2012 Big 12 Schedule Released

The Big 12 released the 2012 men’s basketball schedule today.  With the subtraction of Nebraska and Colorado, the league has trimmed two of the lesser basketball programs and adopted a round robbing format.  With just 10 teams remaining, all 10 teams will play each of the other 9 teams twice, once at home and once on the road.  The conference does not look particularly strong this upcoming season, but the future of the league looks bright.  So out of the 18 conference games, only 3 are not currently scheduled to be broadcast.  As the season approaches, we will further break down the opponents and matchups, but for now here is the schedule:

• Wednesday, 1/4 (Time - TBA) @OSU (TV - TBA)
• Saturday 1/7 (12:30p.m.) Baylor (Big 12 Network)
• Wednesday 1/11 (8p.m.) Kansas (ESPNU)
• Saturday 1/14 (12:30p.m.) @ A&M (Big 12 Network)
• Tuesday 1/17 (7p.m.) @ OU (Big 12 Network)
• Saturday 1/21 (4p.m.) @ Iowa State (ESPN2)
• Wednesday 1/25 (8p.m.) Kansas State (ESPNU)
• Saturday 1/28 (12:30p.m.) @ Missouri (Big 12 Network)
• Tuesday 1/31 (7p.m.) OSU (Big 12 Network)
• Saturday 2/4 (TBA) @ Texas (TBA)
• Tuesday 2/7 (7p.m.) @ Kansas State (Big 12 Network)
• Saturday 2/11 (TBA) OU (TBA)
• Tuesday 2/14 (6p.m.) Texas A&M (ESPN2)
• Saturday 2/18 (7p.m.) @ Kansas (Big 12 Network)
• Wednesday 2/22 (8p.m.) @ Iowa State (ESPNU)
• Saturday 2/25 (3p.m.) Texas (Big 12 Network)
• Monday 2/27 (6p.m.) @ Baylor (ESPNU)
• Saturday 3/3 (3p.m.) Missouri (Big 12 Network)

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a brutal schedule.  Not a single gimme in the whole lot.  But a lot of television exposure for the Red Raiders.

Assistant Coach Added – Jeff Kidder

Late last week Billy Gillispie expanded his coaching staff with the announcement that Jeff Kidder would be coming aboard.  Kidder resigned from his most recent post at Indian Hills around the same time Gillispie was taking the reins in Lubbock, so this hire might have been in the works for some time.   Kidder has spent the majority of his coaching career at the junior college ranks but does have some D1 experience on his resume and has ties (albeit distant) to the great state of Texas. 

Kidder got his first coaching job in 1990 as an assistant at West Texas A&M.  After assisting the Buffalos to the Division 2 NCAA tournament championship, Kidder accepted the head coaching job at Howard Junior College.  Following back to back 20 win seasons at Howard, Kidder left the Lone Star State to accept an assistant coaching job at Nevada-Reno under Pat Foster.  After the Wolf Pack finished below .500 in his first season in Reno, Kidder helped the Nevada to winning records the next three years, culminating in a 21 win season in 1996-97.  Following the 96-97 campaign, Kidder left Reno to accept the head coach position at Dixie State, a junior college in Utah.  After 8 consecutive winning seasons at Dixie State, highlighted by three 30 win seasons and the 2002 National Championship and National JC Coach of the Year award, Kidder left to take over at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa.  Indian Hills is one of the premier junior college basketball programs in the country and during his tenure, Kidder did nothing to change that.  During his time at Indian Hills, which lasted from 2005-2011, Kidder compiled a 165-39 record.

Overall, that is a damn impressive resume.  Amassing a 432-109 record and a national title in 16 seasons as a head coach speaks for itself.  Throw in a Division Two national championship and a successful run at Nevada as an assistant, and it is clear that Coach Kidder can coach and recruit.  Although he has not coached in Texas since leaving Howard College in 1993, he has undoubtedly recruited and coached players from the greatest state.  And with his impressive track record as a junior college head coach in Texas, Utah and Iowa, there is no doubting that his contacts are far and wide.  Successful coaches at junior college programs probably have a more expansive network of basketball contacts than Division 1 coaches.  JC coaches are reliant of finding under the radar and between the cracks kids; kids without the grades to play D1 ball or late bloomers who are off the beaten path.  The ability to continually field successful teams with the 2 year turnover rate takes remarkable coaching skills and an extensive network of recruiting contacts to continually replenish your roster. 

