Hurricane men shave small window to get comfortable at home
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
12/05/12 at 5:45 AM
Throughout the entire month of December, the University of Tulsa basketball team has only two home dates. On Wednesday, the Golden Hurricane hosts Missouri State. On Saturday, TCU visits.
"After that," TU coach Danny Manning said, "we don't play at home again until January. We need to take advantage of playing in our gym. We need to enjoy playing in our gym and we need to play well."
Since a 3-0 start, Manning's young Hurricane squad has been dealt defeat in three of its last four games. In consecutive outings, Tulsa was beaten at home by undefeated Stephen F. Austin and beaten at Wichita State by the undefeated Shockers.
The Missouri State Bears have issues. Specifically, shooting issues. The Bears have stumbled to a 2-5 start because they rank last in the Missouri Valley Conference in overall field goal percentage (.390) and free throw percentage (a dismal .603). Tulsa's percentages are .465 from the field, .723 from the foul line.
"It's very important for us to win this game - especially to reestablish ourselves on our home court. We can't be losing home games," said Hurricane freshman guard James Woodard, the team leader in scoring (16.9-point average), assists, 3-point percentage and rebounding (tied with freshman forward D'Andre Wright).
"That's our thing - to get better every day," Woodard added. "We have to play Tulsa basketball, especially on defense. That's how we'll win games."
Former East Central High School star Drew Wilson is a Missouri State redshirt freshman and a starting forward for the Bears, who defeated TU in overtime last season in Springfield.
"We know they'll be ready to play," Manning said. "We have to set the tone with intensity and tempo. We're on a skid right now. We've got to do whatever we can to stop the skid."
Tulsa sophomore forward Rashad Smith, a 14.5-point scorer, is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game because of a foot injury. Manning did get some good news from team medical personnel regarding the status of guard Pat Swilling Jr.
A 6-foot-2, 210-pound guard, Swilling has not played since undergoing preseason wrist surgery. The junior-college transfer wasn't expected to play until the start of Conference USA play in January, but Swilling may be ready "in the next couple of weeks, I'm hoping," Manning said. "He's still got to go through some rehab, but he's progressing nicely."
Toy drive set for TU doubleheader
During Saturday's University of Tulsa women's and men's basketball doubleheader, the university has teamed with the Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease to conduct a Winter Wonderland Toy Drive at the Reynolds Center.
The Golden Hurricane men face TCU at noon. The TU women host Colorado State at 2:30 p.m. In exchange for a new toy that has a value of at least $10, fans get free admission for both games.
Toys donated to the Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease will support the organization's education and therapeutic recreation programs.
Men's basketball
Missouri State at Tulsa
7 p.m. Wednesday
Reynolds Center
Radio: KRMG-102.3/740
Missouri State (2-5)
|
|
Ht. |
Pt. |
Rb. |
| F |
Wilson |
6-7 |
4.7 |
5.7 |
| F |
Kirk |
6-7 |
11.0 |
4.9 |
| F |
Pickens |
6-4 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
| G |
Downing |
6-1 |
16.0 |
3.9 |
| G |
Marshall |
6-3 |
10.0 |
2.7 |
Tulsa (4-3)
|
|
Ht. |
Pt. |
Rb. |
| F |
Black |
6-7 |
7.6 |
5.7 |
| F |
Wright |
6-8 |
7.9 |
5.9 |
| G |
Haralson |
6-4 |
10.1 |
3.0 |
| G |
Woodard |
6-4 |
16.9 |
5.9 |
| G |
Harrison |
6-3 |
4.7 |
3.7 |
Original Print Headline: Hurricane seeks comforts of home
Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
TU head coach Danny Manning shouts directions to players earlier this season. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
|
