Big 12 Conference report

SportsLine Report
July 7, 2000

Texas Tech is discovering just how hard it is to escape the long arm of the NCAA.

The Red Raiders found out last week that they must return $282,800 for using ineligible players during the 1996 NCAA Tournament. The NCAA began investigating Tech in February 1996 for possible violations in the football and men's basketball programs, and during a second-round Big 12 tourney game in 1997, Tech learned two players were academically ineligible.

The school withdrew from the NCAA Tournament the next day, and an internal investigation several months later revealed former basketball players Deuce Jones and Gracen Averil were among 76 athletes in eight sports who participated ineligibly during the 1990s.

The NCAA committee on infractions "determined that the institution should bear responsibility for the use of ineligible student-athletes in the 1996 championship," the NCAA reported.

A glance at 2001

While the Raiders will again be limited to 11 scholarships next season, there are numerous reasons to believe that Tech could be much improved in 2000-01. As many as six scholarship players from this past year's team could return, including the injured Cliff Owens and Andy Ellis.

With Owens, Ellis, forward Jayson Mitchell, center Johnny Phillips, and forward Josh Faltesek back in the fold next season, Tech's inside game should be much improved. The problem may be in the backcourt. Losing point guard Rayford Young will hurt.

Tech needs improved play from Moses Malone Jr. and more consistency from Ron Hobbs, who proved he could leap out of the gym during his freshman season, but also battled inconsistencies throughout the season.

The coach

James Dickey is certainly one of the classiest coaches in the Big 12, and his teams are usually characterized by their fundamental excellence. Dickey, who had never experienced a losing season until the current three-year skid, has produced an overall record of 157-105.

If he can continue to endure the scholarship limitation period and can somehow figure out a way to avoid the rash of injuries that have saddled Tech the last two seasons, there's no reason to believe he can't return Tech to the upper half of the conference standings.

Dickey has guided the Red Raiders to two NCAA Tournaments, including 1996's Sweet 16 appearance. Tech also has made a trip to the NIT under Dickey.

Who'll be back

The return of Owens, who would be a fifth-year senior, would be a huge boost to the Raiders. With him at power forward, Mitchell at the small forward and Ellis at center, Tech could be a force in the paint.

The key to the season, however, could be the amount of progress Malone and Hobbs make in the off-season.

Who's gone

The Raiders will most definitely miss Rayford Young and Brodney Kennard. Young finished his Tech career with 1,515 points and became only the third player in school history to score 1,000 points and dish out 400 assists in a career. Kennard had 65 rejections this season, which ranks second on the single-season blocks list behind Tony Battie (68). Kennard ranks fourth all-time at Tech with 102 blocks.

Tech also loses guard/forward James Ware and forward Mario Layne.

Key newcomers:

Texas Tech signed three players to national letters of intent during the early signing period -- Marcus Shropshire (Grand Prairie, Texas/South Grand Prairie H.S), Jamal Brown (Dallas/ Fort Scott C.C.) and Jermichael Miller (Houston/ Wheatley). Shropshire is considered the No. 1 senior guard prospect in the state and the No. 5 player overall.