Opening games

[mcane]

Checking on ESpN
American teams all open at home except TU and a patsy win for Memphis at Vandy

I again register my concern about our schedule
Konkol may and I hope have no control over an opener on the road against a PAC 12 team but a major college program is stupid if this was scheduled intentionally. And any program of note would pay to move it

 

[mcane]

Confirmed only TU and Memphis open on the road
Inexcusable in my view
Pile on haters

I can only hope Rick Dickson had no hand in a schedule designed to lead to a losing season. If he did, then I have lost confidence on him.
Laugh and diss me and TU can lose a major donor who knows even more important donors who are alienated from the program

 

[Henry Kendall]

I do not know about BB schedules specifically, but Rick has talked about FB schedules. We only have a couple of openings left in the next decade, done by Gragg. He expressed his displeasure at the lack of return games by P5 teams. I’m speculating BB is much the same.

Why don’t you just ask him?

 

[TU_BLA]

I do not know about BB schedules specifically, but Rick has talked about FB schedules. We only have a couple of openings left in the next decade, done by Gragg. He expressed his displeasure at the lack of return games by P5 teams. I’m speculating BB is much the same.

Why don’t you just ask him?

Yeah, but Gragg did negotiate the 1:1 8 year series with OSU and the series with Arkansas which will see the Hogs come to Tulsa for the 1st time since 1971 (or something like that). We need to welcome them back to Skelly the same way TU basketball welcomed Billy Tubbs back to Tulsa...with this:

 

[rusty-c]

Yeah, but Gragg did negotiate the 1:1 8 year series with OSU and the series with Arkansas which will see the Hogs come to Tulsa for the 1st time since 1971 (or something like that). We need to welcome them back to Skelly the same way TU basketball welcomed Billy Tubbs back to Tulsa...with this:

View embedded media

If I was speculating BOK financially supported/arranged the OSU series, and Arkansas just wants to use it as a way to satisfy their large NE OK fan base and help recruiting.

 

[TU_BLA]

If I was speculating BOK financially supported/arranged the OSU series, and Arkansas just wants to use it as a way to satisfy their large NE OK fan base and help recruiting.

I don't care who is footing the bill...we don't have to go to Stillwater twice in a row just to get them to come here 1x 5 years from now. Same with Arkansas. I believe that series is at least 4 games, 2:2 and it might be more...and I could care less why they think it's a good thing, they're at least coming and they didn't feel like they needed to satisfy they're Tulsa alumni base for over 50 yrs because hell, a 2 hr drive to Fayettenam is still better than a 2 hr drive to Norman in my book and my local food options in Fayetteville are way better than Norman's.

 

[rusty-c]

I don't care who is footing the bill...we don't have to go to Stillwater twice in a row just to get them to come here 1x 5 years from now. Same with Arkansas. I believe that series is at least 4 games, 2:2 and it might be more...and I could care less why they think it's a good thing, they're at least coming and they didn't feel like they needed to satisfy they're Tulsa alumni base for over 50 yrs because hell, a 2 hr drive to Fayettenam is still better than a 2 hr drive to Norman in my book and my local food options in Fayetteville are way better than Norman's.

Your certainly not wrong and the drive is certainly better.

 

[goldenhurricane2]

Laugh and diss me and TU can lose a major donor who knows even more important donors who are alienated from the program

So you're threatening that major donors are going continue to not support TU because we are opening with a road game to begin the basketball season?

 

[Gmoney4WW]

So you're threatening that major donors are going continue to not support TU because we are opening with a road game to begin the basketball season?

We get a new coach that most look on favorably, and all he can do is threaten to stop doning. All because a schedule which was probably already pretty set when he arrived, doesn't start off with some patsy home games.

Forget the new coach, the first few games doesn't match with what he wants.

You can't win for losing with a 'fan' like him.

 

[rusty-c]

Oregon State is a return game and I would expect that it's scheduling parameters were part of the initial contract that Dumb and Dumber (Gragg & Haith in case anyone still questions who those folks are) left Rick and Konkol. There wouldn't be much affect that a new coach could have on a schedule that is mostly built well in advance of their arrival. I would expect it to be much more favorable going forward, but right now he's trying to remake the bed Dumber left him.

