Gillispie Not to Engage With Basketball Program

Per LAJ's Nick Kosmider, who talked with Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt, Texas Tech men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie is not to engage or communicate with the current players on the team:

"At this time, (Gillispie) is not making day-to-day decisions related to our men’s basketball program," Hocutt said. "Nor is he to engage with our program in any way until he and I have a chance to sit down and talk face to face."

When asked about the current status of Gillispie's job, Hocutt had this to say:

"I can’t anticipate given the other issues related to his health," Hocutt said. "With basketball season officially starting practice in a month, the sooner the better."

Hocutt also informed Kosmider that assistant coaches Chris Walker, Bubba Jennings and Jeremy Cox are currently handling the day-to-day operations of the team. Hocutt also stated that he is proud of the players:

"I continue to be impressed by the caliber of men that we have on this basketball program," Hocutt said. "It's a tough group of men. They're doing all that they can. I'm sorry that they're in this situation they're in, but it's going to be a learning experience for them that will make them stronger as people."

I don't have time to editorialize too much, but Hocutt is remaining patient. Personally, I think this is the best course of action. Some of you have mentioned that Gillispie's admittance into the hospital seems awfully coincidental in that he got sick as soon as he might have heard that there were some issues, but we all know that Gillispie wouldn't run from anything. Well . . .