Cougars Begin Conference Play Against Tulsa

(credit: Anna-Megan Raley/CBS Houston)

Non-conference play is over for Houston and now the games really count as the Cougars look to solidify a possible position for post season play. But, as coaches like to say, they don’t want to look too far ahead. But, would you agree that the goal of most teams, high school, college, pro, even rec league, is to reach the post-season? Certainly it is. 

That brings us to the 8-5 Houston Cougars who on Wednesday night will host the 7-7 Tulsa Hurricane in the conference home opener at Hofheinz Pavillion. Head Basketball Coach, James Dickey thinks he might have a bit of an advantage playing at home. But, the Coach indicates that nothing is guaranteed and the record shows that the Cougars have suffered a loss or three at home. 

“We’ve played better at home recently”, says Dickey. We didn’t start off very well before and after Thanksgiving. But, our guys have come back and we did a better job the last four games and certainly with a start back at Corpus.” 

TURNING THE TABLE 

The Cougars lost back-to-back-to-back home games to Oakland, TCU, and LSU by a total of 4 points all in the last 7 days of November, 2011. However, they rebounded and defeated Willis Wilson’s Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders at Hofheinz, but lost the next two on the road at Texas State and Oklahoma. 

However, they have won 4 straight at home, the last being a 94-71 win over Texas State on December 30, 2011. Maybe that’s an indication that the Cougars have found a rhythm; just in time as it becomes more critical to play well and win in league games. 

“As we told our guys, the intensity level changes during conference,” says Dickey. Tulsa is coming off a big road victory at TCU. That was big momentum for them, a very nice win against a good TCU team. So, we’ll need to be ready with a great deal of energy; make sure we defend and rebound.” 

Golden Hurricane Head Coach Doug Wojcik and Tulsa were a game under .500 when they entered Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Fort Worth and walked out an even .500 with a 74-66 win over the Horned Frogs. Dickey knows that Tulsa is a long-physical team that has a couple of 6’11” guys who play predominately in the post area and a 6’4.5” sophomore point guard with a first name Jordan who averages 15.6 ppg and 4.7 rpg. 

“They’ve got their BIG inside with (Steven) Idlet and (Kodi) Maduka. So, we’re going to have to do a good job of containing (Jordan) Clarkson on the perimeter.” 

A CLOSER LOOK 

The Cougars and Golden Hurricane will meet for the 41^st time and the series is tied at 20. Tulsa averages 66.5 ppg while the Houston Cougars average 80.2 ppg. Defensively, Tulsa allows an average of 64.8 ppg while the Cougars allow an average of 71.2 ppg. Tulsa shoots 64.5% from the free throw line while the Cougars shoot 73.3%. 

Tulsa senior Steven Idlet averages 9.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg. Sophmore Kodi Maduka averages 8.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg. The backcourt of Clarkson and 6’4” 236 pound junior guard Scottie Haralson combine to average 27.1 ppg. Sophomore Tim Peete, also 6’4.5, averages 6.3 ppg and rounds out the starting five. 

The win over TCU came down to hitting free throws and Tulsa was clutch. The game was tied at 63 with 4:07 remaining. Tulsa scored 11 points from that point on a jumper by Clarkson and 9 free throws, two of those by Maduka, and the last four by Haralson. 

“They haven’t shot free throws extremely well over the course of the year, but they made big free throws down the stretch against TCU and they made big plays,” says Dickey. 

“Clarkson made a big jumper for them late in the game and of course Haralson is a terrific shooter. So, it’s going to be about understanding what the intensity level’s going to be, our energy, and you’ve got to protect home court.” 

PROTECT THIS PAVILLION    

The Cougars are 7-3 at home. Dickey has his team believing that the Cougars must protect home court which is evident with the last 4 consecutive wins in Hofheinz, says Cougars 6’3” senior guard Darian Thibodeaux. 

“I know they’re a good-sized team. They got a big guard, Clarkson, 6’5” point guard. Overall they play pretty tough. Really it’s all preparation. Since the last game, we’ve been working on it every day at practice going over some of the things they do. It’s just preparation. We get our minds right, going over everything they do, and do the best we can.” 

Thibodeaux, from Dallas, will be starting his 44^th consecutive game as a Cougar. The big question is does this milestone mean anything to him.  

“It does. But, at the end of the day, it’s still basketball. It’s still competition, so you just got to bring it! 

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