*Big win for the UCO football team last Saturday at Wantland Stadium, one the Bronchos badly needed after stumbling out of the gate 0-4.
Plenty of heroes in the 41-21 win, with running back Joshua Birmingham and cornerback Creadell Pennon getting the lion's share of the credit for their incredible individual performances. All Birmingham did was rush for 233 yards -- sixth-best game in school history -- with a 74-yard touchdown scamper while breaking two other long runs to set up scores. Pennon was not to be outdone, intercepting three passes and running one back 100 yards for a TD. The other two were fourth-quarter picks, both in UCO territory.
There were plenty of others who played key roles in the win, from Ethan Sharp's efficient performance at quarterback that included two scoring passes and a TD run to Sam Moses, Keno Meadows, Tucker Cason and Brandon Williams coming up with key defensive stops. And don't forget place-kicker Chris Robbs, who booted a pair of fourth-period field goals when the Bronchos pulled away. It was the best overall effort of the seaosn for UCO, with offense, defense and special teams all playing a big role in the win.
UCO goes back on the road the next two weeks and both will be amazingly hard tests. First up is a long trip to San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Saturday to take on Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) member Cal Poly and then next week the Bronchos go to Topeka, Kan. to meet Washburn, currently ranked fifth in Division II.
After that, though, UCO ends the season with four straight home games.
*This week's Division II women's soccer poll had a familiar name in it for the first time this year -- UCO, which came in at No. 23. The Bronchos have been ranking regulars since 1999, but didn't crack the top 25 all last season and made it for the first time in 2011 thanks to an on-going seven-game winning streak.
Mike Cook's crew has outscored its last seven opponents 21-3 while pitching four shutouts and is definitely on a roll right now. UCO returns from a nine-day break from competition Sunday, hosting Southwestern Oklahoma at 1 p.m.
*Volleyball started a four-match homestand Wednesday night with a three-set throttling of Oklahoma Panhandle, giving up just 15 points in winning the last two (25-6 and 25-9). The Bronchos, now 12-9, are back home Friday against Harding before hosting Texas-Permian Basin Sunday and Newman next Tuesday.
*UCO's rowing team opened its fall schedule last weekend at the Oklahoma River in the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and fared well despite stiff competition that had the Bronchos as the lone Division II school in every race. First-year head coach Andrew Derrick has his team pointed in the right direction and is ready to make some serious noise next spring.
*The youthful UCO women's golf team came through with a fine third-place finish at their own UCO Golf Classic earlier this week at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City. The Bronchos had two sophomores and three freshmen in the starting lineup and still shot rounds of 294-291, with the 291 the third-lowest in school history. Sophomore Chaney Uhles finished third with a one-under-par 139 total after shooting 70-69 and looks like a legitimate All-America contender.
*UCO's cross country team continues to be paced by freshman phenom Brooke Klimek, who came in 11th at the rugged Cowboy Jamboree last week to lead the Bronchos to a seventh-place team finish. Klimek won the first two meets of the season and will be a threat to win every race UCO competes in the rest of the way.
*Don't look now, but the winter sports teams are about to start practice. UCO's wrestling squad, which has 15 national championship banners hanging in Hamilton Field House, will get started Oct. 10 when teams can finally get on the mat. The basketball teams won't be far behind, with the first official practices for both set for Oct. 15. UCO's men and women both made it to the Sweet 16 last year in winning a combined 52 games (30 for men, 22 for women) and both figure to be quite good again this year.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Season Update
Three weeks into the sports year and here's what we've learned from last time!
* For once I was right about something. There was no way the UCO soccer team was going to continue to play like it did in getting out of the gate 0-3 and that's exactly what happened. Since that tough start the Bronchos have reeled off four straight wins, including a huge 2-0 road upset of No. 2-ranked St. Edward's Sunday. Mike Cook's crew has started to play lock-down defense -- having given up just two goals with two shutouts in the current streak -- and the offense has started to find its rhythm. And speaking of Coach Cook . . . congats to to the veteran skipper for picking up his 200th career win with the Bronchos back on Sept. 10 in UCO's 4-0 blanking of Southwest Baptist. Quite an accomplishment for quite a coach.
