Tulsa

GameNight: Illinois vs Tulsa (South Padre)

Evan Dorey — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:21:26 -0500

Start: Nov 29 2008 - 8:00pm

Preview & Prediction: By Evan Dorey

-- Evan Dorey's game previews & rankings are based on Elo Ratings. Elo Ratings are fairly simple, all teams are assigned an initial number of points, which is the same for all teams, eliminating preseason bias. Then, as the season progresses, when a team wins it gains points, and when it loses it drops points. The amount of points that are gained or lost depend on the level of the opponent (beating a cupcake gets you little, beating #1 will be a big increase), the scoring margin of the game (which is capped), and the game’s location. To take a look at Evan's College Basketball Elo Ratings, visit his website or blog where he discusses the rankings along with other statistical observations about big games and interesting teams.

While there are more than 110 games scheduled for today, many of the prime matchups in the big preseason tournaments are not on until Sunday, so today I’ll talk about an interesting, but not particularly high-profile game, #50 Tulsa (4-1) facing #17 Illinois (5-0) in South Padre Island, TX, in the final of the South Padre Island Invitational.

The unbeaten Illini picked up a very solid win at Vanderbilt last week, and opened the tournament by surviving a tight game with Kent St in overtime. Tulsa picked up a convincing loss at Oklahoma St., but rebounded in this tournament to beat Texas A&M by 11 to make the final.

These are two very solid defensive teams, and given that neither is particularly speedy, a game in the 60s should be expected. Tulsa’s defensive strength rests on good defense from three, as they certainly showed in holding the Aggies to just 2-17 from behind the arc. The Hurricane are a decent defensive force inside as well, as they do a good job contesting interior shots and are decent in pulling down defensive boards. Illinois has defended shots well, but their perimeter defense to date has been spotty, and has not been as effective overall as the Hurricane’s. Illinois is good at keeping their opponents off the free throw line, though given Tulsa’ s immense struggles there, this may not be that large a benefit.

Offensively, Illinois has a slight edge, mostly due to their solid three point shooting, along with their ability to gain a possession edge through preventing turnovers and grabbing offensive boards. They tend to focus their attack heavily inside, and use a lot of passes, leading the nation in assists/basket. Tulsa also feature a more inside oriented-attack, but they are on the whole better shooters from the field. However, the Hurricane have a number of glaring offensive weaknesses that can be exploited. They turn the ball over a fair amount, though Illinois hasn’t forced a lot of turnovers so far this season. They are also among the worst in the nation in racking up assists and in free throw shooting, falling below 55% from the line so far.

Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan are an inside-outside combination for Tulsa, one of whom has led in the team in scoring in every game so far this year. The 6-3 Uzoh has shot very well so far this season, and while he likely won’t stay at his current 61.7 eFG%, he will continue to be a very solid shooter from two and three for the Hurricanes, while at the same time running the team from the point. 7-footer Jerome Jordan has yet to play over 25 minutes in a game this year, but he is effective when he does play, shooting over 61% from the field and grabbing a handful of assists and blocks, along with a pretty solid free throw percentage for a big man.

Illinois have been getting important contributions from their own inside big men, Mike Davis in particular. Davis is the Big Ten’s leading rebounder so far this season, and has posted three double-doubles. His playing time has tripled from his first season, and while he has shown good form against a fairly soft schedule, whether he can accomplish this against some better defending is a big question. Outside support has come from senior Trent Meachem, who is a strong shooting guard and has started out on a solid clip. 7-1 Mike Tisdale hasn’t had a huge impact yet, but with that kind of size, a big breakout is always possible.

I would expect a fairly tight, defensive contest, with Tulsa just falling short. They seem to have weaknesses that are pretty significant on offense, and I’m not entirely convinced their defense will be as solid inside as it has been in the early going. Either way, the winner will have a decent win on their resume come at-large bid time.

Winner: Illinois Margin: 5-10

College Basketball: Top Centers

Joey Whelan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:39:20 -0500

The true center in college basketball is a rarity these days. The game that used to be dominated by giants of the paint is now all about up tempo play, the fast break, and hybrid players that can start at multiple positions. That isn’t to say that the great post players of the game are no longer in existence, it’s just that many of these big men have started to add more versatility to their game or are simply just more athletic than their predecessors. Here is a look at the best of the bigs in college hoops this season.

