Uzoh invited to NBA pre-draft camp ... bubble watch ... preparing for Whiteside
2/2/2010 5:49:00 PM
Some Tulsa basketball thoughts before Wednesday's national signing day blitz ...
--- Tulsa guard Ben Uzoh has been selected to play in this spring's Portsmouth Invitational, one of two NBA pre-draft camps.
It is a postseason camp recognized by the NBA and conducted for the top NCAA seniors. Uzoh will be one of 64 participants in the four-day tournament.
Uzoh, a 6-3 guard, is in the top 10 of nearly all offensive categories in Tulsa's record book. He's also nearing the 2,000-point plateau, which would put him third overall in C-USA history.
It is likely Uzoh also drew attention from NBA scouts, who have attended TU games to watch Jerome Jordan. The 7-foot center hasn't drawn a Portsmouth invite.
--- ESPN's Mark Schlabach listed TU on his "bubble watch" on ESPN.com.
His critique of Tulsa: "After losing at UAB 65-55 last Tuesday night, the Golden Hurricane might have to sweep its games against Memphis and avoid any speed bumps to stay in the NCAA at-large hunt. Or they can simply beat Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Feb. 25. Other than a 21-point trouncing of Oklahoma State at home on Dec. 2, there just isn't a lot of meat in Tulsa's profile. The Okie State win is the Golden Hurricane's only victory over an RPI top-100 opponent. In fact, nine of Tulsa's 16 victories came against teams that are ranked No. 200 or worse in the RPI ratings."
From Schlabach's perspective, there's a lot of work to be done.
--- Tulsa, UAB and UTEP are tied atop Conference USA's standings after winning eight of nine games in January.
"We just won three of four games on the road and we found a way to win two of those three games," Doug Wojcik said during a Monday press conference. "We are not playing our best basketball, but we have done what you have to do. We have scratched, clawed and played through the low points.
"It is February and hopefully the weather turns and we can head into March Madness."
--- Tulsa will host Marshall in a 7 p.m. league contest on Wednesday night.
The game will feature two of the league's top centers. Tulsa senior Jerome Jordan was the C-USA preseason player of the year, while Marshall's Hassan Whiteside leads the nation with 113 blocked shots.
"I'm anxious to see Hassan Whiteside in person," Wojcik said. "He's pretty impressive on tape. He's more advanced than Jerome as a freshman. He's a really good player and has made a difference for those guys."
Marshall (15-6, 4-3) has lost four straight games and suffered another blow on Monday when it announced that starting point guard Damier Pitts has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.
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--- The Hurricane held a spirited practice on Monday afternoon as it prepared for Marshall. The best part? Watching D.J. Magley challenge 6-10 post player and redshirt freshman Kodi Maduka on the scout team.
Maduka was playing Jordan in scrimmages and Magley kept pumping Maduka up and reminding him that "You are Whiteside."
--- At least 13 NBA scouts plan to be attendance for Wednesday's game between Tulsa and Marshall.
"You can't let that stuff affect you or you'll do stuff not accustomed to doing," Jordan said. "I try to do what I usually do offensively and defensively. You have to keep playing hard and they'll know what to pick out of it."
Roberson to OSU, Morris to NEO? The Union-to-TU pipeline may get smaller
2/1/2010 8:49:00 PM
Sources say that Tulsa commit Thomas Roberson is strongly reconsidering a scholarship offer from Oklahoma State.
Another source said fellow Union Redskin and tight end Deonte Morris may shift his commitment from Tulsa to NEO.
Tulsa entered the week with five commitments from Union. The only three solids right now are James Roberson, Alec Henry and Luke Snider. But keep an eye on Union kicker/punter Cole Way, who could be a grayshirt candidate so he can keep his options open as a baseball player.
Roberson, a talented Union wide receiver received an OSU offer on Thursday, but decided to stick with Tulsa, where he commmitted last summer. Last Friday, Redskins coach Kirk Fridrich said Roberson respected OSU's desire to recruit him, but wanted to stay with TU.
