Off the wire
Compiled from Democrat-Gazette Press Services
Tarleton St. hires Gillispie
Once a rising star in the college coaching profession, Billy Gillispie was introduced Tuesday as the new coach at Tarleton State, a program preparing for the transition from Division II and five years from even being eligible for the NCAA Tournament. The move comes eight years after one ill-fated season at Texas Tech and two years after the former Kentucky coach had a kidney transplant. Gillispie had been coach the past five years at Ranger College, a junior college about
40 miles from Tarleton
State. “This is a very emotional time right now, and it’s a very satisfying thing because it hasn’t come easy,” Gillispie said during an online news conference from the campus in Stephenville, Texas, about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth. “I’ve had opportunities, but it wasn’t the right opportunity. I’ve had so many people try to help me, and help me get back to this point.” Tarleton State announced Monday night that Gillispie, 60, agreed to a four-year contract through the 2023-24 season, a deal pending approval by regents for the Texas A&M system. Gillispie’s first major college job was at the system’s flagship university, Texas A&M, in 2004-07. Gillispie first turned heads after quick rebuilding jobs at UTEP and Texas A&M, which had a 14-victory improvement to 21 victories in his first season and won 27 games in 2006-07 before Kentucky hired him. He was fired after only two seasons when the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years, and he had a two-year hiatus from coaching before his troubled year at Texas Tech. After leaving Kentucky, he had another drunken driving arrest and spent time in a substance-abuse program. The Red Raiders won one Big 12 game in 2011-12 under Gillispie, who cited health concerns after being hospitalized twice in a month before resigning in September 2012. Ranger College was 31-7 during Gillispie’s debut in 2015-16, but it had to forfeit those victories because of an ineligible player. He announced his retirement midway through his second season at Ranger, saying he was taking the advice of doctors after battling high blood pressure. But he returned before the 2017-18 season, and the team reached the national junior college championship game in 2019, a year after his kidney transplant. Ranger was 28-3 this season.
Mizzou 3 enter draft
Missouri sophomore Xavier Pinson and juniors Mitchell Smith and Jeremiah Tilmon announced Tuesday that they would enter the NBA Draft, though none of them intends to hire an agent and all could return to school next season. Tigers Ccoach
Cuonzo Martin said in a statement that he supports their decision to receive information from the NBA’s advisory committee. The deadline to withdraw from the draft is June 3.
Nnaji declares
Zeke Nnaji has declared for the NBA Draft after one productive season at Arizona. The 6-11 forward dominated at times, averaging 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 57% from the floor. He was named Pac-12 freshman of the year and was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.