Pick Six: Top Centers

Throughout the week, check back for articles highlighting the Top 6 players at each position. Tomorrow we’ll be rolling out the Top 6 at shooting guard.

1. B.J. Mullens – Ohio State

That’s right, the first newcomer to top one of the positions lists. Not only is Mullens arguably the top freshman in the country this season, he could wind up being the top pick in the NBA Draft come June. Standing a legitimate 7-feet and possessing a freakishly explosive vertical jump, Mullens has the physical attributes that could allow him to dominate the Big Ten right away. His hands are excellent and he has a nicely developing post game, though much of it still relies on his athleticism around the rim. Perhaps most intriguing at this point about the youngster is his ability to step away from the basket and still be an effective scorer. Mullens exhibits a very smooth jumper that almost no one in college basketball will be able to contest on a regular basis. His game is still very much a work in progress as he is still learning how to completely utilize his physical gifts. Mullens will have to show more enthusiasm on defense than he did at the high school level in order to be an impact player on the other end of the floor as well.

Stats: DNP Freshman

2. Hasheem Thabeet - Connecticut

The tremendous improvement that Thabeet showed from his freshman to sophomore seasons was almost enough to put him atop this list. Another monster of the middle, the junior stands 7’3” with an enormous wingspan, and packs 260 pounds onto his frame. He runs the floor surprisingly well for a player of his size and shows great explosiveness around the rim; it’s a given he will dunk if given the space. His post game is very far from being finished, as he still attempts less than six shots per game. His footwork is raw and he lacks any real pivot moves, though he does have the ability to finish with contact inside, a major plus. Defense is where Thabeet really makes his mark. His man-to-man coverage isn’t great, due to his lack of upper body strength, but his shot blocking abilities make him a game changer on this end of the floor.

Stats: 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.4 apg

3. Andrew Ogilvy – Vanderbilt

What a freshman season for the Aussie. Ogilvy burst onto the scene in the SEC as probably the most fundamentally sound center in the country. His footwork is phenomenal, and he has the ability to light it up with a jump hook that he can consistently hit with either hand. His overall offensive repertoire in the post is very impressive and his quick feet make him a difficult match up for most big men. What hinders Ogilvy though is a lack of great athleticism. He isn’t very explosive, so in many situations where he would be better suited elevating over defenders for an easy score, he looks to draw contact or finish with a finesse move off the glass instead. He doesn’t have a face up game with the ball at this point, but look for that to continue to develop in the upcoming seasons. The biggest key for Ogilvy this season will be staying on the floor; he struggled with foul problems last season.

Stats: 17.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 apg

4. Jordan Hill – Arizona

Despite being a real impact player for the Wildcats last season, Hill managed to go largely unnoticed by most of the country. The junior posted averages of 13 point and 8 rebounds in 29 minutes of work while shooting an outstanding 62% from the field, the 13^th best mark in the country. Hill’s back to the basket game is still a work in progress, as it is for many big men at this level, but he shows some nice promise with a right-handed jump hook, and has proven to be a fairly effective passer out of the post. He needs to work on reading when double teams are coming and how to avoid them. Hill showed great improvement in his range from last season, showing the ability to step away from the basket more often. While his handles aren’t great at this point, he exhibits an outstanding first step for a frontcourt player, able to beat most big men on a regular basis to the basket where he shows a soft touch.

Stats: 13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

5. Jeff Pendergraph – Arizona State

Another player having flown under the radar for the last couple of seasons as a result of other talented big men in the Pac-10, the senior could finally emerge this season as one of the top centers out west. Pendergraph has great physical attributes: a solid 6’9” 230-pound frame and well above average athleticism. He has a nicely developing post game, highlighted by a right-handed jump hook that he hits regularly thanks to his soft touch. Pendergraph as a whole is a very efficient low post scorer, connecting on nearly 60% of his shot attempts last season. The biggest wrinkle he has added to his game over the years is the ability to catch and shoot from mid-range, able to knock down the open 15-footer on a fairly regular basis now. Pendergraph is a tough defender inside, but ASU primarily goes with a zone look, so he isn’t in too many one-on-one situations. A slight bump in his rebounding numbers this season would be a big boost to the Sun Devils.

