I'm hoping this sounds worse than it is. Newly hired Texas A&M head basketball coach Billy Kennedy is having to take some time off for medical reasons. Assistant head coach Glynn Cyprien will take over in his absence.

Kennedy is in his first year with the Aggies after former head coach Mark Turgeon took a job with the University of Maryland last spring. Turgeon led A&M to its most successful five-year period in school history, making the NCAA tournament the past four years. 

Kennedy came to A&M from Murray State, where he coached for five years. The university announced the move in a press release Friday afternoon and said Kennedy would be taking time off to undergo tests and to be evaluated by a physician. They did not indicate how long the absence would be for, but from Kennedy's quotes, it sounded like he intends it to be short-lived.

In the meantime, Cyprien will get his first chance to be the head coach for a team. His only previous experience came in 1987 when he was the head coach to the Lousiana Junior Olympic Team. He's highly regarded as a recruiter, which should keep the Aggie recruiting class soothed until we know more about Kennedy's status.