I think it is safe to declare this a great hire.  Chris Walker was hired prior to my starting this blog, but I consider that to be home-run hire as well.  Gillispie has built the foundation of something special in Lubbock and it will be fun to watch the program grow in the coming years. 

"He is a total professional, who has experienced a great deal of success at all levels. He is an outstanding coach, who can recruit and most importantly, he makes a difference in the lives of young people."  - Gillispie on Kidder

"He is a total professional, who has experienced a great deal of success at all levels. He is an outstanding coach, who can recruit and most importantly, he makes a difference in the lives of young people." – Kidder on Gillispie

2012 Small Forward Offer

Another 2012 northeast prospect is the recipient of a Tech offer and is listing the Red Raiders among his leaders.  Another Chris Walker special, you could say.  According to Adam Zagoria, New York Gauchos small forward Arthur Edwards’ list currently consists of George Mason, Texas Tech, Miami, Towson, Florida, Texas and SMU.  That is a pretty wide variety of universities with few, if any, common denominators.   Well, they all have Division 1 basketball programs.  Presumably Texas and Florida have not offered.  But Billy Gililspie and Tech have.

Edwards is a 6’6, 190lb small forward.  He is a strong kid who shows a nice touch around the basket.  Although not a lost cause, his jump shot reportedly is not much a high major weapon at this point.  The same could be said of his handle:  it is OK but he won't be taking Big 12 defenders off the bounce his freshman year.  Most of Edwards’ buckets come in transition and second chance opportunities, not that there is anything wrong with that.  Arthur is a good defender with the ability to turn into a very good defensive player.  I see no reason why Arthur couldn’t develop into a plus rebounder during his college career.  He processes a desirable frame and good athleticism for a Big 12 small forward.  Four years of college ball ahead, plus size and plus athleticism are characteristics that Red Raider fans will gladly accept in a potential basketball player.

I think that it is becoming obvious that size, athleticism and the potential to be a plus defender are valued traits in the prospects that Coach Gillipsie and his staff will chase during their tenure in Lubbock.  Gillispie is willing to overlook offensive shortcomings if the ability and willingness to get after it on the defensive end is evident.  If his style of play during his stay in College Station is any indication, he will not have a problem keeping games in the 40’s if it gives his team a chance to win.  Lack of size and lack of heart and cohesion on the defensive end of the floor were two common complaints from fans during the Pat Knight era.  These will be two strengths of the Gillispie era.  Gillispie will demand effort and focus on the defensive end and will not be afraid to use the bench as a motivating force.  Basketball will look much different in Lubbock in the coming seasons, and for Red Raider fans, it is a welcomed change.

Here is a two and half minute youtube highlight video of Edwards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PvhOAKWgrQ

Here is a (free) article published today by Maurice Wingate on NYChoops.net (yahoo) on the matchup between Edwards’ Gauchos and Team Philly, featuring Tech targets Brandon Phillips and Maurice Watson:  http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1246004

2012 Instate Target - Jelon Hornbeak

Billy Gillispie is familiar with the depth and quality of talent the state of Texas produces annually.  While an assistant for Bill Self at Illinois, Gillispie specialized in recruiting Texas talent north to Champaign.  While the head coach at UTEP and A&M, he stockpiled homegrown talent in building those programs from obscurity to NCAA tournament regulars.  In his short tenure at Kentucky, it was argued by some that he was overemphasizing 2^nd tier Texas talent when Kentucky fandom desired the types of recruiting classes that Calipari is presently providing.  In Lubbock, Gillispie will be back recruiting where he is most comfortable and he is definitely focused on establishing relationships and pipelines in the great state of Texas.  One talented Texas prospect who is currently drawing and reciprocating interest with the Tech staff is Jelon Hornbeak.