Sources have said that he has reconsidered today and leaning toward OSU.
There's been no word from Roberson, but there's no doubt that TU's coaches are working hard to keep him on their recruiting list.
Morris' trip to NEO may be beneficial to him, if that's his choice. It will give him time to fine-tune his game at a juco power.
One thing is for sure. We'll know everyone's final destination on Wednesday's national signing day.
TU recruiting season takes crazy turns
1/28/2010 10:12:32 PM
Tulsa is headed to the home stretch of Recruiting 2010, when craziness ensues and coaches don't feel comfortable until receiving that signed letter of intent.
It's been a quiet January, but the last 24-48 hours have been interesting on the recruiting front.
Two players committed and another de-committed. Could yet another Union player join this class? And will that Union player take the place of another that's headed down the road to Stillwater?
The news: Union punter/kicker Cole Way will be a player to watch in upcoming days. He is said to be seriously considering Tulsa this week, as well as Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. TU's coaches are anxiously awaiting his decision.
The questions: The 6-8 senior is an outstanding baseball pitcher. Is that the direction that he wants to go? Could TU grayshirt him if he signs, allowing him a chance to explore baseball? The waiting game continues.
The news: Union's Thomas Roberson has received a scholarship offer from OSU. It's just a part of the cut-throat business of college football recruiting. Roberson has been a strong commit to TU since last summer, but the Cowboys apparently have found room for him in this year's class.
The question: Would Thomas Robertson leave a TU program where his brother James Roberson is also a commit? No doubt the Tulsa coaches are trying to protect a recruit that would fit into its plans.
The news: Defensive back Todd Washington de-committed his pledge to Tulsa this week. It's no surprise. Washington informed the staff that he wanted to take a visit to Memphis. It's believed that TU's coaches told the long-time commit that if he went to Memphis, they would yank his scholarship offer. Tres Houston, a cornerback from Georgia, took his spot.
The question: Do you think there's any coincidence that former Hurricane cornerbacks coach Galen Scott is now on the Memphis staff?
Comning up on Friday: TU basketball thoughts ... what's the deal with sending out NIT and (ugh) CBI order forms to season-ticket holders?
Wojcik: Time to "move on" from lackluster win against Rice
1/24/2010 9:54:00 PM
Doug Wojcik said his team was moving on following a less-than-impressive 62-58 win over Rice on Saturday.
There are probably two reasons why this is true. First, the Golden Hurricane picked up a victory, which is most important. Second, it will play an outstanding UAB team on Tuesday night for sole possession of first place in Conference USA.
"We were a little disuprtive with the starting lineup and guys were probably a little shocked that I took that disciplinary action (against Rice)," Wojcik said following a Sunday afternoon practice. "But, my best player responded and lifted us in Ben Uzoh, so let's give him credit. Let's move on. We still held someone in the 50s."
Justin Hurtt didn't start and key reserves Donte Medder and Bryce Pope didn't enter quite as early in the Rice win.
UAB is playing outstanding basketball. Coach Mike Davis has the Blazers off to a school-best 17-2 start. Aaron Johnson made back-to-back game-winning shots last week.
Not bad for a program that was picked to finish 10th in the media's preseason poll.
"Mike Davis is my coach of the year," Wojcik said.
Why did Justin Hurtt not start against Rice?
1/23/2010 6:08:34 PM
Tulsa opened Saturday's 62-58 win over Rice with a starting lineup that included Ben Uzoh, Jerome Jordan, Bishop Wheatley, Joe Richard and Steven Idlet.
Justin Hurtt didn't start for the first time this season. Uzoh was the only true guard, and little-used Shane Heirman was the first guard off TU’s bench. Richard, in fact, was the team's shooting guard in its starting lineup.