* The football team seems to have regressed. I saw a lot of encouraging signs during UCO's season-opening 31-10 road loss to what is now the No. 2-ranked Division II team in the country in North Alabama, a talent-laden squad that features 30-plus Division I transfers, but the Bronchos seem to have taken a step back the last couple of weeks. Defensively, UCO played real solid in last week's 20-0 setback at Angelo State and could have easily given up a lot more points with the field position the Rams enjoyed throughout the second half. Offensively, the Bronchos never got untracked last week and that was surprising given some of the skill position people we appear to have. At any rate, Saturday's game at Southwestern Oklahoma looms large for UCO. It will be the 87th meeting between the two old rivals and it could also be the last one as moves by both schools to different conferences will prevent future meetings, at least for the foreseable future.
* UCO's volleyball squad is up-and-down. That shouldn't be too surprising given the amount of newcomers who are playing key roles for Jeff Boyland's Bronchos, who will undoubtedly get more consistent as the season progresses. This team can play at an extremely high level one match and then really struggle the next, but you have to like the make-up of the squad and I think the future is really bright.
* This may be the best cross country team UCO's had since the 2000 club won the Lone Star Conference championship. It may be too early to say that since the Bronchos have had only one meet, with last week's race at Missouri Southern cancelled by lightning, but it's hard not to be excited about this bunch. I know Coach J.D. Martin likes what he sees and that man's been around cross country/track long enough to know. Freshman Brooke Klimek had an amazing collegiate debut in running away with the individual title at the season-opening UCO Land Run on Sept. 10 and you need to keep an eye on this team.
* The UCO men's golf team is good. Real good. National championship-type good. Okay, I'm not going out on a limb much with that statement given the Bronchos returned four starters and several other key players from last year's team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the spring and was fifth in the first Division II national poll of the fall, but still. Two tournaments this fall, two tournament titles. The latest one, which wrapped up Tuesday, was a 26-shot romp over a runner-up team ranked No. 3 in the country. Yep, they're good all right.
* For once I was right about something. There was no way the UCO soccer team was going to continue to play like it did in getting out of the gate 0-3 and that's exactly what happened. Since that tough start the Bronchos have reeled off four straight wins, including a huge 2-0 road upset of No. 2-ranked St. Edward's Sunday. Mike Cook's crew has started to play lock-down defense -- having given up just two goals with two shutouts in the current streak -- and the offense has started to find its rhythm. And speaking of Coach Cook . . . congats to to the veteran skipper for picking up his 200th career win with the Bronchos back on Sept. 10 in UCO's 4-0 blanking of Southwest Baptist. Quite an accomplishment for quite a coach.
* The football team seems to have regressed. I saw a lot of encouraging signs during UCO's season-opening 31-10 road loss to what is now the No. 2-ranked Division II team in the country in North Alabama, a talent-laden squad that features 30-plus Division I transfers, but the Bronchos seem to have taken a step back the last couple of weeks. Defensively, UCO played real solid in last week's 20-0 setback at Angelo State and could have easily given up a lot more points with the field position the Rams enjoyed throughout the second half. Offensively, the Bronchos never got untracked last week and that was surprising given some of the skill position people we appear to have. At any rate, Saturday's game at Southwestern Oklahoma looms large for UCO. It will be the 87th meeting between the two old rivals and it could also be the last one as moves by both schools to different conferences will prevent future meetings, at least for the foreseable future.
* UCO's volleyball squad is up-and-down. That shouldn't be too surprising given the amount of newcomers who are playing key roles for Jeff Boyland's Bronchos, who will undoubtedly get more consistent as the season progresses. This team can play at an extremely high level one match and then really struggle the next, but you have to like the make-up of the squad and I think the future is really bright.
* This may be the best cross country team UCO's had since the 2000 club won the Lone Star Conference championship. It may be too early to say that since the Bronchos have had only one meet, with last week's race at Missouri Southern cancelled by lightning, but it's hard not to be excited about this bunch. I know Coach J.D. Martin likes what he sees and that man's been around cross country/track long enough to know. Freshman Brooke Klimek had an amazing collegiate debut in running away with the individual title at the season-opening UCO Land Run on Sept. 10 and you need to keep an eye on this team.
* The UCO men's golf team is good. Real good. National championship-type good. Okay, I'm not going out on a limb much with that statement given the Bronchos returned four starters and several other key players from last year's team that was ranked No. 1 for much of the spring and was fifth in the first Division II national poll of the fall, but still. Two tournaments this fall, two tournament titles. The latest one, which wrapped up Tuesday, was a 26-shot romp over a runner-up team ranked No. 3 in the country. Yep, they're good all right.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
And We're Off!
