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TU basketball: Plan materializes
TU's once-down program is C-USA favorite this season.

TU's Bishop Wheatley has been a part of the TU program in the five seasons Doug Wojcik has been head coach of the Hurricane. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World
 
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 11/1/2009  2:30 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009  12:22 PM

 Bishop Wheatley has had a front-row seat to Tulsa's basketball revitalization.

Five years ago, the forward was a raw freshman who joined a hurting program that had just introduced a rookie head coach.

This season, the fifth-year senior is playing for a team that is the Conference USA favorite, receiving votes in both Top 25 preseason polls and confidently looking forward to what could be a magical season.

"It's time," the soft-spoken Wheatley said. "We've taken baby steps every year and it's been one step at a time.

"This is the year that something special is going to happen."

Wheatley joins seniors Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan as team leaders for a Hurricane squad that has a conference title and NCAA Tournament berth directly in its cross-hairs.

"I would be disappointed if we didn't reach those goals," Wheatley said. "It's all about every day, doing the little things right. We have to bring everyone together and build that bond to get that chemistry to reach those goals."

Tulsa has come a long way in five years.

Coach Doug Wojcik inherited a program that had back-to-back nine-win seasons. After opening with an 11-win campaign, the Golden Hurricane has had three straight 20-win years, including back-to-back 25-win seasons.

"In any business, any organization that's been a model, you have to continue to get better from the inside out to build a strong foundation," Wojcik said. "When we recruit, we recruit with character in mind. You are
now seeing the fruits of that labor four and five years into it."

Opponents have taken notice. UCF coach Kirk Speraw has battled Wojcik in some thrilling games in four years of C-USA basketball.

"Coach Wojcik and his staff have done an outstanding job from the beginning," Speraw said. "He's attracted good, quality student-athletes that have grown and developed over the course of time in the league. Now he has a veteran group that is ready to take on the challenge."

Jordan is the C-USA preseason player of the year. Uzoh has joined his roommate on the league's preseason first team. Justin Hurtt is prepared for a breakout season and Steven Idlet will be expected to contribute heavily. A talented freshman class includes perhaps Wojcik's best pure point guard recruit in Donte Medder and Tulsa World player of the year Bryson Pope from Jenks.

Expectations are high.

But Wojcik said they have followed him from day one of the job — perhaps externally, but definitely internally.

"We have had very good, positive national publicity during the preseason," Wojcik said. "There are expectations, but there were expectations five years ago."

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

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COMMENTS 
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4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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canesablowin', (11/1/2009 10:29:43 AM)
The Golden Hurricane will reach the NCAAs and may well play deep into the field, but they will do it in a different fashion than TUs teams of 7 - 12 years ago. Those teams were built on speed and constantly pushing the ball up the court. As we have seen in past years under Coach Wojcik, this team will be more deliberate. Don't expect the team to average much over 70-75 points. But do expect the defense to be suffocating for the opposition. Expectations should be high.
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ksdksdksd, Chicago (11/2/2009 11:34:05 AM)
Great! Memphis is proud of what Wojcik has done in Tulsa. Tulsa players have handled their success with class (unlike a recent Memphis Juco transfer). He is a great coach and Tulsa is a proud basketball city with great fans. You guys have class (unlike UAB fans). Memphis will at least try to make it tough for Tulsa this year.
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BLA, Tulsa (11/2/2009 1:42:45 PM)
No one should expect the run and gun style of Tubby Smith and Bill Self. This team is built much more like Michigan State with suffocating man to man and solid rebounding. If TU can make 40-45% of their shots in a given game and reduce its turnovers to around 10-12 per game, TU can win every game it plays.
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Shadow Knows, Tucson (11/2/2009 3:23:12 PM)
Go 'Canes win'em all Lrt this year be the year to forget Self the shuffler! Shuffle off to Illinois then Kansas!
 

 
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