The reason? Hurtt was penalized for being late to a team breakfast, along with Donte Medder and Pope. Redshirt players Kodi Maduka and Glenn Andrews were also late.
Since the team didn’t have a Saturday shootaround, the breakfast was the team’s first function. Wojcik said that all of his players will be held accountable for their actions.
Rice's biggest lead (9-4) came by the first media timeout. After that, Hurtt was inserted.
Tulsa-ORU: The aftermath
1/21/2010 3:50:42 PM
Day-after thoughts following Tulsa's emotional comeback win over Oral Roberts on Wednesday night ….
--- When is the best time to play the Mayor's Cup game?
Wednesday produced one of the best games in series history. It came in front of 9,000-plus fans at the Mabee Center.
I agree with ORU coach Scott Sutton. A November game gets lost in our football-crazed state. In mid-January, it's the only game in town.
The other viewpoint? Last year, when Tulsa won 50-43, many said that it was too early and the offenses weren't in place. Ten weeks into the season, it still was an ugly basketball game.
Next year's game is expected be in mid-November on ESPN during the "24 hours of basketball." A 1 p.m. Tuesday game may not be ideal, but the Mayor's Cup game would give this rivalry some national attention, which is what it deserves.
--- Donte Medder only played seven minutes against ORU and 28 minutes over the past four games.
A pair of mistakes put him on the bench in the second half of the intense game. He had a bad entry pass for a turnover and then followed it with a pass that was easily deflected out of bounds.
Medder sometimes can be a defensive liability at times this season, which has cut into his minutes this season. When he begins making mistakes with the ball in his hands, he becomes too much of a liability to play.
His play will need to improve, especially with big league games coming up. Plus, when Medder is on the floor with Ben Uzoh, Justin Hurtt, Steven Idlet and Jerome Jordan, it gives TU five scoring threats.
--- Props to ORU's Ken Holdman. The point guard defended Uzoh as well as anyone I've seen in the Tulsa senior's career.
From one East Central High School alum to another: Good job.
--- Bishop Wheatley and Bryson Pope need to hit some shots. The wing players were 1-of-9 from the field against ORU.
The Golden Eagles didn't guard Wheatley and Pope at all. The pair got open looks all night as Sutton's game plan seemed to say "Go ahead and shoot it, if you dare."
Nebraska played a similar gamble in its win over Tulsa and it almost paid off for ORU.
--- Joe Richard played the "3" position much of the second half, a spot he hadn't even practiced at all year. He did a great job in his typical blue-collar way.
His one-handed slam dunk off Uzoh's alley-oop pass was definitely highlight material. And there was probably no bigger basket than his follow slam dunk of an Uzoh miss.
--- Tulsa returns to action on Saturday afternoon against Rice. The biggest TU cheer should come for Wheatley during pregame introductions.
Last year, Wheatley was charged with an intentional foul and ejected from the TU-Rice game at the Conference USA Tournament. He also was suspended for the semifinal game against UAB.
Immediately following the foul, Wheatley was subject to screams (reportedly profanity-laced) from Rice coach Ben Braun.
Was an ejection warranted by the hard foul? That's debatable to this day. It was a hard, intentional foul, but in my opinion I don't think it deserved a one-game penalty.
--- Memphis came back to earth with Wednesday's home loss to UTEP. But you have to admit their long winning streak will always remain impressive.
Next year's ORU-Tulsa game likely to be ESPN game
1/19/2010 9:39:18 PM
There is a good chance that next year's ORU-Tulsa basketball game will be broadcast by ESPN.
TU coach Doug Wojcik said the plan right now is for the game as a part of ESPN's 24 hours of basketball. It would be a 1 p.m. Tuesday game in mid-November at the Reynolds Center.
The Golden Hurricane defeated Arkansas-Little Rock at 1 p.m. on Nov. 16 during this year's ESPN 24 hours of basketball.
Other TU-ORU notes …
----- I spoke to former TU and ORU coach Bill Self on Sunday for a retrospective article on ORU's 60-59 win over Tulsa that was played a decade ago. It runs on Wednesday morning.
