TU basketball notebook: Swilling's role
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Sunday, January 27, 2013
1/27/13 at 7:01 AM
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Before transferring to the University of Tulsa, Pat Swilling Jr. played one season at St. Joseph's University and one season of junior-college basketball at the College of Southern Idaho.
On a team that relies heavily on three freshman guards (James Woodard, Shaq Harrison and Rashad Ray), the 21-year-old Swilling is an experienced junior and has proven to be a reliable shooter from 3-point range. In his role as TU's sixth man, his 3-point percentage of .422 is the team's best.
On Saturday, during the Golden Hurricane's 62-59 Conference USA loss to Southern Miss, Swilling played 23 minutes and scored 11 points on nine shot attempts. For a player who has the potential to score at a greater level, why not 30 minutes and 15 shot attempts?
After the game, Tulsa coach Danny Manning was asked why Swilling didn't get more playing time and more shots.
"No particular reason. Just the flow of the game," Manning replied. "We had guys out there who were in a good rhythm. We let them play. If you're out there, and you're doing things that are helping us, and the rhythm and flow are good, then we're going to play you."
Swilling was diplomatic when addressing his role with the Hurricane. "I'm just a team player, you know," he said. "Anything (Manning) asks me to do, I'm going to do it."
Open practice: TU does not play again until next Saturday, when it resumes conference play at Memphis. At 5 p.m. Wednesday, at the Reynolds Center, Manning will conduct a 90-minute practice session that is open to the public.
After practice has ended, there will be a period during which fans can talk with coaches and players.
Black's productivity: Through the first 16 games of the season, Hurricane senior forward Kauri Black did not have a scoring total of more than nine points. In eight of those games, he scored no more than six points.
In three of his last four contests, however, Black's scoring has increased. Against UTEP, he had 11 points. At Houston, he had 10. Against Southern Miss, he had a season-high total of 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and a 4-of-6 performance on free throws.
For the season as a whole, Black is shooting 68 percent from the field.
"Kauri has been very effective offensively for a few games now," Manning said. "He's shooting a high percentage. We need to throw the ball into the post."
Associated Images:
TU Golden Hurricane No.2 Pat Swilling Jr. guards Southern Miss Golden Eagles No.5 Neil Watson during the men's basketball game at the TU Reynolds Center in Tulsa. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
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