Winter Teams Roll On

It's been quite the winter sports season for UCO. That's actually an understatement, as the three teams currently competing -- men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling -- have a combined record of 41-9 through games/matches of Jan. 22! Talk about impressive.

The Bronchos are ranked 13th in men's hoops and will certainly move up later this week when the new poll comes out. Terry Evans' crew is a snazy 18-2 on the year and 4-0 in Lone Star Conference North Division play, having won eight games in a row.

UCO is also riding a 20-game home winning streak. Amazingly, only three home games remain this season -- Jan. 29 against East Central, Feb. 2 against Northeastern State and Feb. 23 against Southwestern Oklahoma.

This team has a chance to go deep in the NCAA Division II playoffs this season, showcasing great depth and the ability to wear teams out with their fast-paced tempo and defensive pressure. All-American Dauntae Williams is simply a stud and he gets most of the press, but there are several other key parts on this squad.

Brent Friday, with his ability to go inside and score against the big boys while also playing shut-down defense on the perimeter. Jarrod McDaniel, another stout defender with amazing quickness who gets UCO's running game going. Tyler Phillips with his toughness and outside shooting ability. This team plays well together and looks to be on a mission.

UCO's women are a somewhat surprising 11-5 overall and 4-0 in the North Division. I say that because the Bronchos are getting major minutes and increasingly better production from a trio of freshmen, and with first-year players you never quite know what you're gonna get.

Guy Hardaker has five players -- three returners, two newcomers -- on the bench sitting out this year with injury who would have been major contributors this season, yet his team has still prospered. The Bronchos literally get better every time they take the court and if that continues they will definitely be a factor come post-season time.

Ashley Beckley is the lone senior on the squad and what a year she's having. The nicest young lady you could ever hope to meet off the court and an absolute demon on it, A-Beck has been dominating this season with her all-around play in the paint. And she's one heckuva leader, too.

Courtney Allen and Alyssa Fuxa are junior veterans who have both played really well, having taken over games in their own right this winter. But the play of rookies Britney Morgan, Kylie Mayes and Tarrington Oakes has absolutely been the key to UCO's success. Morgan has started every game and grown by leaps and bounds, Mayes is becoming more of an inside terror by the day and Oakes has improved perhaps more than any other player since the start of the season.

Fans have four more chances to see this team in action -- doubleheaders on the same dates as the men along with a Feb. 16 meeting with Texas Woman's.

Speaking of teams winning with youngsters . . . how 'bout those Broncho grapplers? Long-time coach David James has probably the youngest team he's ever had with nine -- count 'em, nine! -- freshmen and sophomores in his 10-man lineup and yet UCO is 12-2 and riding a 10-match winning streak.

Oh, and the Bronchos are ranked fifth in the country.

Last year's 15th-place national tournament finish didn't set too well with D.J. and the 29th-year skipper brought in several highly-regarded freshmen plus a key transfer to go along with some young talent already in the room. Mix it all together and UCO appears on its way back to being a Division II powerhouse once again, one that will be a major contender in the national championship race every year.

This young group has improved mightily since November, though D.J. continues to emphasize that much work still remains.

Jarrett Edison is the lone upperclassmen in the starting lineup and the junior 197-pounder is enjoying a stellar season, as are sophomore returners Trison Graham, Derrick Adkins and Kelly Henderson. Freshmen brothers Cory and Cody Dauphin have infused the team with talent and personality and sophomore Ky Corley has been a big-time addition.

Fans will have just one more chance to see this team in action, with the Bronchos set to host Ouachita Baptist and Newman on Feb. 11.

It's been a great winter so far for the Bronchos and the stretch run of February and March should be an exciting time for all three teams.