Texas Tech is not good...

[dubyac]

trailing TCU at the half...

 

[thebigabd]

Go TCU! I am hoping the new members of the Big 12 (TCU and WVU) come in on somewhat of a high not on the hardwood next year.

 

[dubyac]

tcu up 64-51 with 5 minutes to go..

 

[thebigabd]

Nice work, TCU. Move to 7-2 on the year. I dont think they are gonna be any good this year but hopefully they arent Baylor or A&M bad (from the early Big 12 days).

 

[JBaker]

Nice work, TCU. Move to 7-2 on the year. I dont think they are gonna be any good this year but hopefully they arent Baylor or A&M bad (from the early Big 12 days).

TCU is TERRIBLE at basketball.

 

[rickjames]

Tech struggled against my school, Southwestern Oklahoma State...

 

[NickZepp]

Tech struggled against my school, Southwestern Oklahoma State...

And SWOSU is about just above average at their level of basketball most years. We will beat Tech twice this year unless they improve big time.

 

[Sawyer]

I've always felt Gillispie was one of the most overrated coaches in the country. He's never stuck in one place long enough to prove he can actually build a program, and his most notable success — at A&M — was largely based on the success of another guy's recruits (Acie Law especially).

It will be interesting to see what he does at Texas Tech now that he has to actually build a major conference program from the ground up.

 

[WaymanFan]

I've always felt Gillispie was one of the most overrated coaches in the country.

I would have to respectfully disagree. That guy took over a program (aTm) that was 0-16 in conference play - and was in the NCAA Tournament in two years. I don't see how anyone who is overrated can accomplish such a feat. He didn't get it done at Kentucky because his personal life is (or was) a complete train wreck and it caught up with him...but the guy can coach and will have TTech very competitive by next year (but still glad we have Coach Kruger ).

 

[Sawyer]

I'd say the turnaround is more an indictment of Watkins than anything.

He's not a bad coach by any means, but he's not an elite one, either. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned Texas Tech into a respectable team eventually, but I would be shocked if he was able to replicate what he did at A&M.

 

[NickZepp]

Tech has far lower talent and is harder to recruit to than A&M was. So he won't turn it around as fast, but Tech made a good hire. I don't think any one really realizes how bad the talent is at Tech though. People say our talent is bad but I think Andrew Fitzgerald is probably a better player than anyone they have.

 

[Sawyer]

Tech has far lower talent and is harder to recruit to than A&M was. So he won't turn it around as fast, but Tech made a good hire. I don't think any one really realizes how bad the talent is at Tech though. People say our talent is bad but I think Andrew Fitzgerald is probably a better player than anyone they have.

I thought abd was the only one who didn't realize they were awful.

 

[thebigabd]

I thought abd was the only one who didn't realize they were awful.

No, they certainly appear to be awful. I think they will improve greatly next year though.

 

[seniorsooner]

Zomg if we don't get gillispie what are we going to do?!?!???????????????????

 

[campbest]

I'd say the turnaround is more an indictment of Watkins than anything.

He's not a bad coach by any means, but he's not an elite one, either. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned Texas Tech into a respectable team eventually, but I would be shocked if he was able to replicate what he did at A&M.

Biased because Watkins served on Anderson's staff. If you're going to give Watkins credit for Gillespie's success, make sure and give Gillespie credit for Turgeon's initial success. I'm not a huge Gillespie fan in general either, personally think his style is not entertaining, but he can coach given the right niche player. Tech also isn't going to pour in the resources that A&M was willing to.

 

[Sooner04]

I've always felt Gillispie was one of the most overrated coaches in the country. He's never stuck in one place long enough to prove he can actually build a program, and his most notable success — at A&M — was largely based on the success of another guy's recruits (Acie Law especially).

What about his success at UTEP?

 

[AdaSooner]

Gillispie is a good coach, not a miracle worker. He'll get there in time, but it won't be this year. Convincing kids to play in Lubbock will not be nearly as easy as Lexington or College Station.

 

[Max Power]

Gillispie is a good coach, not a miracle worker. He'll get there in time, but it won't be this year. Convincing kids to play in Lubbock will not be nearly as easy as Lexington or College Station.

but should be easier than El Paso

 

[AdaSooner]

but should be easier than El Paso

I'm not so sure. Depends on the type of kids you want to sign. UTEP used to be known as a last stop for some of the players they recruited. Tech may be that, too, if Billy G stays there long enough.

I'll add that OU has had its share of questionable recruits the past few years. :facepalm

 

[Sawyer]

Biased because Watkins served on Anderson's staff. If you're going to give Watkins credit for Gillespie's success, make sure and give Gillespie credit for Turgeon's initial success. I'm not a huge Gillespie fan in general either, personally think his style is not entertaining, but he can coach given the right niche player. Tech also isn't going to pour in the resources that A&M was willing to.

And Quin's before that. In his time at Mizzou he never impressed me much as a coach. And really... the guy went 0-16 in conference play with two future lotto picks on his roster. That says just about all you need to know about him as a head coach.

I have no problem giving Gillispie some credit for Turgeon's initial success, just like I have no problem giving Anderson credit for Haith's initial success at Mizzou. Any time a coach comes to a new program, he'll be coaching someone else's talent, so credit can't go to just one guy or staff. That said, I do think Turgeon's a better coach than Gillispie is.

What about his success at UTEP?

That was one season in a mediocre C-USA. It was an amazing turnaround, but not evidence to me that he can build and sustain a successful program.