Jelon (or Je’lon) Hornbeak is a 6’3+ two guard.  He plays in the DFW metroplex for powerhouse Grace Prep (Arlington).  This past summer he played for another powerhouse, Texas PRO.  Accompanying him at Grace Prep and Texas PRO are Ike Austin (2012, Baylor verbal) and Emmanuel Mudiay (2014).  Austin and Mudiay are two of the top players in the country.  Incoming A&M freshman guard Jamal Branch also played this past season at Grace Prep.  Also playing with Texas PRO are two other top 100 recruits who are 6’7+, Chicken Knowles (2012) and Danuel House (2012).  While not a true point guard (Mudiay does that as well as anyone in the high school ranks, regardless of age), Hornbeak is certainly capable of running a team in a pinch.  He is a versatile and athletic guard who does a little bit of everything on the floor.  Playing with such talented teammate hinders Hornbeak’s stats but speeds up his development.  Learning how to affect a game as a team’s third or fourth option is something that most players are not forced to do until reaching college.  Giving good effort on defense and knowing how to pick his spots offensively is not something that Jelon will be unfamiliar with by the time his freshman season rolls around.  This will allow Hornbeak to be ready to contribute on the college level from day one.  What college Hornbeak will be contributing from day one has yet to be decided.  According to NBEBasketball.com, Hornbeak has no favorites and lists Texas Tech, Pitt, Iowa, Cal, Oregon, Oklahoma, Providence, and Penn State as the school after him the hardest.  

Tech is one place where Jelon certainly would be counted on to play major minutes immediately.  And even though he claims no favorites, Jelon plans on signing early.  This would be a huge instate recruit for Gillispie to pair with Jordan Goodman in 2012.  Two big for their position, athletic, versatile athletes who have competed and proven themselves at the highest levels of both summer and school ball would be a very welcome start for Red Raider fans to Gillispie’s first recruiting class. 

Coming up later this week will take a look at an in state post player that Tech is hard after.

Photo courtesy of NY2LASports.

2012 Tech Offer - Brandon Taylor

According to Raphielle Johnson of NBEbasketball.com, Billy Gillispie has offered Trenton Catholic Academy and Team Philly power forward Brandon Taylor.  Taylor’s Team Philly point guard Maurice Watson also holds a Tech offer.  Taylor is a class of 2012 power forward who is listed at 6’6 by Yahoo and 6’8 by Team Philly and ESPN.  Taylor has recently picked up an offer from Miami to go along with offers from Drexel, Penn State, Maryland, and Siena.  And obviously the Red Raiders.

Taylor patterns his game after Dirk Nowitzki and his hair style after Terran Petteway and pre-buzz Jordan Goodman.  He is a physical and mobile player who is a mismatch for most bigs because of his ability to shoot from the outside.  However, Taylor is not your typical jump shooting high school big man.  He is listed at 235lbs and described as physically developed.  So unlike many high school bigs who develop a jumper because they are not strong enough to bang inside, Taylor has the ability to throw his weight around inside as well.

 

An obvious and predictable trend that is developing in the early stages of the Gillispie era:  heavily recruiting the northeast.  Although Coach Walker has many contacts throughout Texas, it is obvious that he has developed contacts throughout the northeast in his time at Villanova.  Until the staff is rounded out (preferably with someone with deep Texas connections) and even after it is, I would look for Walker and Gillispie to continue to put an emphasis on the northeast, particularly Philadelphia.  And I also suspect that, despite their abnormally large 2011 class, Gillispie and Co have about as many offers extended for the class of 2012 as any staff in the country.

Here is a youtube video of Team Philly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crgSSWNUZiE

I suggest skipping to 1:25 to avoid a whole lot of nothing and then you can see Watson and Taylor executing a pick and pop culminating with a Taylor game winning 3 pointer.  Taylor is number 34 with the hair and Watson is the little guy, number 4. 

Photo courtesy of Team Philly

Connor Lammert's Recruitment Blowing Up

Connor Lammert, the younger brother of incoming Texas Tech walk-on Clark Lammert, has seen his stock skyrocket this summer.  The brothers played together at Churchill High in San Antonio this past season.  Clark, the older yet smaller of the brothers, earned first team all district and region honors before accepting an invitation from Coach Gillispie to walk-on for the Red Raiders this coming season.  There are rumors that the reason Gillispie took Clark was to have a leg up on recruiting the younger Lammert.  But that recruitment has gotten more complicated this summer as Connor, who was a role player for Churchill this past season, has seen his stock explode this summer.