A week into the new sports year and here's what we know.
• UCO's volleyball team is resilient. The Bronchos, relying heavily on a sophomore transfer at setter and several true freshmen at key positions, have bounced back from a season-opening loss to win four straight. And two of those have been down-to-the-wire five-set marathons, winning one of those 20-18 and the other 16-14. Rookies Jordan Jacobs and Juliette Smith have shined.
• UCO's football team has some impressive young talent. The Bronchos played 14 freshmen -- seven true and seven redshirt -- in last week's 31-10 road loss to No. 6 North Alabama and four of those really stood out. Wide receivers Christian Hood and Steve Caldwell were fearless in catching a combined 17 passes against a mean UNA defense, while defensive lineman Tyler Newton and linebacker Terry Williamson both made a series of big plays.
• UCO's soccer team is struggling. The Bronchos have scored just one goal in losing their first three games of the season for just the second time in school history and were completely whipped in Wednesday's home-opening loss to Abilene Christian. But something else I also know . . . there's too much talent on this team and Mike Cook is too good a coach for that trend to continue.
• UCO's cross country squad is ready to get started. Coach J.D. Martin's crew finally opens its season Saturday when the Bronchos host the UCO Land Run at Mitch Park in Edmond. Four runners are back from last year, an injury-plagued senior is ready to go and a pair of newcomers look to make an impact.
• Two of our sports that basically have two seasons -- fall and spring -- are also eager to get going. The men's and women's golf teams will open their fall campaigns next Monday and Tuesday, with new coach Pat Bates taking a loaded men's team to a tournament in Abilene, Texas while women's skipper Michael Bond and his youthful squad travel to Dallas.
• UCO's volleyball team is resilient. The Bronchos, relying heavily on a sophomore transfer at setter and several true freshmen at key positions, have bounced back from a season-opening loss to win four straight. And two of those have been down-to-the-wire five-set marathons, winning one of those 20-18 and the other 16-14. Rookies Jordan Jacobs and Juliette Smith have shined.
• UCO's football team has some impressive young talent. The Bronchos played 14 freshmen -- seven true and seven redshirt -- in last week's 31-10 road loss to No. 6 North Alabama and four of those really stood out. Wide receivers Christian Hood and Steve Caldwell were fearless in catching a combined 17 passes against a mean UNA defense, while defensive lineman Tyler Newton and linebacker Terry Williamson both made a series of big plays.
• UCO's soccer team is struggling. The Bronchos have scored just one goal in losing their first three games of the season for just the second time in school history and were completely whipped in Wednesday's home-opening loss to Abilene Christian. But something else I also know . . . there's too much talent on this team and Mike Cook is too good a coach for that trend to continue.
• UCO's cross country squad is ready to get started. Coach J.D. Martin's crew finally opens its season Saturday when the Bronchos host the UCO Land Run at Mitch Park in Edmond. Four runners are back from last year, an injury-plagued senior is ready to go and a pair of newcomers look to make an impact.
• Two of our sports that basically have two seasons -- fall and spring -- are also eager to get going. The men's and women's golf teams will open their fall campaigns next Monday and Tuesday, with new coach Pat Bates taking a loaded men's team to a tournament in Abilene, Texas while women's skipper Michael Bond and his youthful squad travel to Dallas.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Game Week
It's finally here.
It's game week for three of UCO's fall teams -- football, soccer and volleyball.
Football gets it started Thursday night when the Bronchos take on long-time Division II power North Alabama, which is ranked sixth in the pre-season poll. Game-time is 7 p.m. and check out the advance on bronchosports.com for links to follow the game via TV broadcast, radio broadcast or live stats.
It will be quite the challenge for UCO, with the Lions featuring a team loaded with dozens of Division I transfers. UNA went 9-4 last year in making the second round of the playoffs and is expected to be a prime national championship contender this fall.
But it will also be quite an opportunity for the Bronchos. Taking on a well-established power on the field that has hosted the Division II national championship game the last 20 years should have Coach Tracy Holland and his team ready to play at a fever pitch.