Self threw praise at ORU coach Scott Sutton and made a great point. He has lost his last two games against Sutton, and both of the teams he coached advanced to the Elite Eight.
ORU defeated Self's Kansas basketball team in Lawrence during the 2006-07 season.
----- Wojcik talked about being friends with Scott Sutton during a Monday press conference. He also said that he's good friends with ORU assistant Chris Crutchfield.
Wojcik and Crutchfield have sons that play on the same AAU basketball team.
"I have a relationship with Scott that's very good and Coach Crutchfield that's phenomenal," Wojcik said. "His wife watches my kids and my wife watches their kids."
----- The TU-ORU game will match up Kansas City area players that likely crossed paths during their high school days.
Tulsa's Justin Hurtt is from Raytown, Mo., and played at Archbishop O'Hara High School. ORU features three players from the K.C. area: Dominique Morrison, Michael Craion and Roderick Pearson.
The Hurricane's Bishop Wheatley went to the same school as former ORU standout Yemi Ogunoye. Both attended Cedar Hill (Texas) High School.
New TU coordinator shows that character counts
1/18/2010 10:25:30 PM
Chad Morris talked about Tulsa's co-offensive coodinator job being a perfect fit for him on Monday afternoon.
But in the days leading up to accepting the position, he was looking for reasons to stay at Lake Travis High School.
Morris admits that he analyzes things to the extreme at times. It's what you would expect from a mathematics major at Texas A&M. He also minored in statistics.
At one point, he admitted after Monday's introductory press conference, he was looking for reasons to stay at Lake Travis when all signs pointed toward taking the Tulsa job.
Morris spent plenty of time during his press conference and in a one-on-one session after the press conference relaying how difficult it was to leave Lake Travis. Leaving the Austin community, parents and players were the most difficult thing he's had to do, he said.
Some coaches would bolt right away if given the opportunity to get a coordinator job at a Division I program. Morris turned down the TU offer once (before leading Lake Travis to a state title) and then made sure that a football banquet and celebratory parade were complete before announcing his new job. He owed that to his players.
Morris hasn't coached one day at Tulsa. But he already gets high marks for character.
TU makes important hire
1/17/2010 10:50:57 PM
Tulsa made a strong hire with Chad Morris in an effort to revitalize its offense.
Morris has been successful at each of his Texas high school coaching stops, including back-to-back state championships at Lake Travis in 2008 and 2009. He's well-respected in Texas, which should provide a boost in recruiting.
Morris' knowledge of the "hurry-up, no-huddle" offense will fit perfectly with a TU football team that ran that style in 2007 and 2008 under Gus Malzahn. In fact, Morris is friends with Malzahn and reportedly watched many of Tulsa's games during the former co-offensive coordinator's two-year stay at 11th and Harvard.
Tulsa's numbers dipped offensively in 2009, which coincided with Malzahn's departure to Auburn. After leading the nation in total offense in back-to-back years, the Hurricane was 35th in total offense. Not bad, but not where the program grew accustomed to finishing.
Did the one-year slip force Graham to hire a new co-offensive coordinator? That's a question to be posed to the fourth-year coach during a Monday press conference.
For now, familiarity could benefit the TU program and its players. Hiring Morris is a step in the right direction.
The Chad Morris watch
1/14/2010 11:37:15 PM
Chad Morris, the popular Lake Travis (Texas) High School coach, was believed to be on Tulsa's campus on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Who is Morris? According to red-hot rumors, he could be Tulsa's next co-offensive coordinator.
Morris has led Lake Travis to back-to-back Class 4A state championships. His innovative offense, which is patterned after Gus Malzahn's hurry-up, no-huddle attack, has reportedly drawn interest from his alma mater Texas A&M and another Division I school.
