Tulsa World: Memphis remains Wojcik's issue

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Memphis remains Wojcik's issue
TU coach still is seeking first win over C-USA power.

TU head coach Doug Wojcik gestures to his players on Feb. 25 at the Reynolds Center. STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 4/15/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 4/15/2009 6:54 AM

On April 6, before the North Carolina-Michigan State national championship game, University of Tulsa basketball coach Doug Wojcik and his family waited in line at a Detroit pizza restaurant.

A Michigan State assistant in 2003-05, Wojcik was recognized and greeted by some Spartan fans. When asked about his situation in Tulsa, Wojcik replied, "Things are good. We've just got to figure out how to beat Memphis."

Over the last three seasons, against 10 Conference USA opponents (all but Memphis), Wojcik's winning percentage is .710.

Against Memphis, Wojcik's winning percentage is .000.

Wojcik-coached Golden Hurricane teams are 0-10 against the Tigers, including a blowout defeat in each of the last two Conference USA Tournament championship contests.

Memphis is TU's nemesis, but Tiger coach John Calipari has departed for Kentucky. If a continued Golden Hurricane rise coincides with a Memphis drop from greatness (61 consecutive wins over Conference USA opposition), TU would be positioned to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.

Wojcik, who turned 45 on Sunday, completed his first four-year TU term with a second consecutive 25-win season that included a National Invitation Tournament first-round victory over Northwestern.

"We won 25 games and finished second in our conference. If we were in nearly any other conference, that would have been enough to get into the NCAA Tournament," Wojcik said. "But in Conference USA, it's not enough. It's frustrating, but that's our reality. There's Memphis, and there's everybody else. We've got to overcome the Memphis thing. We've got to beat those guys."

In 2010, for the first time since TU joined Conference USA in 2005, the league tournament will not be played in Memphis. It will be conducted at Tulsa's BOK Center.

On Wednesday, the first day on which recruits may sign national letters of intent during the spring recruiting period, TU is expected to secure the signature of 6-foot-1 Donte Medder of Mesa, Ariz. ESPN.com rates Medder as the No. 13 point guard prospect in the nation.

With four seasons remaining on a six-year contract, Wojcik is the first Hurricane coach to record three consecutive 20-win seasons. He addressed myriad issues during a question-and-answer session with the Tulsa World:

How would you describe the state of the TU program?

"Compared to where it was four years ago (consecutive 9-20 records before Wojcik's arrival), I'm awfully proud of where we've taken it. But ultimately, coaches are judged in one way — whether they get their team to the NCAA Tournament. With 50 wins in two seasons, I think we've caught the attention of other coaches. It hasn't caught national attention, unfortunately, but we have established ourselves. We have played in two conference championship games and two postseason tournaments. On their home court this season, Michigan State lost to Northwestern. We beat a good Northwestern team by nine points. Coach Izzo (Michigan State coach Tom Izzo) knows that a nine-point win over Northwestern is like a 15-point win over someone else."

Memphis without John Calipari. In a big-picture sense, is it good or bad for Conference USA?

"We lost our one shining star in the league nationally, but overall, I think it's a very good thing for the University of Tulsa and the rest of Conference USA. Memphis is an issue for us. We've got to overcome them. I like the team I have coming back — with an NBA prospect (Jerome Jordan) and one of the top 15 players in TU history in Ben Uzoh — and I really like our team if we get that one ball-handler."

When Mark Hill transferred to Cal State-Northridge, it left a void at TU's point guard position. Is that the one current flaw in your program — the lack of an effective point guard?

"We haven't been able to get the point guard that we've always targeted. That's a real criticism. It's the truth. We've gone after the right guys. On the other hand, we've won an awful lot of games without a point guard. There must be some good things going on. If we can sign a quality point guard, Ben Uzoh wouldn't feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. We recruited (Verdigris') Rotnei Clarke. Everyone knows we recruited Rotnei Clarke. When Rotnei decided to go a different direction, I didn't consider it a failure of the University of Tulsa. There were circumstances."

How do you rate your performance as the TU coach?

"I haven't made it. You know what I'm saying? I haven't made it. And even if I do make it, I probably won't ever think I made it. If you're talking about the future, making it means being a team that can advance to the Sweet Sixteen and compete at the national level."

The Reynolds Center attendance average this season was 5,102 — 3,253 less than capacity. Is it frustrating?

"People say we should get Wichita State on the schedule. What makes you think we'll get a crowd for Wichita State when we can't fill it up for a (conference opponent) like Memphis? I know a lot of people say that Memphis is a rivalry for us, but I want it to feel like more of a rivalry. I want our games to be the event of the night. Why shouldn't I aspire to have that?"

Former coaches Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith and Bill Self are revered by TU fans. Is it important for you to be in that group?

"I just want to be respected as a good coach. I hung pictures of those guys up in our coaches' locker room. They are a major reason why TU is a good program and a good job."

Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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foxfire, tulsa (4/15/2009 4:15:21 PM)

6ft3in Donte Medder from Mesa Arizona he is ranked 13 nationally in the point guard scale. If he signs for Tulsa today this is going to be a very exciting season. I hear were in for a treat with this Point guard. sign him up. GO TU!!!

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