Soccer takes the field Friday afternoon in Omaha, Neb., going against a Nebraska-Omaha team that won the Division II national title just a couple of years ago and is now in the process of moving to Division I. UCO follows that with another game Sunday in Omaha, this one against Truman State.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning talent -- 10 starters are back from 2010 -- and a host of newcomers who are chomping at the bit to get on the field and contribute as well. This has the makings of a very good fall for Coach Mike Cook and his crew.
And speaking of Coach Cook . . . the veteran skipper will be going after his 200th win at UCO in Friday's opener against UNO. Mike is 199-68-16 since he debuted as the program's only coach in 1998, which is some kind of good.
Volleyball also opens up on Friday, with the Bronchos in Joplin, Mo. for two days of play in the Missouri Southern Invitational. UCO will play twice each day, going against Harding and the host Lions on Friday before taking on Quincy and Newman on Saturday.
The Bronchos will have a bunch of new faces this year with a large group of newcomers, but look for Coach Jeff Boyland to once again put an exciting -- and winning -- product on the court.
The volleyball team, by the way, will be the first one to play at home this year when they host Southeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Soccer follows the next day with an afternoon contest against Abilene Christian to start a three-game homestand and then cross country will kick off its season at home on Saturday, Sept. 10 with the UCO Land Run.
It's game week for three of UCO's fall teams -- football, soccer and volleyball.
Football gets it started Thursday night when the Bronchos take on long-time Division II power North Alabama, which is ranked sixth in the pre-season poll. Game-time is 7 p.m. and check out the advance on bronchosports.com for links to follow the game via TV broadcast, radio broadcast or live stats.
It will be quite the challenge for UCO, with the Lions featuring a team loaded with dozens of Division I transfers. UNA went 9-4 last year in making the second round of the playoffs and is expected to be a prime national championship contender this fall.
But it will also be quite an opportunity for the Bronchos. Taking on a well-established power on the field that has hosted the Division II national championship game the last 20 years should have Coach Tracy Holland and his team ready to play at a fever pitch.
Soccer takes the field Friday afternoon in Omaha, Neb., going against a Nebraska-Omaha team that won the Division II national title just a couple of years ago and is now in the process of moving to Division I. UCO follows that with another game Sunday in Omaha, this one against Truman State.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning talent -- 10 starters are back from 2010 -- and a host of newcomers who are chomping at the bit to get on the field and contribute as well. This has the makings of a very good fall for Coach Mike Cook and his crew.
And speaking of Coach Cook . . . the veteran skipper will be going after his 200th win at UCO in Friday's opener against UNO. Mike is 199-68-16 since he debuted as the program's only coach in 1998, which is some kind of good.
Volleyball also opens up on Friday, with the Bronchos in Joplin, Mo. for two days of play in the Missouri Southern Invitational. UCO will play twice each day, going against Harding and the host Lions on Friday before taking on Quincy and Newman on Saturday.
The Bronchos will have a bunch of new faces this year with a large group of newcomers, but look for Coach Jeff Boyland to once again put an exciting -- and winning -- product on the court.
The volleyball team, by the way, will be the first one to play at home this year when they host Southeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Soccer follows the next day with an afternoon contest against Abilene Christian to start a three-game homestand and then cross country will kick off its season at home on Saturday, Sept. 10 with the UCO Land Run.
Monday, August 22, 2011
School Is Here
It's Monday, Aug. 22, the first day of the fall semester for UCO and its 17,000-plus students. Which means that finding a parking place has become even more of a challenge than the past two weeks, when students first starting moving in.
More importantly, it also means we're just over a week away from the fall sports season starting.
Football gets things started first, opening the season next week with a Thursday night game at North Alabama, an NCAA Division II playoff team last year. The Lions have a roster full of Division I transfers and were ranked sixth in the pre-season national poll.
Volleyball and soccer both open next weekend, both hitting the road for classics. Soccer goes to Omaha, Neb. to take on Nebraska-Omaha (Sept. 2) and Truman State (Sept. 4), while volleyball travels to Joplin, Mo. to play four matches in the Missouri Southern Classic Sept. 2-3.
The cross country squad doesn't start up until the next weekend, hosting the UCO Land Run Sept. 10 at Mitch Park.
All four teams have been busy getting ready, with two-a-day practices the norm instead of the exception. From all reports, much progress has been made as coaches try to mesh together returners from last year with newcomers, be they freshmen or transfers.
Football has had a pair of intrasquad scrimmages and it's readily apparent the Bronchos have more team speed than in recent years. There is some special talent at several positions, but depth in certain areas is thin and a brutal schedule will provide an extra challenge.
Volleyball scrimmaged an outside opponent last Friday and a young squad that must grow up in a hurry had some impressive moments. There will be several new players who will play key roles this fall, so look for the Bronchos to make impressive progress throughout the year.
Soccer also had a scrimmage last week and this team appears ready to make a big splash. Ten starters returned and a host of talented newcomers have shown their ability to contribute, with the Bronchos ready to reclaim their status as a perennial national tournament team.
Cross country also has a good mix of returners and newcomers, with this group putting in lots of miles during morning and afternoon workouts to get ready for the fast-approaching season.
It should be a fun fall, even if I can't find a parking place.
More importantly, it also means we're just over a week away from the fall sports season starting.
Football gets things started first, opening the season next week with a Thursday night game at North Alabama, an NCAA Division II playoff team last year. The Lions have a roster full of Division I transfers and were ranked sixth in the pre-season national poll.
Volleyball and soccer both open next weekend, both hitting the road for classics. Soccer goes to Omaha, Neb. to take on Nebraska-Omaha (Sept. 2) and Truman State (Sept. 4), while volleyball travels to Joplin, Mo. to play four matches in the Missouri Southern Classic Sept. 2-3.
The cross country squad doesn't start up until the next weekend, hosting the UCO Land Run Sept. 10 at Mitch Park.
All four teams have been busy getting ready, with two-a-day practices the norm instead of the exception. From all reports, much progress has been made as coaches try to mesh together returners from last year with newcomers, be they freshmen or transfers.
Football has had a pair of intrasquad scrimmages and it's readily apparent the Bronchos have more team speed than in recent years. There is some special talent at several positions, but depth in certain areas is thin and a brutal schedule will provide an extra challenge.
Volleyball scrimmaged an outside opponent last Friday and a young squad that must grow up in a hurry had some impressive moments. There will be several new players who will play key roles this fall, so look for the Bronchos to make impressive progress throughout the year.
Soccer also had a scrimmage last week and this team appears ready to make a big splash. Ten starters returned and a host of talented newcomers have shown their ability to contribute, with the Bronchos ready to reclaim their status as a perennial national tournament team.
Cross country also has a good mix of returners and newcomers, with this group putting in lots of miles during morning and afternoon workouts to get ready for the fast-approaching season.
It should be a fun fall, even if I can't find a parking place.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Are You Ready For Some Football?
It's here.
The season doesn't open for another three weeks, but football officially arrived at UCO Thursday, Aug. 11, with the start of practice. More than 100 players reported to campus Tuesday, with Wednesday spent on physicals, equipment check-out and meetings before Thursday morning's first workout.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning players eager to make amends for last year's 2-9 record that included a number of heart-breaking losses -- including two by one point in overtime -- and voluntary summer workouts were well attended. Also in the mix is a huge group of newcomers, which includes a freshman class the coaching staff raves about and several transfers who are expected to have an impact.
Three weeks isn't a lot of time to get ready for the first game, especially when that opener is at long-time Division II powerhouse North Alabama. A brutally long bus trip to take on a returning national playoff team with a large volume of Division I transfers in the lineup will certainly test the Bronchos right off the bat, but that's just one of many challenges UCO will face this fall.
Four straight road games to open the season also won't be much fun, with the Bronchos not making their home debut until the Oct. 1 Homecoming contest against East Central. And that home opener is followed by a long trip to California to face a tough Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team in Cal Poly.
But all those obstacles are still a ways away. Right now, coaches and players are just excited to be back on the football field.
The season doesn't open for another three weeks, but football officially arrived at UCO Thursday, Aug. 11, with the start of practice. More than 100 players reported to campus Tuesday, with Wednesday spent on physicals, equipment check-out and meetings before Thursday morning's first workout.
The Bronchos have plenty of returning players eager to make amends for last year's 2-9 record that included a number of heart-breaking losses -- including two by one point in overtime -- and voluntary summer workouts were well attended. Also in the mix is a huge group of newcomers, which includes a freshman class the coaching staff raves about and several transfers who are expected to have an impact.
Three weeks isn't a lot of time to get ready for the first game, especially when that opener is at long-time Division II powerhouse North Alabama. A brutally long bus trip to take on a returning national playoff team with a large volume of Division I transfers in the lineup will certainly test the Bronchos right off the bat, but that's just one of many challenges UCO will face this fall.
Four straight road games to open the season also won't be much fun, with the Bronchos not making their home debut until the Oct. 1 Homecoming contest against East Central. And that home opener is followed by a long trip to California to face a tough Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team in Cal Poly.
But all those obstacles are still a ways away. Right now, coaches and players are just excited to be back on the football field.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Winter Schedules . . . Odds and Ends
Since the water in Oklahoma's ever-shrinking ponds and lakes must be near the boiling point with the repeated 100-degree days we're having it seems only appropriate to talk about winter. As in UCO's winter sports schedules.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, it will be a light home schedule for men's/women's basketball and wrestling this coming season. The Bronchos are competing as NCAA Division II independents in 2011-12 as we transition from the Lone Star Conference to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, which UCO will join for the 2012-13 school year.
Not being part of a conference has played a huge role in the scheduling difficulties experienced by many of our teams, particuarly football and basketball. Wrestling hasn't been a conference sport for decades and has always had its own difficulties.
The final result is that UCO will have just 15 home basketball games -- combined -- this coming season and four home wrestling duals, though the Bronchos will host the all-important Super Regional II Tournament in late February.
There will be only five basketball doubleheaders at Hamilton Field House -- two in November, one in January and two in February. And two of those will be against state rival Northeastern State, a team UCO's men and women will face four times apiece this winter.
The best thing for three three teams involved is that they should all be good. Very good. Maybe even very, very good. The men and women's hoops teams both return four starters from Sweet 16 teams. The wrestling squad has back all 10 starters from a 15-4 team.
...
UCO's fall sports teams will be reporting soon to begin preparing for their fast-approaching seasons. Football is first, with the Bronchos coming in Aug. 9 before practice starts Aug. 11.
Soccer, volleyball and cross country will all report the week of Aug. 15.
...
About the only thing left to finish off the installation of new turf at Wantland Stadium is the clean-up and with not much time to spare since practice starts next week. It looks really good, though the color in both end zones and the big UCO sign in the middle is not quite the modern version. That will be fixed before UCO's first home game, though, so no worries.
...
And finally, we've a KD sighting. As in Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best basketball players in this whole wide world. KD used Hamilton Field House for a practice session Sunday afternoon, going at it for 2 1/2 hours. Now we know yet another reason he's as good as he is.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, it will be a light home schedule for men's/women's basketball and wrestling this coming season. The Bronchos are competing as NCAA Division II independents in 2011-12 as we transition from the Lone Star Conference to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, which UCO will join for the 2012-13 school year.
Not being part of a conference has played a huge role in the scheduling difficulties experienced by many of our teams, particuarly football and basketball. Wrestling hasn't been a conference sport for decades and has always had its own difficulties.
The final result is that UCO will have just 15 home basketball games -- combined -- this coming season and four home wrestling duals, though the Bronchos will host the all-important Super Regional II Tournament in late February.
There will be only five basketball doubleheaders at Hamilton Field House -- two in November, one in January and two in February. And two of those will be against state rival Northeastern State, a team UCO's men and women will face four times apiece this winter.
The best thing for three three teams involved is that they should all be good. Very good. Maybe even very, very good. The men and women's hoops teams both return four starters from Sweet 16 teams. The wrestling squad has back all 10 starters from a 15-4 team.
...
UCO's fall sports teams will be reporting soon to begin preparing for their fast-approaching seasons. Football is first, with the Bronchos coming in Aug. 9 before practice starts Aug. 11.
Soccer, volleyball and cross country will all report the week of Aug. 15.
...
About the only thing left to finish off the installation of new turf at Wantland Stadium is the clean-up and with not much time to spare since practice starts next week. It looks really good, though the color in both end zones and the big UCO sign in the middle is not quite the modern version. That will be fixed before UCO's first home game, though, so no worries.
...
And finally, we've a KD sighting. As in Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the best basketball players in this whole wide world. KD used Hamilton Field House for a practice session Sunday afternoon, going at it for 2 1/2 hours. Now we know yet another reason he's as good as he is.
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