The energetic coach has an all-time coaching record of 162-25, and led Bay City (Texas) to a state title in 2000, meaning he had three state titles in a decade.
TU officials will not comment on Morris. They will point out that there is not a vacant spot on the coaching staff.
Could it happen? Probably, but only if one of the assistants is moved to an administrative role.
If Morris were hired, it could benefit Tulsa immensely. The personnel is in place to run Malzahn's offense and a coach would be excited for his first college job. Also, recruiting in Texas will probably be boosted significantly with Morris' ties to the state.
So is it going to happen? The Austin Statesman reportedly isn't getting calls returned from Morris. TU isn't talking.
There is one thing to watch: Lake Travis is having a celebratory parade on Sunday afternoon. Morris may not want to be the news on that special day.
The waiting game continues …
----- Eric Bailey
Chasing a coaching rumor
1/11/2010 7:55:20 PM
Who is Chad Morris?
Chad Morris has spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Lake Travis High School, a three-time defending champion. He's an offensive guru that runs Gus Malzahn's hurry-up, no-huddle attack..
He also appears to be on Tulsa's radar for a football staff position. A source said that Morris is expected to be on TU's campus this week for a visit.
Tulsa officials won't discuss personnel changes, especially since there isn't a staff position available. But this rumor, which started as a flicker before Christmas, has ignited into a fire.
Rumors have abounded about Morris, who reportedly also has had talks with his alma mater Texas A&M for an offensive assistant position as well as another Division I school.
Morris has been highly successful and adopted Malzahn's "HUNH" when he was at Stephenville High School, the same school that produced Baylor coach Art Briles.
TheOldCoach.com, Rivals.com's site for Texas High School football, talked to Morris on Monday.
"There are some options," Morris told the website. "But nothing has been done … I have not put a time to a decision."
Later on, Morris said "I'm perfectly happy at Lake Travis. But if there might be a right fit somewhere … there could be some options."
It is an interesting pursuit. There were injuries and inexperience at many places, but there was little doubt that Tulsa's offense slipped last season.
The formula worked in 2007 and 2008. Perhaps change in 2010 could bring more wins to TU.
TU's 2010 football schedule, chasing rumors and Charlie Stubbs
1/5/2010 7:24:18 PM
Tulsa football news and notes as signing day approaches in less than one month …
--- Tulsa's 2010 nonconference football schedule is nearly complete, and could be released as early as this week. Games already on the schedule include road trips to Oklahoma State and Notre Dame and a home game against Central Arkansas. Look for a non-AQ school (likely from the MAC) to possibly fill in the final home date.
Conference USA games include home visits from Rice, UTEP, Tulane and Southern Miss. TU will travel to Houston, East Carolina, Memphis and SMU.
--- Chasing rumors are never fun, and this time of year always entertains phone calls and tips about player departures and coaching changes. I've already heard one whopper regarding the coaching staff but so far it's been all smoke, no fire.
--- Coaching updates: Former TU offensive coordinator Charlie Stubbs, who was Steve Kragthorpe's offensive coordinator at Tulsa and for one season at Louisville, has been named head coach at Nicholls State … Former Tulsa linebackers coach Darin Eliot (2006) is expected to named defensive ends coach on Jimbo Fisher's staff at Florida State. He spent the last thee years at Rice …
--- Boise State completed another unbeaten season with Monday's win over TCU. Just a few months ago, Tulsa barely lost 28-21 to the Broncos. It's hard to believe that just years ago, when TU and Boise were in the WAC, that Boise would elevate as quick as it did.
A sidenote: I still think the BCS shouldn't have paired Boise State and TCU against each other. It would have been more interesting to watch the best non-AQ schools play teams from power conferences.
----- Eric Bailey
Should TU's Andrews petition for a medical redshirt?
1/4/2010 6:04:48 PM
The final decision to pursue a medical redshirt season for Glenn Andrews is fast approaching.
The Tulsa junior has to decide by Saturday if he will go that direction and have two seasons of availability after suffering a summertime knee injury.
