LUBBOCK — Texas Tech officials had little to say about Bob Knight's decision to kick three players off the basketball team.
"We're not going to say anything beyond what's been said," athletic director Gerald Myers said Saturday. "They're not going to be on the team next year."
Tech president David Schmidly said the dismissals were based on "some violation of team rules."
Starting guard Jamal Brown, who averaged 10.6 points last season, and freshman reserves Brannon Hayes and Rodney Bass were cut Friday. A fourth player was granted his release.
"We were late for a couple of practices and were put on probation," Bass told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "I don't know what has happened. I guess (Knight) will talk to us sooner or later."
Brown said he wouldn't bother asking for an explanation when he requests his release Monday.
"The way it came out it seems like they had their minds made up," said Brown, who learned of his dismissal on TV Friday night. "I just want to sit down and get my release and go from there."
The first and last word about the dismissals came in the form of a three-paragraph news release that also noted Ronald Hobbs' release request had been granted.
Hobbs, a backup guard who averaged 5.5 points last season, said he sought the release for personal reasons weeks before former Tech coach James Dickey was fired March 9.
According to Hayes, Knight called him, Bass and Brown for a meeting. A misunderstanding resulted, although Hayes would not elaborate.
"Anything that can come up like this, so fast and so swift, it's unbelievable," Brown said. "I still haven't reacted. I just live by faith. No matter what, I have a year left. So, that's what I'm going to look forward to."
Myers said the three have the right to retain their scholarships for another year, but they likely will transfer. If that occurs, their scholarships will come open.
If all four players' scholarships are released, Tech's roster shrinks to four scholarship players entering next season. The cuts put the team in jeopardy because NCAA rules will permit Knight to recruit only five more scholarship players for next season, leaving him four short of the regularly allotted 13.
Myers said depth might become a problem, but he is confident the team can fill out its roster with walk-ons.
Asked if the dismissals would have occurred under Dickey, Myers responded: "I definitely couldn't comment on that."
Attempts to reach Knight were unsuccessful Saturday.
Knight, who coached at Indiana for 29 seasons before he was fired last fall for failure to comply with the school's zero-tolerance behavior policy, took over the Red Raiders on March 23.
He since has implemented several changes, including: closing practices, stripping players' names from their jerseys and requiring short, cropped haircuts.
Brown and Hayes both say they are looking forward to getting their dismissals.
"I'm not going to sit down and get in any confrontations with him," Brown said of Knight. "I'll just sit down and be man-to-man about it. If I have to move on I'll move on."
Although disappointed, Hayes seemed more understanding.
"It's a business," he said. "I'm pretty sure I will find my way. I have a desire to play basketball and that's all I need."