Recently, the Texas Tech men's basketball team held tryouts to recruit an extra walk-on player to join the team. The tryouts were shown as a segment on ESPN. Coach Bobby Knight didn't go easy on any of the guys who came out. He shouted and exhibited constructive criticism. I'm sure the most graphic material and language was edited from the show. Knight and his coaching staff seemed to disagree on each player's performance and ability. The guys trying to clinch a spot as a walk-in went through some sort of boot camp. They all shared living space, bunking in an campus apartment for the duration of the tryouts.
I thought for sure Bobby Knight would get so mad at a player that he'd toss a chair onto the court or throw a punch. Due to school regulations and policies he though otherwise and refrained from such violent behavior. Coach Knight looks to be a changed man and has control of his team, aiming to create a successful future at Texas Tech. Careful consideration and evaluation was needed in selecting the right walk-in from a group of about ten college kids. There was animosity and tension between them. One skinny guy, who played guard was showing off too much and ran his mouth to the others. He got on everyone's nerves. He was expected to be cut.
Bobby Knight and his coaching staff not only examined the prospects by their scoring ability, but from an all-around standpoint. They looked at endurance, defensive prowess, leadership, passing, hustle, desire to win, willingness to sacrifice points for teammates, and other significant criteria. I don't know who was chosen as the walk-in, but it had to be someone who demonstrated great fundamentals of basketball and would serve as a spark off the bench for Texas Tech.
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