After two years with Kentucky, coach Billy Gillispie was fired. Now, on the verge of beginning his second season with Texas Tech, there appear to be problems within the Red Raider program.
According to ESPN.com, a group of Texas Tech players met with athletic director Kirby Hocutt this week to discuss concerns over the way they had been treated by Gillispie. That meeting reportedly came after players met with compliance officials about “the number of hours they were being asked to practice.”
“We are aware and are looking into concerns within the leadership of our men’s basketball program,” associate AD Blayne Beal told ESPN. “Student-athlete well-being is our top priority and a matter that we take extremely seriously at Texas Tech. Texas Tech is devoting its full resources to look into this matter.’'
Last season with the Red Raiders, Gillispie led the team to an 8-23 overall record, including 1-17 in the Big 12.
This news about Gillispie comes at the same time that LubbockOnline.com is reporting the 52-year-old coach was hospitalized for an unknown medical reason. According to the report, he remains in satisfactory condition.
Prior to his time at Texas Tech and Kentucky, Gillispie was the head coach at Texas A&M and UTEP.
Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_