The Final Countdown

Now that the exhibition schedule has concluded with the RSU men losing at Tulsa 66-56 Tuesday night, there are two countdowns remaining for the Hillcat men's and women's basketball programs. Both tip off the new season just two days out from this post. The men play at a two-day classic against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams in Fort Smith, Arkansas Friday and Saturday, while the women play at a similar two-day event in Wichita Falls, Texas against Lone Star Conference squads. The men face preseason #18 Metro State of Denver at 5 o'clock Friday with the women's season opener at 8 o'clock Friday night against host school Midwestern State. The start of this particular regular season means we also punch the clock on the basketball teams final season of not being able to compete for championships. The transition to NCAA Division 2 will be complete after the 2015-2016 school year ends in May. In some ways, it seems like yesterday that the process started. In others, it's flown by at a rapid pace. I absolutely cannot wait for it to be over and see the Hillcats playing Heartland Conference postseason hoops at the UMAC right here in Tulsa in future years. In case you hadn't heard the news, the Heartland is shifting to eight-team fields for its conference tournaments at the end of the season starting this spring. That is very welcome news!

The broadcast crew was extremely fortunate to be able to bring you all three men's preseason games at ORU, New Mexico, and Tulsa. If the Hillcats showing in those games against D1 foes is any indication, I have a feeling they'll finish higher than their league preseason prediction of fifth. Below is a collection of pictures from the exhibition games, mostly from the roadie to WisePies Arena AKA The Pit in Albuquerque. So cool to see the 'Cats in action at such a historic basketball venue. Cross that one off my basketball bucket list. Below are some pics I shot from the walk of fame around the upper concourse at UNM. The photos include former Bulls center and first Australian NBA player Luc Longley, and Oklahoma native J.R. Giddens. Check out the box score photo from when UNM beat #1 Arizona back in 1988. As a value-added bonus for visiting the blog, you can watch the music video of the hit song that falls right in line with the title of this post. Nothing like the band Europe to boost your spirits for the start of a new college hoops season. Enjoy!