye Crockett and PG Javarez Willis was the team's biggest surprise, however, from what we learned earlier in the week, Willis may not be back because of grades.
GILLISPIE IN THE MEDIA | There are a handful of links about Gillispie in the media still, including ESPN's Outside The Lines talking with college basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes about the hire of Gillispie. Dykes approves of the hire. Sports Radio Interviews has a partial transcript of Gillispie's interview with 105.3 The Fan and here's a snippet:
Can he win at Texas Tech?: "You better believe it. I’m really looking forward to that. I think they have some really good players returning and I think they’ve signed a nice group. … We’ll definitely go assess those things and add maybe some other guys in this late signing period. But when you have a place that has a great university and a great community that really cares about athletics and sports and a great conference … you can definitely win."