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Source: Tulsa World, Okla.迷你倉出租July 29--For University of Tulsa basketball coaches and players, the 2012-13 season was a frustrating experience.In Danny Manning's first run as a head coach, he went to battle with a rebuilt roster (six freshmen) that became an extremely thin roster (seven players were sidelined for a combined total of 70 games).Occasionally dynamic but unable to sustain any momentum, the Golden Hurricane finished 17-16 overall and 8-8 in Conference USA.Forward Rashad Smith was expected to lead the team in scoring. Instead, because of a leg injury, he played in only four contests. Guard Pat Swilling Jr. (wrist), forward D'Andre Wright (leg) and forward Brandon Swannegan (leg) missed significant chunks of the season.There were times when Manning glanced at his bench, searching for big-man substitution options -- and there were no options."Hopefully," Manning said last week, "the injury bug is behind us."To fully appreciate the extent at which Tulsa's resources were limited, you can examine the current state of the program.Smith and Wright have recovered from stress fractures. This summer, they are at 100 percent for participation in conditioning sessions and pickup games at the Reynolds Center.Swilling is inactive, having sustained another wrist injury, but otherwise, because of the return of battle-tested young players and the arrival of four new ones, the Hurricane roster is teeming with healthy, optimistic athletes. The locker room is wallpapered with chatter and laughter."Last season was tough. Let's never go back to that again," Smith said. "So many guys were hurt, so we had no bench. Now we've got a lot of people -- people who can play. This should be good."Said Wright: "Last season, we basically had half of the team that we have now. I like what we have now. We have a chance to really surprise people."As first-year freshmen, guard James Woodard, Wright and point guards Shaquille Harrison and Rashad Ray had combined totals of 2,907 minutes played and 1,034 points (46 percent of the overall team total). This summer, Smith increased his bench-press maximum from 200 pounds to 245. At 6-foot-8, Wright's commitment to weight training is evident. He has gained more than 20 pounds, now weighing 245.Of Ray and Harrison, Smith said, "Those boys are getting faster, stronger and more responsible with leading the team. Rashad just lifted close to 500 pounds on the squat. Shaq has the stroke now. He has a jumper now. He can really shoot it."Manning's squad is bolstered by the addition of six newcomers. Four of them -- 6-8 forward Lew Evans, 6-7 forward T.K. Edogi, 6-5 shooting guard Stevie Repichowski and 6-7 forward Riley Kemmer -- have been on campus for most of the summer.Two additional new players -- 6-11 center Emmanuel Ezechinonso and 6-4 junior-college guard Marquel Curtis -- arrive in August."We believe the new guys complement the returning pieces very well," Manning said, "but you don't win games on paper."The Hurricane was starved for more size and more shooters, and Manning's recruiting addressed both deficiencies."I feel really good about everything. I think it's going to be a great situation," Evans said. "I watched Tulsa games last season and they would have four guards on the court."Adding size with the new guys, and now having a healthy Rashad (Smith) and a healthy D'Andre, it should be good. We've got big men to go with all of those guards."A new NCAA policy allows Division I basketball programs to start preseason practice 42 days before the start of the season, meaning that Tulsa's official preseason camp opens earlier than ever before -- likely during the weekend of Sept. 20-21.The Hurricane's first exhibition contest is scheduled for Oct. 31, against Haskell Indian Nations University at the Reynolds Center. With the Hurricane attempting to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2003, the regular season opens with the Nov. 10 Mayor's Cup clash -- Oral Roberts at TU.In January, for the final time before moving to the American Athletic Conference, the Hurricane surges into its Conference USA schedule.Concerned that a too-firm floor was a factor in the rash of leg injuries last season, TU officials replaced the practice-gym court. Manning says the new surface seems more user-friendly."Everything is more established now. The structure of the program, the foundation -- it's all taking shape," Manning said. "Our guys are having a nice summer. We're getting stronger. One of the real stories is the changes in these guys' physiques."We're working hard, but the intensity level is not where it will be when the preseason starts. We're just working in short bursts now."They're going to be shell-shocked when practice starts for real."TOP RETURNING PLAYERSAll but two University of Tulsa basketball players -- freshman Emmanuel Ezechinonso and junior-college transfer guard Marquel Curtis -- have been involved in summer conditioning and pickup games at the Reynolds Center. Ezechinonso and Curtis arrive in August. Golden Hurricane sophomore forward D'Andre Wright provides an assessment of returning players currently on campus.D'Andre Wright6-9, 245, sophomore forwardHometown: Lawton2012-13: Appeared in 24 games, made eight starts, averaged 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds. Missed nine games because of a leg injury (stress fracture).Wright on his current status: "I've gotten bigger -- gained about 20 po儲存倉nds. I've been