Stats: 12.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.9 apg

6. Jerome Jordan – Tulsa

Jordan is a mid-major big man just waiting to be noticed by a larger audience. A 7-footer who moves well, the junior had an inconsistent year for the most part, but turned things on down the stretch, posting three double-doubles in his last six games, and had an impressive 17-point, 9-rebound, 4-block performance against Memphis in his last game. Jordan shows flashes of some nice post moves, particularly a strong drop step and a developing hook shot that could prove to be nearly impossible to stop if perfected. His game is still very raw though and will need a lot more polish. Defensively Jordan was a shot blocking machine last year, finishing 5^th in the country at 3.7 per contest. He has great mobility as already mentioned and shows a real knack for timing his jumps to contest shots.

Stats: 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

Next in Line: Luke Nevill, Utah; Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga; Taj Gibson, USC; Cole Aldrich, Kansas; Aron Baynes, Washington State.

Love it or hate it, let’s hear it!

Conference USA Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:59:49 -0500

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Conference Rank: 11th

10 year average: 8th

Conference USA Page

All-CUSA Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Stefon Jackson	UTEP	Sr
G	Robert Vaden	UAB	Sr
G	Tyreke Evans	Memphis	Fr
G	Jermaine Taylor	Central Florida	Sr
F	Jerome Jordan	Tulsa	Jr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Robert Vaden High-Major All-Americans Stefon Jackson Jerome Jordan Jermaine Taylor Ben Uzoh Robert Vaden Jeremy Wise All-Freshman Team Tyreke Evans		Points: Stefon Jackson 23.6 Rebounds: Jerome Jordan 7.9 Assists: Jeremy Wise 4.2 Team: Memphis 79.9

Conference USA Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

?	Memphis**	CUSA	1	NCAA
47	UAB	CUSA	2	NCAA
68	Southern Miss	CUSA	3	NIT
75	UTEP	CUSA	4	NIT
106	Tulsa	CUSA	5
119	Marshall	CUSA	6
131	UCF	CUSA	7
137	Houston	CUSA	8
185	Tulane	CUSA	9
221	East Carolina	CUSA	10
260	SMU	CUSA	11
285	Rice	CUSA	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

** returning conference champion

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the CUSA?

Other CUSA Content

Head Coach Interviews

Larry Eustachy: Southern Miss

Mack McCarthy: East Carolina

Other

Rise & Fall: CUSA

Top Non-BCS Players: Vaden/Evans

Top Centers: Jerome Jordan

Conference USA on National TV

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win Conference USA?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:14:23 -0400

State of '08: Oklahoma

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:06:47 -0400

Duke or Carolina? BC or UMASS? Gonzaga or Washington.. or Washington State? What is the best program in each state? While there's not much competition in Hawaii.. there are great debates to be had in loaded regions like California, North Carolina, and Texas. The State of '08 is a ranking of every program in every state.. based mostly on recent success (the last five years) mixed in with subjective factors such as conference prestige, historical success, and overall program direction.

For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA - From 1995 to 2003, the Sooners made 9 straight NCAA Tournaments. The last handful of years have been a bit more unpredictable due to the departure of Kelvin Sampson, but this year's squad has very high expectations.

OKLAHOMA STATE - The Cowboys haven't been to the Big Dance since 2005, which ended an 8-year streak. The last three teams haven't even finished in the RPI Top 50 or at .500 in Big 12 play. The departure of Sean Sutton should help jump-start the program's future.

ORAL ROBERTS - Unlike brother Sean, Scott Sutton's coaching career is off to a phenomenal start. In 9 seasons, he's turned ORU into the Summit League's dominant power. They've made three NCAA Tournaments in row, were a basket away from reaching it in 2005, and are considered by some to be the league favorites once again in 2009.

TULSA - Doug Wojcik has done a great job getting Tulsa back on track after a brutal run from 04 to 06. For whatever its worth, the Golden Hurricane won the CBI last year, but have a shot to make the Big Dance this season. From 1994 to 2003, Tulsa won at least 19 games every season and made 8 potseason trips.

Last: Ohio - Next: Oregon

State of '08: The Introduction (& State list/links)

2008-09 Tulsa Basketball Preview: #106

Joel Welser — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:39:34 -0400

Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Overall Rank: #106

Conference Rank: #5 C-USA

2007-08: 25-14, 8-8

2007-08 postseason: CBI

Tulsa culminated a successful 2007-2008 campaign by winning the inaugural CBI tournament. That was not the exact tournament the Golden Hurricane wanted to be in, but it is a good building block towards the future. And that future looks extremely bright under fourth year head coach Doug Wojcik. However, there might a small step backwards this year before Tulsa starts becoming a major player in Conference USA.