 

[loca2874]

We all knew that we would be going to Oregon state and to Loyola Marymount this year. So you can miss me with your Ill fated shenanigans. I am only irritated that we are short 1 game this year and there isn’t an exhibition game. But I can persevere through that. Lol.

 

[mcane]

I’ve had season tickets since the mid 60s so criticize me all you want

 

[TU 1978]

I’ve had season tickets since the mid 60s so criticize me all you want

Then you were there for the abysmal Jim King years at the Pavilion. You and the few dozen of us that were still going to the games toward the end.

 

[goldenhurricane2]

🤦🏼‍♂️

Konkol hasn’t even been here a full year and we’re already in year 3-4 form with some of these comments.

he is playing with a short hand on recruiting this time around - trying to build relationships and sell a program that hasn’t been all that great for the better part of a decade… so yeah I’m not surprised 5* recruits aren’t decommitting from Duke and Kentucky to come here 🙄

he likely had little to do with scheduling items that have been in place for a couple of years (return games, series, agreements). Further he even said he had two teams back out at the last minute when they were finalizing schedules… not much you can do about that. Maybe he could have challenged the coaches to a fistfight?? 🙄

Have we fallen as a fanbase so far that we are wanting to get rid of a guy despite him not even coaching a real game for us?

I really don’t understand that mindset.

 

[loca2874]

🤦🏼‍♂️

Konkol hasn’t even been here a full year and we’re already in year 3-4 form with some of these comments.

he is playing with a short hand on recruiting this time around - trying to build relationships and sell a program that hasn’t been all that great for the better part of a decade… so yeah I’m not surprised 5* recruits are decommitting from Duke and Kentucky to come here 🙄

he likely had little to do with scheduling items that have been in place for a couple of years (return games, series, agreements). Further he even said he had two teams back out at the last minute when they were finalizing schedules… not much you can do about that. Maybe he could have challenged the coaches to a fistfight?? 🙄

Have we fallen as a fanbase so far that we are wanting to get rid of a guy despite him not even coaching a real game for us?

I really don’t understand that mindset.

Absolutely. Recruits decide to go other places for different reasons and the coach isn’t always the reason why. Maybe they don’t want to go to a program that is rebuilding with a new coach. Maybe mom and dad have influence on where they go and it’s not the recruits decision. Maybe he has a lil shorty that he is following elsewhere.

we shouldn’t be trying to run this man out of town and he hasn’t put his players on the floor for a game. We are not Duke! We are not Kentucky! We are not Michigan State! We are Tulsa and that is fine with me. Stop acting like we recruit like those types of schools. We find players that fit what we do and stay around to try and build the program to compete. We do not get the “one and done” players. We don’t get blue chippers.

some people really need to do some self reflection before posting on here.

 

[nevadanatural]

The comment about two teams backing out could have included a home opener before Oregon State, there’s no way to know.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

some people really need to do some self reflection before posting on here.

 

[astonmartin708]

🤦🏼‍♂️

Konkol hasn’t even been here a full year and we’re already in year 3-4 form with some of these comments.

he is playing with a short hand on recruiting this time around - trying to build relationships and sell a program that hasn’t been all that great for the better part of a decade… so yeah I’m not surprised 5* recruits aren’t decommitting from Duke and Kentucky to come here 🙄

he likely had little to do with scheduling items that have been in place for a couple of years (return games, series, agreements). Further he even said he had two teams back out at the last minute when they were finalizing schedules… not much you can do about that. Maybe he could have challenged the coaches to a fistfight?? 🙄

Have we fallen as a fanbase so far that we are wanting to get rid of a guy despite him not even coaching a real game for us?

I really don’t understand that mindset.

Most coaches have to deal with this when they take a new gig unless it's replacing another coach who moved on to a better job due to success. I don't think what I've seen from Konkol has been exceptional by comparison to what I've seen other places who hired coaches that ended up conducting turn arounds.

 

[astonmartin708]

The comment about two teams backing out could have included a home opener before Oregon State, there’s no way to know.

My question is why are we not doing any pre-season games?

