Tulsa World: 66ers look for a fresh start

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66ers look for a fresh start
Team hopes to improve on last year's 15-35 record.

Moses Ehambe and the Tulsa 66ers open their season Friday night at the Tulsa Convention Center. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

By KEVIN HENRY World Correspondent
Published: 11/25/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/25/2009 6:47 AM

With a new head coach, new home arena, new colors, and a renewed affiliation with the parent Oklahoma City Thunder, the 66ers are hoping the 2009-10 season is a new start for the NBA Development League franchise.

"So far, things have been like night and day compared to last year," said Moses Ehambe, a guard from Oral Roberts who averaged 10.1 points per game for the 66ers last season and was the team's 3-point shot specialist, hitting more than 41 percent of his shots from behind the arc. "You could tell from the first day of training camp that things were different."

Part of that difference comes from the presence of head coach Nate Tibbetts, who comes to the 66ers after two seasons as the head coach of the D-League's Sioux Falls Skyforce.

"I like the energy we have right now," Tibbetts said. "I've been pleased with our effort in the preseason, and we're preaching effort every day in practice. We want our players to do things the right way, and that involves effort every day."

Part of Tibbetts' job in the preseason was helping to erase the memories of last year's 15-35 campaign and install the Thunder mindset into the franchise.

"We spent all summer in Oklahoma City with the coaches and administrators there and learned their system," Tibbetts said. "We've implemented the Thunder system into our practices and into our offense. We want to make sure the transition between Tulsa and Oklahoma City is smooth for our guys."

Tibbetts led Sioux Falls to a playoff appearance following the 2007-08 season and will be looking to lead Tulsa to its first-ever playoff appearance. The 66ers open the season with consecutive home games against the Utah Flash on Friday and Saturday night at the Convention Center.

66ers Schedule

Home games in ALL CAPS

Nov. 27 UTAH 7 p.m.

Nov. 28 UTAH 7 p.m.

Dec. 1 Austin 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 Austin 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 Rio Grande Valley 7 p.m.

Dec. 5 RIO GRANDE VALLEY 7 p.m.

Dec. 10 Springfield 6 p.m.

Dec. 12 Springfield 11 a.m.

Dec. 13 Maine 6 p.m.

Dec. 18 RIO GRANDE VALLEY 7 p.m.

Dec. 19 RIO GRANDE VALLEY 7 p.m.

Dec. 26 Reno 9 p.m.

Dec. 27 Reno 5 p.m.

Jan. 2 SIOUX FALLS 7 p.m.

Jan. 3 SIOUX FALLS 4 p.m.

Jan. 5 Utah 2:45 p.m.

Jan. 7 Albuquerque noon

Jan. 14 AUSTIN 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 ERIE 7 p.m.

Jan 17 ERIE 4 p.m.

Jan. 22 Sioux Falls 7 p.m.

Jan. 24 Dakota 3 p.m.

Jan. 28 IOWA 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 IOWA 7 p.m.

Jan. 31 SIOUX FALLS 4 p.m.

Feb. 3 Utah 8 p.m.

Feb. 5 Utah 8 p.m.

Feb. 6 Bakersfield 9 p.m.

Feb. 8 Los Angeles 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 Los Angeles 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 MAINE 11 a.m.

Feb. 25 SPRINGFIELD 7 p.m.

Feb. 27 Reno 9 p.m.

Feb. 28 Reno 5 p.m.

March 2 Austin 7:30 p.m.

March 4 AUSTIN 7 p.m.

March 5 DAKOTA 7 p.m.

March 7 FORT WAYNE 4 p.m.

March 8 FORT WAYNE 7 p.m.

March 13 Rio Grande Valley 7:30 p.m.

March 14 Rio Grande Valley 5 p.m.

March 19 Idaho 8 p.m.

March 20 Idaho 8 p.m.

March 25 BAKERSFIELD 7 p.m.

March 26 ALBUQUERQUE 7 p.m.

March 28 ALBUQUERQUE 4 p.m.

March 29 Reno 9 p.m.

March 31 Austin 7:30 p.m.

April 2 IOWA 7 p.m.

April 3 IOWA 7 p.m.

By KEVIN HENRY World Correspondent

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