Who’s Out:

Brett McDade was never the most flashy point guard, but he was a steady floor leader, especially during his senior year. McDade, who shot 42.3 percent from beyond the arc, was not a bad scorer either. Finding somebody to run the show as effectively as McDade will be a huge issue all year long. Fellow guard Rod Earls saw his production decrease last season, but he still started 18 games and averaged 6.4 points per contest. Calvin Walls will leave a huge hole at power forward. The 6-7, 235 pound Minneapolis, Minnesota product averaged 8.5 points and 7.2 rebounds during his senior campaign and the Golden Hurricane will have a lot of trouble replacing him.

Who’s In:

But at least there are plenty of candidates to replace Walls. Newcomers Steven Idlet, Joe Richard, Armond Battle and Bassel Bawji will join returnee Sam Mitchell for minutes at the four spot. Idlet, a 6-9 220 pound redshirt freshman, has the most potential to help out right away. Idlet can step outside and stretch the defense with his outside shooting ability, but he is also getting to be strong enough to effectively battle in the paint. Once he puts it all together, which a year on the bench would help, Idlet can be a very effective player. The tough and athletic Richard will hit the glass strong and Battle will add plenty more to the team. Ideally, Battle is a small forward, but he can play the four if necessary. The 6-6 Plymouth, Minnesota native is a great athlete who can knock down the mid-range jumper with consistency or get to the basket. The other need that was addressed by Coach Wojcik with this class is at point guard. Adrian Hernandez and Brandon Jackson have to fill the void left by McDade. Hernandez has the experience after spending some time at Monterey Peninsula College in California. At 6-3, he has the size to make space for himself and the defensive tenacity to cause problems for the conference’s top scorers. The lefty is a pass first point guard, but he can score. He will simply look to involve his teammates first and that is exactly what Tulsa needs. Jackson, another lefty, is 6-5 and is full of potential, but this will be Hernandez’s team for now.

Who to Watch:

If Hernandez and Jackson need some time to adjust, the Golden Hurricane will be in trouble. If junior Ben Uzoh has to bring the ball up court, Tulsa’s best scorer would be less effective. Uzoh averaged 15.6 points per game last year and most of that damage was done by getting to the rim. Uzoh can hit the outside shot and he will grab more than his fair share of rebounds, but his most important asset is being the team’s go-to-scorer and he does that by driving the lane. Glenn Andrews can hit the three-pointer as well, but his 32.9 shooting percentage from long range was no better than Uzoh’s. Still, Andrews will be the shooter off the bench who can also score in other ways.

Final Projection:

The frontcourt is slowly turning into a strength. Small forward Ray Reese emerged during his junior year and averaged 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds. Reese will not put up huge numbers on any given day, but center Jerome Jordan will. The seven-footer had a breakout campaign in 2007-2008 and tallied 10.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per contest. His presence on both ends of the floor has turned Tulsa from a middle of the pack team to a potential conference winner…or at least second place.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Adrian Hernandez, Junior, Guard, DNP last season

Ben Uzoh, Junior, Guard, 15.6 points per game

Ray Reese, Senior, Forward, 7.7 points per game

Steven Idlet, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season

Jerome Jordan, Junior, Center, 10.5 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2008-09 Preview & Awards | Coach Interviews | Discuss the Preview

Three Stars of the Day: Alexander, Jordan, Roby

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:15:04 -0400

We handpick the best performances of the day, whether it be stat lines that make you drool, or clutch performances. Either way, its our way of showing the love:

Joe Alexander - West Virginia

Continuing his dominant run (30 ppg over 5 games), Alexander had 34 & 7 in an upset win over UCONN

Jerome Jordan - Tulsa

The sophomore big man continued his tear with 23 points and 17 boards, killing UAB's tourney hopes

Richard Roby - Colorado

Roby had 32 & 13 in the Buffs surprising double-OT win over Baylor in the Big 12's opening round

Other Top Performers

James Anderson - Oklahoma State - The freshman had his best game in months.. a solid 18 point, 8 rebound effort

Dave Bliss - Georgia - Hit a banker with 0.4 on the clock in OT as Georgia killed off Mississippi's tourney hopes

