Players Still Wondering Who Nolan Is

Originally Published: May 20, 2010 7:13 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – It’s a good thing the Tulsa Shock players all have names on the backs of their jerseys. After two games as a team, a handful of players admit they still don’t really know everyone in the locker room.

“It just makes things a little difficult when we get in tight situations,” said Tulsa guard Scholanda Robinson.

The feeling of unfamiliarity includes head coach Nolan Richardson. His famed ‘40-minues of hell’ quotes are plastered on the team’s locker room walls, but many players don’t know any more about their 68-year-old coach than what they’ve heard through the grapevine.

“He coached at Arkansas. I really don’t know much about him just like he doesn’t know much about us,” said Shock center Kara Braxton. “This is a whole learning experience for a lot of us.”

The team has started the season winless in two tries at home and now has to take its act on the road for the first time. Richardson said after the team’s 84-73 loss to San Antonio Tuesday afternoon that road trips sometimes have a way of bringing teams together.

“I’ve had teams that went on the road and had fun,” Richardson said after the game. “Maybe this team will be more relaxed. I don’t know.”

The players hope getting away helps bring them closer together.

“Sometimes on the road you have a chance to be a little more focused because you’re away in the hotel and you don’t have any distractions,” said Robinson. “Hopefully that happens for us.”

Tulsa will face the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday at 6 p.m. The last time the two met was opening night at the BOK Center. The Shock hopes to come together and pick up its first win 700 miles from home.