Connor, who is only 16 despite being less than a year graduating high school, is a 6'8 face up forward with a sweet left handed shooting stroke.  Despite needing to gain weight and strength, Connor can stretch a defense from long range.  As a 16 year old, it shouldn't be a problem for him to fill out physically in the coming years.  It is crucial that as the weight comes he shows the willingness to mix it up in the paint, if only on the defensive end.  He may never have a back to the basket game on the offensive block, but he must develop the ability to body up in the post and move bodies out of the paint under the defensive glass.

Connor's shortcomings have not prevented high major programs from sending scholarship offers his way.  In addition to Tech, his in-state offers include Texas, Baylor, A&M, North Texas and SMU.  His out of state has offers include Vanderbilt, Stanford, and Marquette.  Obviously, Connor's grades are squared away.  It will be an interesting recruitment to follow.  Will he be lured by the recent success of Texas and Baylor?  Will his desire to once again team up with his brother land him in Lubbock?  Or will the academic prowess of an out of state program win out?  One thing is for sure, Connor's future looks bright.

Here is a youtube highlight video of Connor from the College Station GASO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nYcP5Pjek4

Gillispie Adds Another 2011 Recruit

According to multiple sources, Coach Gillispie has secured yet another 2011 commitment, this one coming from Cameron Forte, a wing forward from Tempe, Arizona.  There is some dispute over Cameron's height as he is listed at anywhere from 6'5 to 6'7, with rumors of a late growth spurt.  However, there is no disputing his ability to score the basketball, at least at the high school level.  He apparently averaged over 30 points per game this past season, including multiple 40+ point outbreaks and a 60 point performance.  While not a prolific 3 point or free throw shooter, he is supposed to be extremely athletic and capable of getting to the basket and finishing (at least against Arizona high school competition).  Most of the video footage available on the internet is of him dunking and catching lobs.  The one clip I found of his jump shot shows unorthodox form with his off hand playing too big of a role in his shot.  However, it is nothing that is uncorrectable.  There are internet whispers of a bad attitude and a disinterest in playing defense.  Given the way Gillispie operates, that means that he is a candidate to not be around come this time next year.  Given the state of the program, there is sense not taking a flier on a 6'6ish wing athlete with good upside.  Even if on the surface he is a long shot to stick for 4 years. 

According to his Rivals profile, Cameron held scholarship offers from Fresno State, Hofstra, and Seton Hall.  He was planning to attend a prep school in hopes of attaining more prestigious scholarship offers until Gillispie convinced him to enroll in Lubbock this fall.  Because he was unsigned and intent on going to prep school in the fall, he has been eligible to play in organized tournaments this summer.  Given the timing of his verbal commitment, this is likely where he was discovered by the Tech staff.  His summer team, the Arizona Magic, is arguably the most prestigious Arizona traveling squad.

Here are a few youtube clips of Cameron dunking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOfzB6r3miE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PEku-IFX7w

And here is one of a classmate of his freestyle on his behalf:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKK-VFMg2Ys

Tech 2012 Offer

According to Adam Zagoria (http://www.zagsblog.com/), Billy G and Chris Walker have offered a scholarship to 2012 point guard Maurice Watson (http://www.scout.com/a.z?s=143&p=8&c=1&nid=5556523).  The diminutive point guard from Philly has blow up this summer with Texas Tech being the largest and latest to offer.  Some other notable offers he holds include Rice, Boston, Iona, Hofstra, and Moorehead State.  Not exactly high major offers, but some of those coaching staffs have assembled pretty good teams in recent years.

Many Red Raider fans probably have a sour taste in their mouths with regard to small guards over the disappointing development of John Roberson while on campus.  Other may not see where another small guard would fit with Kevin Wagner already on campus.  To the first concern, I would suggest that Roberson's development had more to do with the previous coaching regime and John's lack of desire than his stature.  Addressing second concern, I would say check out Gillispie's track If they aren't with the program (developing and contributing), they will find their way out of the program.  There is going to be a lot of player turnover, particularly in the early stages of Gillispie's building of the program.  Also, this is just an offer, not a commitment.  I imagine that offers are being flung at prospects all over the country, so no need to get too worked up about this one.

I will add that there is a growing contingent of basketball enthusiasts who feel that a guard's height is one of the most overrated criteria used to evaluate a prospect.  While there are not many sub-6ooters who are stars in the NBA, at every other level of basketball there are difference makers of all shapes and sizes.  Conferences big and small alike annually see sub-6-footers disproportionately represented on All-Conference teams.