LUBBOCK, TEX. ? Texas Tech’s men’s basketball season took a drastic turn on Tuesday, two weeks before the Red Raiders are scheduled to open the regular-season.

Senior guard Jarrius Jackson has been dismissed from the team, according to head coach Bob Knight.

Knight told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that Jackson was let go, “for failure to fulfill academic requirements that we have for our men’s basketball team.”

Because of the Buckley Amendment, college coaches aren’t allowed to talk specifically about a student-athletes’ academics.

Knight said, though, that the matter might be addressed again at a later time.

“If Jackson is able to do what is required of him that we have discussed, when he has satisfactorily done what is required of him, then maybe, at that time, we might discuss the possibility of him returning,” Knight said.

Jackson was expected to be the anchor of Tech’s team that is attempting to bounce back from last year’s 15-17 season.

The 6-foot-1 guard from Monroe, La., already has been getting plenty of attention in the preseason. Jackson was named to the first team All-Big 12 Team and last week he was one of 50 players announced on the John Wooden Watch List.

Jackson is the lone player featured on the cover of the Tech men’s basketball media guide and he was one of two players (along with Jon Plefka) that attended the Big 12 Media Day two weeks ago in Oklahoma City.

If Jackson is off the team for good, Knight has a few options at his disposal, the Avalanche-Journal reported.

Junior-college transfer Charlie Burgess was named last season’s NJCAA Player of the Year after he averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists at Howard College.

Burgess’ teammate, Benny Valentine, might be inserted alongside Burgess in the Red Raiders’ backcourt to try and duplicate last year’s success.

The Hawks finished last season at 35-2, the best record in school history.

If Knight elects to go with players that are used to his system, LucQuente White was in the starting lineup for last year’s regular-season opener.

He suffered a knee injury, though, and played in 17 games, starting seven. White averaged two points per game and he dished out 28 assists.