Well if it isn't the head cheerleader of the Doggie Bag Tournament

Remember how you suggested that it was an important athletic endeavor?

So are you still there?

You want back in the joke tournament?

You want funny?

Here's funny.

Thirty seven points.

Hell has frozen over! I agree with THE PICKER on every one of his comments!

Hey, we're getting somewhere. I new the Sports Hyena comparison would wake you up.

Gonzaga has such an easier road than TU, at least in terms of fans. They are the only show in that part of the world. People show up to games in Spokane to support their local team in a way somewhat reminscent of how OU fans treat football (not the same thing, but bare with the example). You see Gonzaga stuff all over Spokane. And the people there seem to really like basketball on top of that (the Zags were playing in another region once, yet Spokane came out to watch the games taking place in their downtown arena).

Not only does TU have to recruit with several regional schools for fans, it also has to do the same for players.

Gonzaga has had a great run and they truly have something special. Part of it is luck (ever seen Adam Morrison's recruiting profile?) and part of it is having a monopoly on sports dollars. More than anything, they kept their coach.

Washington and Washington State don't advertise or expect to draw many fans from Spokane. The Zag fans spill over into Idaho and Montana. There is no Arkansas or KU nearby, much less and Missouri State, Wichita State, or ORU.

That said, if TU can find over a million bucks to pay Graham to win consecutive Department of Treasury bowls, they've got the bucks to pay and keep a coach. You keep the coach and the system of play in place, you can bring in good players and fans. It happened over a couple of decades with several different coaches; stands to reason it could happen in the same amount of time with the money.

TV is a problem. But if you're good, you make it on tv. Look at Memphis and Gonzaga. TU has the AD right now to pull that kind of deal off. Regardless, TU has a much better tv deal than they did in the WAC.

I like the current coach. He's smarter than he gets credit for. He's botched several signings, though. As far as as I can tell, he recruited the kid from Putnam City (that quit in December) so Cal could land his teammate. No clue why they recruited Hernandez or failed to replace Hill. The system of play isn't exactly something talented young guards would be drawn to.

Also, while I like the coach, at times I question whether he understands how to sell the school. TU has a lot going for it. Somehow we're able to steal elite players in football. The coach might benefit from a campus tour or auditing a class to understand what the school has to offer.

Why on Earth he'd put himself in a position to lose Clarke to someone like ORU (he eliminated TU before ORU) is another mystery. Granted, he wasn't going to pay the kid's dad, but c'mon . . . it's ORU.

By the way, Picker, did you notice the Mabee Center is hosting the Pink Floyd Laser Light Show?

the picker forwards his email to his ex-wife and she handles it for him. she told me so. except that the email came from his account.... maybe he was drinking.

There is one think I like about the Picker, but I can't remember what it is.

The CBI tournament was really cute last year when the team started out dreadfully (2-6 in conference), but not for this year's team.

To go back to the CBI would be an embarrassment. Anything short of the NIT should be considered unacceptable by the team, fans, and AD.

One thing gonzaga does that TU doesn't---put together a home non-conference schedule that actually makes people care. The kicker was that the OU game was at BOK---they finally had a chance to reward all those fans who sit through boring games against Texas Pan-Am and central eastern arkansas state annex with a high profile game and they move it downtown???

Give me something to watch please!!!

the picker forwards his email to his ex-wife and she handles it for him. she told me so. except that the email came from his account....then i sent another email to him from another account and he answered directly. good thing the picker is not a private eye. maybe he was drinking. why else would somebody do something like that?

It's just difficult to watch TU basketball. Everything looks so mechanical.

The coach does a great job of getting his team to play solid defense and rebound, but they seem to be scared to death on offense.

I can't imagine a great player wanting to come in and play in this system. You are absolutely right,37 points says it all !!!

Little Richard, now that's an interesting point -- going to the style of play.

Michigan State is leading the Big Ten, playing tough D and mushball on offense. Wouldn't you be happy winning 52-50, though?

Zach, you're right, the position of dribbler (point guard) didn't become important this season. It has been there for some while.

Still and all, you'd have to think next year is the critical period for Wojo. He deserves the chance. Why? Somebody decent would hire him, that's why. And giving somebody a chance doesn't mean putting him on trial. It means unconditional support.

Tulsa needs to make it to the NIT this year and the NCAAs next year or Wojick needs to be fired. Any Tulsa fan that says otherwise is accepting mediocrity and that's sad given the history and tradition that the program has. Nice guy? So what. Your job is to win, not to be a nice guy.

Jordan would tear Shaq a new one all right.