Tulsa's Senior Send Off

Originally Published: Mar 2, 2010 8:50 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – Wednesday night’s final home game of the season is a chance for Tulsa basketball fans to say goodbye to three players that helped change the program for the better. Doug Wojcik knows it will be a tough farewell.

“Wednesday night will be the climax of great careers at home for Bishop Wheatley, Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan," TU’s head coach said on Monday. "It's a tough day in a sense that they've had great careers.”

Uzoh and Jordan have worn blue and gold for four seasons. Wheatley’s been in Tulsa for five. The trio helped lift the Golden Hurricane to new heights.

“Four straight winnings seasons, really over the past three years, 23 wins per season,” said Wojcik. “It should be a good night (for them).”

Jordan entered this season as the Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year. The 7-foot center set the school record for blocks early in the season, and finished the year as the career blocked shots leader in league history. He made First Team All Conference as a junior and could have a future in the NBA.

Wheatley played his role for the Golden Hurricane. He didn’t fill up the stat sheet, but played hard on defense and chipped in buckets when he needed to. The senior scored a career-high 21 points earlier this season against conference power Memphis. Wojcik said this year that he values Wheatley’s experience when some of the younger players on the floor.

Uzoh has been the glue that held the team together since arriving on campus in 2006. The guard has started 134 career games heading into Senior Night, more than any other player in team history, and still has a shot at the all-time games played record. He leads the team with 15.6 points per game this season and averages 4.5 assists.

"We’ve got the conference tournament, so I’ve still got a lot of basketball left,” said Uzoh. “I still want to help my team win games.”

The Golden Hurricane hosts SMU Wednesday night at 7. The TU athletic department encourages fans to arrive early for the Senior Night festivities.