 

[goldenhurricane2]

Most coaches have to deal with this when they take a new gig unless it's replacing another coach who moved on to a better job due to success. I don't think what I've seen from Konkol has been exceptional by comparison to what I've seen other places who hired coaches that ended up conducting turn arounds.

Can you give me an example of that success with a program who has equal or less resources than us?

 

[Gmoney4WW]

My question is why are we not doing any pre-season games?

Because we have two D1 scrimmages. But you know that.

Scrimmages prepare the team better than pre season games.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Can you give me an example of that success with a program who has equal or less resources than us?

He just can't keep from making negative comments. We're doing just as bad as the average on a new hire turnaround. That's his comment. He only gets half a shoulder shrug on that. 💁‍♂️
He doesn't deserve a whole one.

I'll just be glad when the season starts, so all this preseason crap stops. Then they won't have to work so hard to find something to bitch about.

 

[goldenhurricane2]

He just can't keep from making negative comments. We're doing just as bad as the average on a new hire turnaround. That's his comment. He only gets half a shoulder shrug on that. 💁‍♂️
He doesn't deserve a whole one.

I'll just be glad when the season starts, so all this preseason crap stops. Then they won't have to work so hard to find something to bitch about.

He was successful at la tech, who has an athletic budget that’s half (or less) of ours. He was able to recruit (to Ruston LA - yuck) and develop talent rather than land 5* recruits who are NBA ready, that bodes well for us.

I understand the skeptics from the angle of TU letting haith hang around way too long and are jaded… but come on…

just wait until he loses his first game. The haters will be here to tell everyone “I told you so” and threaten again to stop donating or attending 🙄

 

[Gmoney4WW]

He was successful at la tech, who has an athletic budget that’s half (or less) of ours. He was able to recruit (to Ruston LA - yuck) and develop talent rather than land 5* recruits who are NBA ready, that bodes well for us.

I understand the skeptics from the angle of TU letting haith hang around way too long and are jaded… but come on…

just wait until he loses his first game. The haters will be here to tell everyone “I told you so” and threaten again to stop donating or attending 🙄

It's a combo of 15 years jaded. Wojcik/Haith

 

[astonmartin708]

Because we have two D1 scrimmages. But you know that.

Scrimmages prepare the team better than pre season games.

They may get us ready, but there's little likelihood that this team will be very good. It would be better, in my opinion, to get an 'easy' W and introduce the coach and the program rather than scheduling what's probably an automatic L on the road to start the coach's tenure. Seems like a low mid major move to me.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Whatever he does you will criticize, it's automatic.

You said you would give him the benefit of the doubt. Not a game played, and he's a low to mid major kind of coach to you.

You are not giving him the benefit of anything besides criticism.

I'd have loved seeing you walk up to him and criticize him at his inauguration, while you drank the university's wine.

 

[ctt8410]

probably an automatic L on the road to start the coach's tenure

Most projections have us favored at Oregon State.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Most projections have us favored at Oregon State.

Yeah, but they went 3-28 last year, had their top 4 players transfer out(Miss St & Nevada) or go pro. They should be a dynamite team this year, considering the complete rebuild. Doubt we can even come close to their eliteness. Especially since the guy coming in as a transfer,(1st string PG) is going to be out due to injury he suffered in the offseason.

No way we could compete with that team. Chalk that up in column #2. Aston isn't being at all critical in calling this an automatic loss.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I honestly don't know how we will perform this year, or how we will do against Oregon St. But I'm not calling anything automatic until I see them play a few games.

 

[TU 1978]

They may get us ready, but there's little likelihood that this team will be very good. It would be better, in my opinion, to get an 'easy' W and introduce the coach and the program rather than scheduling what's probably an automatic L on the road to start the coach's tenure. Seems like a low mid major move to me.

You never fail to impress all of us with your inane comments on this board. Blaming a new coach for a schedule that predated his arrival is certainly in character for you.

 

[astonmartin708]

You never fail to impress all of us with your inane comments on this board. Blaming a new coach for a schedule that predated his arrival is certainly in character for you.

