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Jordan gets preseason league honor

TU's Glenn Andrews (left) shares a sound file with teammate Jerome Jordan during a break at TU basketball media day on Thursday. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World
 
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 10/16/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 10/16/2009  6:02 AM

 Jerome Jordan's rapid development has been admired by Tulsa's oldest player.

"It's been great watching him and where he's come from," fifth-year senior Bishop Wheatley said Thursday during the team's media day. "He was just a skinny freshman without a lot of skill. To see him progress to where he is, I'm excited to see what he's going to do this season."

Jordan was voted Conference USA's preseason player of the year by league coaches, the 12-school conference announced on Thursday.

The conference also selected TU guard Ben Uzoh as a first-team preseason selection. Jordan and Uzoh were joined by Houston senior guards Aubrey Coleman and Kelvin Lewis and UTEP forward Arnett Moultrie.

"What a journey for Jerome," TU coach Doug Wojcik said. "From not playing as a high school senior to the conference player of the year in the preseason we're really excited for him and his development. He's being recognized for all his hard work for the past four years."

Uzoh has been a two-time All-C-USA second-team selection. Wojcik often calls him Tulsa's best player.

"As the head coach, your worry is one is going to get more than the other," Wojcik said. "As much as Jerome deserves it, Ben does, too. I appreciate the head coaches around the conference voting Ben to the first team. In his own right, he deserves all the same accolades."

Expectations aren't only high individually, but as a team. Tulsa has been picked as the C-USA favorite in some preseason publications. C-USA doesn't
administer a poll.

Advancing to the NCAA Tournament continues to be the dream. No C-USA team outside of Memphis and UAB (once in 2006) has played in the 65-team field since 2005.

With the conference tournament being held at the BOK Center next March and an experienced team returning, the table seems to be set.

How will the team deal with that? Uzoh said the team wouldn't put undue pressure on itself.

"We're going to keep doing the things that we've been doing," he said. "As a basketball team, we've taken on the personality of our coaches and have worked hard every day. We're going to leave it all on the line."

Added Wojcik: "Pressure is all relative. They have individual goals and we have team goals, and the only way you achieve any goals is by winning. I think they're prepared for that, and we have great leadership in Bishop Wheatley, Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan."

Practice begins Friday for the Golden Hurricane.

"More than any other year, it's been a longer waiting year for us," Wojcik said. "I think the edge is off after having some (NCAA-allowed) team workouts already.

"Everyone is anxious to get after it and get into our in-season routine."

Eric Bailey 581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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7 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Tulsa's Jordan named C-USA preseason player of the year," which was published on 10/15/2009.
Report Comment
Lance-a-lot, Tulsa (10/15/2009 3:29:44 PM)
This is wrong, they actually gave it to Obama.
Report Comment
TulsaTulsa, Tulsa (10/15/2009 3:38:06 PM)
I agree mg, this season is it, if they can't get to the tourney, when will it happen?
Report Comment
shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (10/15/2009 2:09:03 PM)
What? No Memphis players named? Congrats JJ!
Report Comment
mgsooner, (10/15/2009 2:35:18 PM)
It's put up or shut up time for Doug Wojick. It's the NCAAs or bust.
Report Comment
But What Do I Know?, (10/15/2009 2:36:06 PM)
Didn't they all go to the NBA or transfer to Kentucky?
Report Comment
ksdksdksd, Chicago (10/16/2009 7:06:08 AM)
Congrats to Tulsa (from a Memphis fan)! Wojick is a great coach and well respected in Memphis. You guys should give him more support, but that's not for me to say...Memphis doesn't mind any players being named, although we wonder about Eliott Williams not being named to anything coming from Duke. This is Tulsa's year to shine especially with the tournament being held there. Your guys just need to come to every game with a swagger, take every game seriously, and don't lose the easy games to Houston, UTEP, etc. We are rooting for the both of us to make it!
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cowboytimothy, (10/17/2009 3:51:13 AM)
That was generous offering ksd.
 

 
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