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Sorrowful State of TU Hoops
Published: 12/20/2011 1:50 PM
Last Modified: 12/20/2011 1:50 PM

Remember when some people thought TU's basketball facility was too small?

Most days now you could shoot a Frisbee across the court and not hit anybody in any of the sections. Attendance is so limited that you can hear opposing coaches ask where they want to eat dinner after winning the game.

The once-proud program is in quiet collapse.

What happened?

Smallness of the school is no factor: Mighty Butler is the size of the student union at most state universities.

In football, it's all about the quarterback. Oddly enough, it takes more than one big star to rescue a basketball program. In basketball at a small school, it's all about finding sleeper recruits, players with more heart and potential than recruiting stars.

What is to become of TU hoops?

Nobody can recall when it was in the NCAA tournament. Early in the 2000's?

Is it to be left to fail?

The statute of limitations on the coach being a nice guy has run out. The coach is defensive-minded. You can't tell the team to play less defense.

Nothing in sports is sadder than a once-proud program on the skids.

Leadership is needed fast.

Given the chaos at the top at TU, it could be the hoop coach has athletic senority.




Reader Comments 24 Total
But What Do I Know? (last year)
100% in agreement with the problem. What is the solution? Please Pick, lead us to the promised land!!!
The Picker (last year)
The only instant tonic might be: find the best five players and let them stay on the court longer.

Too much substituting is almost comical -- guys hit threes and are yanked.

Creighton's starters were on the court far longer than TU's.

If all the players seem the same, you're cooked.

Play the best five. Play them longer. Leave hot shooters in the lousy game.
But What Do I Know? (last year)
So same coach, different strategy?
The Picker (last year)
There seems to be nobody in charge out there to evaluate the state of the program or make a decision.
Gene M (last year)
Hire Nolan and the next game will be standing- room-only.
                    
Nazarene Fan (last year)
No!
redriverndn (last year)
TU hoops were once the centerpiece of my sports addiction....

It caused me to cheer on anything TU, if a team had TU on it, I was for it, all because the nationally respected basketball program was playing with the big boys & the opposition couldn't do nothing about it....

Now.... I still cheer on anything TU when I hear about it but I don't search for it anymore....

That nice guy coach could be replaced by the non-head coach Sutton at ORU.... I guarantee you the Golden Hurricane would return to the NCAA tourney with a Sutton in charge.... The Suttons are Tulsa, like it or not, they know talent, they are not outsiders afraid of the rural basketball talent in Oklahoma....

I know the blue-bloods in charge at TU feel superior & above locals, but believe it or not, they are in Oklahoma just like the rest of us.... There is talent here in Oklahoma that can win, it's been done before with them & it can be done again, but you have to know where to look & people from far & away places like Michigan don't know or understand Oklahoma nor do they care too....
                    
Nazarene Fan (last year)
Yes!
Gene M (last year)
red, you want a convicted felon who had a terrible record at his last job (before being fired) to come to TU? Whatever you're smoking is some pretty powerful stuff.
                    
redriverndn (last year)
Criminal charges were dismissed, he did his community service & drug rehab,he is completely cleared of any wrongdoing in the eyes of the courts....

His record at Okie St was 39-29, 13-19 Big 12, 26-10 out of conference, 2 1st rd NIT losses....

I do believe he could do more with TU than the current nice guy who hasn't done much....
jctblue (last year)
The TU president is stepping down next summer. He's stating he won't hire a new AD. Let the next president do it. So I wouldn't expect any leadership on a new basketball coach. It's a very sad state and displays poor leadership on his part. Not the way to go out.
norsemustang (last year)
Picker, I agree that the guy with the hot hand needs to stay on the court, but I also think that a coach cannot be afraid to play his backups. I don't follow TU basketball that close, but I think that experience is a huge factor in the success of high school and college sports programs. The years that my high school's football and basketball programs have competed for state championships were the years that the teams were populated with seniors that had starting experience as sophomores. There needs to be some system of building depth and getting enough players quality playing time so that next season the team has at least one player at every position with experience.
norsemustang (last year)
What I mean to say is that a coach needs a long term plan of building an experienced team. All too often, coaches wait until the new season to find starters. If the team had played enough players to have at least one returning full or part time starter at every position, then the coach would not worry about finding starters the next season. He would only have to find backups.
amron warrior (last year)
A big problem with Wojcik is that he isn't able to recruit, and then hold, superior players. He usually has two good players each year, but that isn't enough. This year he doesn't even have his usual two. Clarkson is the only player who could have started on a Self team.
LaffALot (last year)
Problems w/ TU B-ball?
Leadership?
Stubbornness?
Poor game management?
Lack of aggressive, exciting style of game?
Wojo blames everyone but himself?
Fan based bored? Even during a win?
Name one Big game Wojo has won?
At 600K a year, you ‘thunk Wojo is overpaid?
Would a player revolt be helpful?
Nothing TU fans can do except wait until next year?
cannon_fodder (last year)
Just say it... Wojcik needs to go. 7 years and TU still sucks. Nothing else to really consider.
Markk (last year)
Wojcik may be the best assistant coach in the country, but he is certainly no head coach. The past seven years have proven that. I don't know who the next head coach should be, but given Wojcik's history I am absolutely certain that the program will struggle just to maintain its mediocre status as long as Wojcik is at the helm.

It's truly sad when you consider how far that program has fallen.
The Picker (last year)
Don't substitution patterns have to make some sense?

Why take out a guy who just drained a three?

Ever hear of streaky shooters?

Subs are that for a reason. Play the best five until they drop. Why take out a good guy in the first half when he gets a second foul. Say: Don't foul any more.

Keep the best on the court. Some of the best teams have no depth. Doesn't keep them from being the best.

Take 'em out after they miss shots, not after they make them!
                    
norsemustang (last year)
Picker, what is even worse is when a coach calls a time out after their player hits a three. I can understand calling one when the other team's player hits a three, but calling it after a three of your own kills the momentum you could have built up.
Glenn616 (last year)
Here's a solution to the problem: Fire Doug Wojcik. Being a defensive oriented team won't attract fans to the TU games. Go back to the days when TU ran an up tempo offense under Nolan, Tubby, and Bill. In order for that to happen, a new coach is needed.
skip wag (last year)
Even if TU won more then they lost. games in the 60s are snoozers and won't bring back the fans. there has to be a change WoJo must go.its time to play a faster game.the Guy who should be coaching TU will be it town tonight over at the Mabe center good ole Billy Clyde
rshacklefordjr (last year)
Basketball? That is soooo 1990's.
The Picker (last year)
Shack: You wouldn't think it's an old-fashioned sport judging by the reaction to the ORU win over Texas Tech.

You'd think Tech had a winning record, which it doesn't.

Does all the excitement mean ORU will finally win a game in the NCAA tournament?

The truth is, ORU is average, having defeated Xavier with a student manager as leading scorer, and a lousy Tech team.
Chelsea Lee (last year)
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Xavier student manager will transfer to OSU. He could be the missing piece to the puzzle.
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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