Only part of the schedule predates him. I'm not upset at playing Oregon State. I'm not upset that we open the regular season with Oregon State. I just think that it would have been a good opportunity to introduce the new coach and his program to casual fans (more than a meet and greet) with what would have amounted to an open scrimmage rather than a road game.

In any case, it doesn't really matter. The schedule is what the schedule is. It's time to play. If Konkol shows that his team can show positive momentum for the future I'll be happy.

 

[astonmartin708]

Whatever he does you will criticize, it's automatic.

You said you would give him the benefit of the doubt. Not a game played, and he's a low to mid major kind of coach to you.

You are not giving him the benefit of anything besides criticism.

I'd have loved seeing you walk up to him and criticize him at his inauguration, while you drank the university's wine.

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. Next time I'll be more cautious about your emotional well being on behalf of a person you don't know.

 

[Henry Kendall]

If Konkol shows that his team can show positive momentum for the future I'll be happy.

I strongly doubt you will be.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. Next time I'll be more cautious about your emotional well being on behalf of a person you don't know.

My emotional well being is just fine. Your constant criticism(without merit) is just annoying to everyone.

You have no idea how we will play against a 3-28 team that everybody of any merit left, and had to be retooled.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

I strongly doubt you will be.

He'd of criticized Self. It's in his make-up.

 

[TU_BLA]

My question is why are we not doing any pre-season games?

Maybe he wants to limit what kind of scouting tape is available for other schools...especially the P5 we play on the road.

 

[cmullinsTU]

Let me preface this comment to clarify that I am not comparing our Coach K to The Coach K.

However, I refuse to ever be down on a new basketball hire for TU before the 1st or 2nd season is complete. He was almost fired at Duke after three seasons because his teams, particularly in years 2 and 3, were terrible. He then went on to be, arguably, the most outstanding collegiate basketball coach of all time.

I'm aware things are vastly different now than in the early 80s, with social media, NIL, immediate eligibility in the portal, etc. Still, the lesson is for even the best. It can take a few seasons to get the players he needs to be successful.

---

This thread is an excellent example of why I rarely post anymore. It is no longer a place for discussion. It is a constant frustration dealing with a handful of constantly negative posters who don't have constructive reasoning for the negativity.

 

[goldenhurricane2]

This thread is an excellent example of why I rarely post anymore. It is no longer a place for discussion. It is a constant frustration dealing with a handful of constantly negative posters who don't have constructive reasoning for the negativity.

Unfortunately there are several good posters who no longer come around because a handful of folks on this board make it so miserable.

 

[I.I.]

I can understand the frustration on the message boards with coaches who underperform for years and years and always say “ This is my best team ever”. and then flop. But Konkol has been thrown into the worst unregulated college basketball situation ever with NIL, Instant unlimited Portals, unrestrained agents, and overinflated 17year old egos who have been told by peers that they will be in the league after one year after they attend their peer’s favorite college.

Konkol in a very short time, has reached out to a record number of media outlets, high school coaches, AAU coaches, TU basketball alumni that had been neglected, and shakes hands in every restaurant in town encouraging attendance. His practices are open and welcoming.

If he loses this enthusiasm and loses his well praised coaching and recruiting skills after multiple seasons, then I will join the two posters here who want him gone tomorrow. But until then I will give him 100% of my support.

 

[loca2874]

I can understand the frustration on the message boards with coaches who underperform for years and years and always say “ This is my best team ever”. and then flop. But Konkol has been thrown into the worst unregulated college basketball situation ever with NIL, Instant unlimited Portals, unrestrained agents, and overinflated 17year old egos who have been told by peers that they will be in the league after one year after they attend their peer’s favorite college.

Konkol in a very short time, has reached out to a record number of media outlets, high school coaches, AAU coaches, TU basketball alumni that had been neglected, and shakes hands in every restaurant in town encouraging attendance. His practices are open and welcoming.

If he loses this enthusiasm and loses his well praised coaching and recruiting skills after multiple seasons, then I will join the two posters here who want him gone tomorrow. But until then I will give him 100% of my support.

All of this. I like the approach that Konkol had taken so far. I also feel that Carson and Dickson are also trying to get the athletic programs going in the right direction. Right now everything feels like it will be good sooner than later. Sooner meaning the next year or two.