Takeaways from the Kirby Hocutt Show
The Kirby Hocutt Radio Show consisted of basketball talk and more. Hocutt is speaking in Midland today with coach Matt Wells. This show was recorded at a prior time before he hit the road. Here are the takeaways from today's segment.
... Hocutt opened up by complimenting the Red Raider basketball team for winning in Austin for the first time in 22 years.
... Next was a look at the spring sports coming up. Men's track and field opens up as No. 1 with baseball at No. 3 and basketball at No. 8 currently. Hocutt said there are so many things to be proud and excited for. He wants all 17 sports on the same trajectory to become elite throughout the athletics program.
... Men's track preseason rankings mean a little more than they do in other sports, Hocutt said. He stated coach Wes Kittley had to deal with injuries last year that had a say in that No. 5 finish in nationals last season.
... The new indoor facility provides the team an advantage by keeping them at home in their own beds instead of traveling to different meets around the country.
... The Womble Basketball Facility will break ground soon and will be a tremendous pathway with the United Supermarkets Arena in recruiting.
... Tonight the Red Raiders host the Iowa state Cyclones at 8 p.m. and it's close to being a full house with some tickets left. The one difference tonight - the students are back in town as classes started on Wednesday.
... Hocutt will be at the NCAA Convention next week to represent Texas Tech. All 65 schools participate and select student-athletes attend. Texas Tech OL Travis Bruffy will be going with Hocutt. He joined the radio show today. Hocutt said Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and the Big 12 take three student-athletes out of the 10 programs to choose from and wanted to spread the experience around. Former Texas Tech baseball player Anthony Lyons was chosen last year but once Bowlsby heard Bruffy speak and lead he made an exception and chose another Red Raider.
... Bruffy said everyone is bought in with the new coaching staff led by Wells. He's ready to go with his senior year.
... During the 'Ask the AD' segment, Hocutt discussed the announcement of having Texas Tech TV available on Apple TV and Roku. Hocutt said it's all about the consumers and getting them that access to every Red Raider event. Hocutt and Texas AD Chris Del Conte met on Saturday for breakfast and discussed TV rights before the Red Raiders told down the Longhorns on the court.
... Rip Griffin Park's renovation is still being talked about. Populous is the firm behind the renovations. Hocutt said they've got "exciting things on the table." Contractors are helping them with learning costs. By the end of the baseball season there should be a clear indication on where they want to go with this project.
... An indoor tennis facility is a "need not a want." They're in conversations now with maybe an additional rec center on campus with that indoor facility attached.