2010 Preview: Replacing Uzoh and Jordan

Originally Published: Oct 16, 2010 2:53 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – Losing great players is never easy. Losing two, now that’s downright cataclysmic. This season, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane men’s basketball team will be without two of the most productive players in program history.

Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan moved on to professional basketball. Both leave huge holes in a Tulsa lineup that relied heavily on them both for the past few seasons.

Uzoh was a spread-the-floor guard that had the ability to slash to the hoop and hit open jumpers. Jordan was a 7-foot tall rebounding machine who controlled games with his defense. Both averaged over 15 points per game as seniors and helped lead Tulsa to an NIT appearance.

Filling the space the duo left behind won’t be easy but Tulsa is equipped to handle the blow, according to its head coach. Doug Wojcik said repeatedly after last season ended and into summer workouts that the 2010 Golden Hurricane will be better than a year ago.

Junior forward Steven Idlet got valuable experience in the paint a year ago and should be ready to take over for Jordan. Justin Hurtt has more than enough star power in his game to handle the pressure of replacing Uzoh. Tulsa also has a full complement of guards to chip in on the stat sheet in Donte Medder, Bryson Pope and Glenn Andrews.

Tulsa has to find a way to make up for the 30 points, 13 rebounds and six assists per game that Uzoh and Jordan accounted for. If they can do that, the Golden Hurricane could find themselves near the top of the Conference USA standings this spring.

For more on Tulsa’s 2010 outlook:
2010 Team Preview:
Tulsa’s Ready for C-USA Title run

Tulsa’s Best Player:
Justin Hurtt

Biggest addition:
Freshmen and Transfers Ready to Play

Top Three Moments from 2009:
A Blowout, a Comeback and a Nail-biter

Bottom Three Moments from 2009:
Coming 10/27

Biggest moment of 2009:
Coming 10/28

Three games to look forward to in 2010:
Coming 10/29