Andrews has saw action in two games this season, but medically the knee hasn't been 100 percent. Swelling has kept him from seeing more playing time.
Of course, his physical health will be the most determining factor. Here are some other things to ponder:
If he doesn’t redshirt ...
* Andrews will provide depth to an eight-man rotation and, more important, add a seasoned guard to the roster.
* The junior could play a part in Tulsa's strongest team since he's arrived on campus. He could improve scoring; remember he ended last season being named to Conference USA's all-tournament team.
If he does redshirt ...
* Andrews would provide added leadership to a team that will be lacking Ben Uzoh in the backcourt next year. He also would be a solid senior in the 2011-12 season.
* Playing time may or may not increase next season. Remember, guards Scottie Haralson, Jordan Clarkson and Tim Peete will be added to the roster in 2010-11.
My thought: Even though Andrews has sacrificed much of this season, he could help the team this year. He'll get playing time in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, but will it be more with that infusion of talent? Remember also that this is all predicated by a healthy knee right now.
TU fans, what are you thoughts?
----- Eric Bailey
Snake eyes ... another Las Vegas victim
12/24/2009 11:54:56 AM
Like so many visitors to Las Vegas, the Tulsa basketball program came home with empty pockets.
Tulsa was simply outplayed in losses to Nebraska and Nevada. There was no rebounding, no defense played. That dominating win over Oklahoma State has become a distant memory.
TV commentators watching the game pointing out that TU was the Conference USA favorites this season. If so, the Golden Hurricane didn't do the league favors.
Perhaps more important that racking up wins, you don't want to give the NCAA Tournament Selection committee any reason to keep you out of the 65-team field.
Consider this: If Tulsa doesn't win the C-USA Tournament, it will be pooled with many other non-BCS schools jockeying for an ever-diminishing at-large bid. A 31-point loss to Nevada will be pointed out often when comparing not just Tulsa scores, but other scores of non-BCS schools.
Two games don't make a basketball season. But in Tulsa's case, it better not hope the Vegas trip doesn't sway the season toward the wrong direction.
----- Eric Bailey
Graham talks about handling criticism and more
12/23/2009 2:32:18 PM
Todd Graham talked to me for 15 minutes for a Thursday question-and-answer article.
The TU football coach discussed life without a bowl game, hindsight thoughts on redshirting Shavodrick Beaver and some fans questioning whether defensive staff shakeups would be best for the program.
One question I asked him is below. I wondered how difficult it was for him and the program to deal with criticism during the season.
Here's his answer:
"We want to win every single day. There’s going to be times in your life when things happen that you can’t explain or fall short. You pick yourself off, dust yourself off and go back to work. I don’t worry about the criticism. I want people to want us to win. We expect to win championships.
"It brings out all the stupid comparisons and stuff. It’s all how you slant the deal. You look at the last three years here. I’ll put them up against anybody. The last three-year period has been the best ever. You don’t worry about that stuff. Does it bother or affect you? Some of it does because it hurts our program. When you look at where our program was seven years ago and see where it is now … the great thing is people care. They care to criticize and complain. We don’t make excuses for falling short. At the end of the year, you simply count up the wins and losses. They don’t factor in if you catch an onsides kick, if you get an interception that hits you in the hands, we’re sitting here getting ready for a bowl game.
"I want our fans and community to have high expectations. I want our program to move forward … in 2004 we were 4-8. It’s not always going to be easy. We want to keep our program moving forward. We’ve made so many great strides. Perception is reality. Some of that hurts us in certain areas. In the football community, with coaches and players coming out of high school, our program is in strong standing. It’s about a body of work."
"I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in the three years that I’ve been the head football coach. I don’t worry about that. It’s what people want to hear. People want to hear all that. How you shut them up is go win. That’s how you shut up the negative talk. I don’t worry about that."
Read more in Thursday's Tulsa World
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