OJ Mayo - USC - Scored 23 of the Trojans 59 points, and added 6 assists in a win over bubble wannabe ASU

Sam Young - Pittsburgh - The Panthers knocked Louisville out of the Big East tourney behind Young's 21 & 12

Previous Stars of the Day

March 11th - Jeremy Evans, WKU

March 10th - Kevin Kanaskie, MTSU

March 9th - Brandon Johnson, San Diego

March 5th - Marquis Weddle, UTM

March 4th - Joe Alexander, WVU

March 3rd - Kevin Love, UCLA

March 2nd - Tyrese Rice, BC

2007-08 Tulsa Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:00:08 -0400

Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Overall Rank: #108

Conference Rank: #5 C-USA

2006-07: 20-11, 9-7, 4^th (t)

2006-07 postseason: none

Coach Doug Wojcik is doing something right at Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane continue to improve and this year will be no different. Yet, with an improved conference, that does not necessarily mean a better record for Tulsa. The team went 11 deep in 2006-2007 and eight of those players return, so there is no lack of experience on this squad, but a few frontcourt defections should have Tulsa fans worried.

Who’s Out:

All four players heading out are forwards. Charles Ramsdell and Darold Crow have run out of eligibility after posting successful senior campaigns. Ramsdell averaged 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, while Crow added 7.3 points and 3.7 boards. Jamel McLean had major potential to have a breakout season, but he will wait a year and save his potential for the Musketeers of Xavier. McLean was a solid shot blocker for Tulsa and averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds. Seldom used Sean Coleman has also transferred after his freshman year and could have played a bigger role in 2007-2008.

Who’s In:

A couple newcomers will provide some much needed depth under the basket. Bishop Wheatley redshirted last year after earning five starts as a freshman in 2005-2006. At 6-6, Wheatley does not have the ideal size for a power forward, but he is bruiser who will battle in the paint and get on the glass. Incoming freshman Steve Idlet is a dynamic forward. The 6-9 Prairie Grove, Arkansas native will be a force on the defensive end and will do a bit of everything on the offensive side of the floor. His ability to step outside and hit the jumper is something that the returning big men cannot do and if he can manage to find some minutes this year, his ability to stretch the defense will open up the entire Tulsa offense. On the perimeter, Glenn Andrews and Justin Hurtt will be quality scorers before their time is up with the Golden Hurricane. Andrews is a good shooter and, once he masters putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket, will be a good player. Hurtt is pretty much the opposite of Andrews and will provide some fantastic finishes this year, but needs to work on his shooting.

Who to Watch:

Both of the newcomers in the backcourt will have time to develop their games with the amount of talent returning. After spending two years at junior college and one year on the sidelines at the Reynolds Center with a foot injury, Rod Earls exploded onto the C-USA scene and earned third-team all-conference honors. As a senior, Earls should improve on his 11.2 points per game, but it will be tough for anybody to shoot any better than his 40.8 percent from behind the arc. Ben Uzoh had an amazing freshman campaign, averaging 9.9 points and a team high 5.0 rebounds. However, those numbers do not do him justice. The 6-3 guard is also a good passer and a solid defender in both the block and steal departments. Wing Ray Reese is probably the second best shooter on the team behind Earls and will provide a spark off the bench. With senior Brett McDade filling the leadership role and Mark Hill building off of a successful freshman campaign at the point, there is no lack of options for Coach Wojcik on the perimeter.

Final Projection:

The talent is not quite as good up front, but there is a trio of players returning who started at least ten games a year ago. Power forward Calvin Walls, who played briefly at Wichita State, is a decent scoring option when not in foul trouble. Sam Mitchell, a 6-9 junior, and seven-footer Jerome Jordan will split time at the center spot. Jordan only averaged 7.8 minutes per game as a freshman, but developed quite nicely for a relatively raw big man. With a year of experience under his belt, he could progress into a dominating center.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:

Brett McDade, Senior, Guard, 6.8 points per game

Rod Earls, Senior, Guard, 11.2 points per game

Ben Uzoh, Sophomore, Guard, 9.9 points per game

Calvin Walls, Senior, Forward, 5.9 points per game

Sam Mitchell, Junior, Center, 4.5 points per game

Complete Top 144 Ranking | 2007-08 Preview | Discuss the Preview

Friday Transfers: Memphis, Tulsa, Arkansas

Jeff Borzello — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:32:45 -0400