Everything that could possibly have gone wrong for Billy Tubbs in his first year as the head basketball coach of Oklahoma has done just that.
It all started when Tubbs lost his only returning starter, guard Raymond Whitley, before the season ever began with a torn Achilles tendon. Then there was the conference-long five-game losing streak, followed by an embarrassing 72-69 home loss to a Division III school that doesn't even give scholarships (Ohio Northern).
The Sooners did wrap up their non-conference schedule with an 88-55 victory mver Stephen F. Austin Jan. 7, but that's been the only game Oklahoma has played in the last 17 days.
The Sooners, the only team in the Big Eight with a sub .500 non-conference record (5-7), must now open the league season on the road Tuesday night against the defending champion Missouri Tigers. And Oklahoma will be without another starter, guard Benny Goldwire, who has been declared academically ineligible.
'Everybody in the Big Eight is as good or better than they were last year with the possible exception of Oklahoma,' said Tubbs. 'We've had a lot of adversity but our enthusiasm has been a plus. We've had many opportunities to fold up the tent but we haven't. There is some character on this team.'
The Sooners are down to nine players and Tubbs figures to move leading scorer Chuck Barnett from forward into the backcourt to replace Goldwire, who had been averaging 9.0 points per game and led the team in steals at the time he was ruled ineligible. Tubbs will likely move 6-9 Larry Hendrix into Barnett's spot on the front line.
Missouri is unbeaten at home in six games this season and has an 11-3 record. The Tigers have also been plagued with backcourt problems -- specifically trying to replace All-Big Eight point guard Larry Drew, who was a first round NBA draft pick last spring.
Coach Norm Stewart tried junior college transfer Moon McCrary and then freshman Shawn Teague before moving Jon Sundvold over from the shooting guard spot. But in so doing, Stewart had to move Ricky Frazier, perhaps the best pure jumper in the conference, from his forward spot into the backcourt.
The move has benefitted Frazier offensively as he is now averaging 18.4 points per game to rank third in the conference. But the Tigers miss Frazier's great rebounding skills, particularly on the offensive boards.
The remainder of the conference opens up Wednesday night with Kansas State at Nebraska and Iowa State at Kansas.
Kansas State has a five-game winning streak but heads to Lincoln where the Wildcats have not won in their last three visits. The Wildcats take a 10-2 record into the game while Nebraska is 6-6.
'We've got to take our time, be patient,' said Nebraska Coach Moe Iba. 'You can't shoot the ball after just two or three passes and expect to beat Kansas State. You've got to keep them in the defensive end of the floor.'
Kansas has won six straight games and Iowa State five and both teams have been major surprises this season.
The Jayhawks, a humble 15-14 last season, are already 10-2 this year with wins over North Carolina, Southern Cal, Memphis State and Pepperdine. Iowa State, a disappointing 11-16 last season, is 7-4 this year with victories over Drake and Alabama-Birmingham and a championship in the Elm City Classic.
'I'll take 7-4,' said Iowa State Coach Johnny Orr. 'That's about as good as we could possibly be. Physically and mentally, we're as good as we can be. We're entering the conference season in as good a time as we could possibly have.'
Oklahoma State and Colorado officially opened the Big Eight season last Saturday with the Cowboys prevailing, 84-67. The two schools will be off until Saturday when Oklahoma State hosts Nebraska and Colorado entertains Kansas State.
