Nov. 14, 2006

Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa men's basketball team opens the 2006-07 season on Wednesday night against St. Gregory's of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 pm at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

The Hurricane is coming off of an 11-17 record and sixth-place finish in Conference USA. Tulsa won its two exhibition games this year by 42 and 17 points against Cameron University and East Central University, respectively.

Second-year Head Coach Doug Wojcik is excited about the 2006-07 version of the Golden Hurricane, and for good reason. Tulsa returns seven letterwinners and four starters from a team that continuallu showed improvement during Wojcik's first season at the helm.

Tulsa will have much more depth this year and is a more athletic and versatile team with good size and defensive ability. As shown in its two exhibition games, the Hurricane appears to be an improved perimeter shooting team as well as a better rebounding team.

Among the four starters returning are frontcourt players Darold Crow, Charles Ramsdell and Sam Mitchell, while Brett McDade returns to the backcourt. McDade is the returning leading scorer with a 10.1 scoring average, while Ramsdell is Tulsa's leading returning rebounder with a 6.2 average.

Tulsa showed balance and its tremendous depth and versatility in the exhibition season. In the 84-42 win over Cameron, Ramsdell led a scoring attack that saw 13 players score in the game by scoring 11 points, followed by 10 each from junior Rod Earls and freshman Ben Uzoh. In the second game, a 78-61 win over East Central, the Hurricane overcame a three-point halftime deficit but out-scored ECU by 20 points in the second half. Earls had a game-high 20 points, followed by Crow with 12 and McDade with 11 points. Freshman Jamel McLean led the Hurricane with eight rebounds in each game.

The season opener is the first of 18 home games for Tulsa this year. The Hurricane will play nine of its 11 games in the first two months of the season at the Reynolds Center. The only early season trips for Tulsa has the Hurricane traveling to Denton, Texas to play North Texas and Oklahoma City to face the Oklahoma Sooners.

Tickets are still available for the opener by calling 918-631-GoTU (4688) or stopping by the Athletic ticket Office at the Reynolds Center.