Tulsa Men’s Basketball Gets Fresh Start as Practice Begins
TULSA, Okla. –– With an open invitation to fans and supporters, The University of Tulsa men’s basketball team begins practice on Thursday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
After a challenging 2022-23 campaign, the University of Tulsa men's basketball program is gearing up for a new era of Golden Hurricane hoops in the upcoming 2023-24 season. This season promises to be a transformational one, marked by significant changes and a fresh lineup of talent.
“We’ve been working with the guys since the summer, but now we can go to a couple hours a day with the entire group and spend more time, break things down, have more film time, meeting time and really dive into even more details,” said Head Coach Eric Konkol.
“In the time that we have had, I’m excited about the enthusiasm, the commitment and the interchangeable parts that we have. Now, we’re looking forward to diving into those details and try to put the team together.
“We have a lot of installation to put in. We used the offseason to really build up each player and build up their skills. We’ll still have a skill development portion of practice, but now it’s time to really install all the different concepts and schemes offensively and defensively,” added Konkol.
The Hurricane faced the daunting task of replacing 96 percent of its scoring from the previous season. With only two returners, sophomore Jesaiah McWright and senior Ari Seals, who endured a 5-25 season, the team had a lot of ground to cover.
Konkol, now in his second year at the helm, orchestrated a major reconstruction effort during the offseason. He turned to the transfer portal, bringing in a mix of six four-year college transfers, two junior college transfers, and four promising true freshmen to complement the two returning players.
Coach Konkol initiated the recruitment spree by reuniting with two familiar faces, guards Cobe Williams and Keaston Willis, who played under his guidance at Louisiana Tech. Williams, known for his ballhandling and defensive prowess, earned multiple Conference USA all-defensive team honors and an All-Conference USA selection. Willis brings an exceptional jump shot and a track record of 295 made 3-pointers in his career.
Konkol continued to fortify the roster with transfers – forward Isaiah Barnes and guards Chauncy Gibson and PJ Haggerty. Barnes, after two seasons at Michigan, offers versatility, while Gibson, a redshirt freshman from Clemson, and Haggerty come with a scoring pedigree. Haggerty is a former Mr. Texas Basketball, who comes to Tulsa following a season at TCU.
Tulsa’s quest for an interior defensive presence was fulfilled with the addition of 7'1" Mohamed Keita from St. John's. Keita will still have four years of eligibility remaining.
The incoming class also features two junior college forwards. Salt Lake Community College transfer Jared Garcia, at 6’8”, provides valuable experience, having made 19 starts in 32 games last season, while Carlous Williams has an impressive career at Pearl River Community College.
The remaining three newcomers are impressive true freshmen. Jarred Hall and Matt Reed signed letters of intent in the November early signing period. Hall is a decorated prep athlete and was named Tennessee 4A Mr. Basketball. Reed brings a lot of size at 6’9” and is capable of scoring from anywhere on the court and defending multiple positions. Guard Tyshawn Archie from SPIRE Academy signed in late June to round out a formidable guard lineup.
As the team transitions from a challenging 2022-23 campaign to a season filled with renewed hope, one thing is certain as Tulsa embarks on the new year –– this Hurricane group brings a wealth of athleticism and size, signaling an exciting season ahead.