working on my ability to score in a greater variety of ways. I think I'm getting better as a scorer and as a player overall."Rashad Smith6-7, 208, sophomore forwardHometown: Plano, Texas2012-13: Smith averaged 14.5 points through TU's first four games, then missed the rest of the season with a lower-leg stress fracture.Wright on Smith: "Strong. Athletic. A nightmare to guard. He can shoot right over you or go right past you. He's a big scorer that we missed last season."James Woodard6-3, 183, sophomore guardHometown: Edmond2012-13: Woodard was spectacular during Tulsa's second-half comeback at Oral Roberts. He finished the season as the Hurricane's leader in scoring (12.0 points per game) and rebounds (5.8).Wright on Woodard: "Smooth. He's gaining weight and getting bigger. If he's open, he'll make the shot. People don't realize how athletic he really is."Shaquille Harrison6-3, 175, sophomore guardHometown: Kansas City, Mo.2012-13: As a freshman, Harrison averaged 6.8 points and led the team in steals and assists.Wright on Harrison: "Shaq's offensive game has really developed -- probably the most out of everybody. He has become a true point guard, and his jump shot has gotten so much better. People will underestimate his game until he starts knocking down threes."Tim Peete6-4, 205, senior guardHometown: Memphis, Tenn.2012-13: Made 18 starts and averaged 19 minutes and 3.0 points per game.Wright on Peete: "He's a leader. He can do a little bit of everything. Off the court, he makes sure we do the right thing."RETURNING PLAYERSJAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World filePat Swilling Jr.6-3, 225, senior guardHometown: New Orleans2012-13: After missing seven games while recovering from a wrist injury, Swilling (above) connected on the game-winning 3-pointer at SMU and wound up with a 10.7 scoring average. Swilling recently sustained another wrist injury and may not be cleared for full participation until October.Wright on Swilling: "Before he got hurt, he was in great shape. He's one of the strongest dudes on the team. He's a great leader."Rashad Ray5-11, 170, sophomore guardHometown: New Orleans2012-13: As a freshman, Ray was an effective backup point guard and averaged 7.2 points. The fastest man in the program.Wright on Ray: "A strong, compact guard. His offensive game is developing. He's so good on that little runner in the lane, and his pull-up jump shot makes him hard to guard."Brandon Swannegan6-8, 205, sophomore forwardHometown: Houston2012-13: Overcame leg injuries to become an effective shot-blocker. In 23 games, he averaged 3.1 points.Wright on Swannegan: "He's been gaining weight and getting stronger. Very dedicated to that. He's one of our best low-post scorers."Nick Wood6-0, 170, sophomore guardHometown: Tulsa (Cascia Hall)2012-13: The walk-on guard played only 14 minutes last season, but connected on an important 3-point shot during Tulsa's road win over UTEP.Wright on Wood: "Pure shooter. Solid guard. When he's open, he shoots it."Barrett Hunter6-0, 178, senior guardHometown: McLean, Va.2012-13: As a Hurricane walk-on in 2010-11, Hunter appeared in six games. Now a senior, he has returned to the roster.Wright on Hunter: "Stays in the gym all the time and works hard. Good mid-range shooter."NEWCOMERSLew Evans6-8, 230, sophomore forwardHometown: Salt Lake City, Utah2012-13: At Casper (Wyo.) College, Evans averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.Wright on Evans: "Big Lew is a good spot-up big man. He can trail on the break and knock down a three. Really nice shooter."T.K. Edogi6-8, 210, freshman forwardHometown: Surprise, Ariz.2012-13: The exceedingly athletic Edogi led the state of Arizona in rebounding at 15.6 per game.Wright on Edogi: "He's raw, but T.K. is going to be good. When we do drills, our strength coach has T.K. run with the guards. He can do guard-speed stuff."Stevie Repichowski6-5, 181, freshman guardHometown: Lansing, Mich.2012-13: At Kingdom Prep Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, Repichowski averaged 16.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He shot 42 percent from 3-point range.Wright on Repichowski: "He's got a quick release on his shot. He's a catch-and-shoot guy, and he can spot up and score from anywhere. He's got a sneaky smooth game."Riley Kemmer6-7, 207, freshman forwardHometown: Wichita, Kan.2012-13: As a Kansas Class 4A All-State selection, Kemmer averaged 18 points and six rebounds. At TU, he is classified as "a preferred walk-on."Wright on Kemmer: "He's a walk-on who can play. He comes out here and hits shots and dunks. He has the size and athleticism."TU basketball2013-14 nonconference scheduleOct. 31: Haskell Indian Nations University (exhibition)Nov. 3: at New Mexico State (closed-door scrimmage)Nov. 10: Oral RobertsNov. 16: at Missouri StateNov. 20: Wichita StateNov. 23: at CreightonNov. 27: Great Alaska Shootout, Indiana StateNov. 29: Great Alaska Shootout, opponent TBDNov. 30: Great Alaska Shootout, opponent TBDDec. 4: Texas SouthernDec. 7: Arkansas-Little RockDec. 14: at OklahomaDec. 18: Grand Canyon UniversityDec. 21: at TCUDec. 29: at MarylandJan. 4: Cal State FullertonTimes and television details have not been determined. Conference USA schedule has not been released.Bill Haisten 918-581-8397bill.haisten@tulsaworld.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) Visit Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) at .tulsaworld.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉沙田