Oklahoma WBB - New Queen in State

[YemenBear]

Looks like the Tulsa Hurricanes women's basketball team can claim Oklahoma in-state bragging rights for the 2004/05 season. They have staked out victories over Oral Roberts and the University of Oklahoma. When is the last time both Tulsa and ORU were the victors in the Bertha Teague Classic? Surprising to see Tulsa defeat OU and then Oral Roberts go out and defeat Oklahoma State.

I thought OU normally played Tulsa and ORU in this thing, with Oklahoma State also playing TU and ORU. Was the format changed this year, or has it always been a one game per team classic for the 4 biggies in Oklahoma?

Tulsa looks like they have a pretty good thing going right now. Could this be the year that the Hurricanes and Rice Owls rain on the Louisiana Tech parade? Might parity be rearing its head in the WAC?

[Gator]

Was the format changed this year, or has it always been a one game per team classic for the 4 biggies in Oklahoma?

It's been one game per team since I've known about it - which is only a couple of years.

[ndbasket]

Until two years ago the Bertha Teague was a two-day event with ORU and TU playing the two Big XII schools. It was also always the opening weekend of the season.

The original plan was to keep it a two-day event but move it to later in the season so that the two "lesser" programs would not have to start out with two such difficult games while other programs had the flexibilty to schedule some early season wins or host home "buy-in" games.

That didn't work out, so now the current one game format is in place with ORU/TU rotating opponents every year.

There was an article in the Tulsa World yesterday about it. The article also mentioned that there is only two years remaining on the contract...hope yesterday's events don't spoil a good thing.

[Gator]

The article also mentioned that there is only two years remaining on the contract...hope yesterday's events don't spoil a good thing.

OK guys - help me out here - what is good about it? (Serious question) Congrats Tulsa - they played a good game and deserved the win. I hope no one thinks that my question involves OU sour grapes.

What was the attendance at the game? Last year I went to the game in OKC and the attendance was minimal. With a $5 ticket price, it can't be paying its own way, can it? I know Coale was really talking it up last year as a fitting tribute to Teague but there are many ways a pioneering coach could be honored - a yearly award, etc. I get excited about my team but had a hard time getting excited about a drive to Tulsa for a game which didn't seem that important. Of course, now I have the guilts because maybe if a bunch of us had gone and created a 6th woman effect? Grin.

Anyway, if the event faded away, who would be hurt and why?

[swok34]

Anyway, if the event faded away, who would be hurt and why?

The state of Oklahoma and all those 8 and 9 year old kids that look up to the players on each of these 4 schools. I like it......and hope it continues to be played. I usually go and stay for both games.....just too much going on this year, so I didn't attend this year. Ok, I could care less for Oral Roberts, but that's only because I don't like their chair-throwing, screaming coach.....I've always enjoyed the opportunity to see both Oklahoma State and Tulsa play.

This event typically has an outside sponsor; this year I think it was Quik-Trip. Last year.....was it Ford?

I think 3 of the 4 coaches would like to see it moved to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, like it was last year.....
the exception to that is ORU's Finkbetter......

Sherri's thoughts (as well as Goodenough and Kathy McConnell-Miller) all think that if it is held in the same place every year at about the same time....it will be good not only for the game but attendance.

By the way, I didn't realize Kathy McConnell Miller was the sister of the Minnesota Lynx coach, Suzie McConnell Serio.

Attendance this year: 3119.....this is actually not bad for a women's basketball game on a day where the college football powers are determining their fate.

And how frigging convenient that two of the ref's are "Millers" Eddie Miller, Lyden Polk, Doug Miller
just joking :p

Last year's attendance figure: Attendance: 4361

[YemenBear]

I think in-state rivalries are a good thing. I wish Baylor played more of the schools who used to be in the Southwest Conference. Lady Bears went to Rice last year and played in their tournament. Rice traveled to Waco this year. It's not an annual match-up though. I think a Baylor / TCU game would be very exciting. So would a game against the University of Houston. It's not exactly in state, but I wait in anticipation for a contest between Baylor and Louisiana Tech. I wonder what kind of reception KMR would get at their place?

It seems like Iowa State plays Iowa every year. Same with Colorado and Colorado State. Of course, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have more at stake than ORU or Tulsa since they are the big state schools. I understand the dilemna...nobody gets excited when they win because they're supposed to. A loss is another story. The Bertha Teague Classic has to be good for WBB overall in the state of Oklahoma. A crowd of 3,000+ isn't bad. I'm surprised annual attendance isn't closer to 5,000. Maybe if Tulsa and ORU get more competitive, their fans will turn out in bigger numbers.

[labcoatguy]

I don't believe last year's Bertha Teague had a corporate sponsor, at least not one that gave enough money to get their name in front of the thing. (I caught a t-shirt emblazoned with Bertha's lovely face, I should know :) ) Attendance at the Ford Center last year was less than would show up for a game at the Lloyd Noble Center, but more (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong) than would show up for any other school in Oklahoma.

I have mixed feelings on the game being played at the Ford Center every year. On the plus side, more people would probably attend, and attendance is good for the sport. On the minus side, I love road trips, and Tulsa ain't that far. I'm disappointed to have missed this year's game since I no longer live in Oklahoma and happened to be attending a Colorado State women's game at the time, because ORU is the one D-1 campus on Oklahoma I've never been to. Also, if the game was always held in OKC, it would seem to me that there would always be a Sooner bias which, while I normally don't have a problem with that, it would seem to make the OSU - TU/ORU game a permanent undercard.