Seaon record: 4-3 +1.7 UNITS
Tulsa (-3) at Arkansas - 2:05pm Pacific
The Golden Hurricane return 78.3% of their scoring and 80.1% of their rebounding from last years 27-7 second round NCAA tournament team. Point guard Greg Harrington is the only key player gone from last year. Ball handling will not be an issue for this team as they return a pair of 5-11 senior guards in Antonio Reed & Dante Swanson. Both are very quick, experienced, and capable double digit scorers. Junior guard Jason Parker (8.6ppg last year, 17.5ppg in two games this year) has stepped in as the third starting guard very nicely. Senior forward Charlie Davis is a solid defender and rebounder with experience. The star of the frontcourt is power forward Kevin Johnson (20.0ppg, 8.0rpg in 2 games this year) who is a warrior on the low blocks. Forward Marqus Ledoux and guard Jarious Glenn provide depth off the bench.
This is just the type of team who excels early on in the season. They start four seniors and one junior. The team knows each other very well and they have an all senior backcourt that knows how to win.
Arkansas is a complete opposite. The Razorbacks are breaking in a new head coach who is attempting to transform the team from a full court pressuring, 3 point shooting team, in to a half-court set it up, defensively sound team. Five key contributors including three starters (top 3 leading scorers) have left the team since last season. Making matters worse is that senior guard Charles Tatum, the teams most experienced returning ball handler, suffered an injury in a pickup game and will redshirt this season. Arkansas is left with an all freshman starting backcourt and a frontcourt that does not feature any standout players.
It is likely to take some time before new head coach Stan Heath successfully implements his style of play. He has said straight out that the teams offense will improve by conference time, but he would like to see the defense improve first, then work on the offense as he sees fit. Heath's Kent State team last year started just 4-4 in his first year before winning 26 of 28 games and that was with an experienced returning team. Arkansas won their season opener impressively over an outmatched Jackson State team but were beaten soundly 76-64 by Oral Roberts in next game. The team shot just 33% from the field and was even in rebounding margin despite that being one of the teams supposed strengths. Arkansas looks to be a go against team at this point in the season.
Tulsa has been impressive early on beating New Mexico State by 10 and Texas Pan-American by 30 in back to back nights. This team just does not get beaten very often, including 10-3 away from home last season. Last year they played Arkansas down to the wire, losing by 4 at home in a game they really felt they should have won. They have lost 7 straight to Arkansas in the series. Look for Tulsa to avenge last years loss and end the series streak today.
Tulsa 1 UNIT
Good luck,
Edward
Tulsa (-3) at Arkansas - 2:05pm Pacific
The Golden Hurricane return 78.3% of their scoring and 80.1% of their rebounding from last years 27-7 second round NCAA tournament team. Point guard Greg Harrington is the only key player gone from last year. Ball handling will not be an issue for this team as they return a pair of 5-11 senior guards in Antonio Reed & Dante Swanson. Both are very quick, experienced, and capable double digit scorers. Junior guard Jason Parker (8.6ppg last year, 17.5ppg in two games this year) has stepped in as the third starting guard very nicely. Senior forward Charlie Davis is a solid defender and rebounder with experience. The star of the frontcourt is power forward Kevin Johnson (20.0ppg, 8.0rpg in 2 games this year) who is a warrior on the low blocks. Forward Marqus Ledoux and guard Jarious Glenn provide depth off the bench.
This is just the type of team who excels early on in the season. They start four seniors and one junior. The team knows each other very well and they have an all senior backcourt that knows how to win.
Arkansas is a complete opposite. The Razorbacks are breaking in a new head coach who is attempting to transform the team from a full court pressuring, 3 point shooting team, in to a half-court set it up, defensively sound team. Five key contributors including three starters (top 3 leading scorers) have left the team since last season. Making matters worse is that senior guard Charles Tatum, the teams most experienced returning ball handler, suffered an injury in a pickup game and will redshirt this season. Arkansas is left with an all freshman starting backcourt and a frontcourt that does not feature any standout players.
It is likely to take some time before new head coach Stan Heath successfully implements his style of play. He has said straight out that the teams offense will improve by conference time, but he would like to see the defense improve first, then work on the offense as he sees fit. Heath's Kent State team last year started just 4-4 in his first year before winning 26 of 28 games and that was with an experienced returning team. Arkansas won their season opener impressively over an outmatched Jackson State team but were beaten soundly 76-64 by Oral Roberts in next game. The team shot just 33% from the field and was even in rebounding margin despite that being one of the teams supposed strengths. Arkansas looks to be a go against team at this point in the season.
Tulsa has been impressive early on beating New Mexico State by 10 and Texas Pan-American by 30 in back to back nights. This team just does not get beaten very often, including 10-3 away from home last season. Last year they played Arkansas down to the wire, losing by 4 at home in a game they really felt they should have won. They have lost 7 straight to Arkansas in the series. Look for Tulsa to avenge last years loss and end the series streak today.
Tulsa 1 UNIT
Good luck,
Edward
