No More Selling Tulsa Short in Tournament

AUSTIN, Texas — Suddenly, it’s Tulsa time.

Time to give Tulsa its due.

With a four-guard lineup that defies convention and a record so good it invites disbelief, No. 7-seeded Tulsa stormed into the round of eight Friday with an 80-71 victory over No. 6 Miami in the semifinals of the NCAA South Regional at the Frank Erwin Center.

Tulsa (32-4) took a 17-point lead less than 13 minutes into the game, then let Miami come back to take a three-point lead in the second half, only to close out the victory behind center Brandon Kurtz, the only starter over 6 feet 5.

Kurtz scored all 17 of his points in the second half, but make no mistake, Tulsa’s star is Eric Coley, a 6-5 hard-court cowboy who ropes calves in his spare time and rides herd on Tulsa opponents.

Coley led a tag-team defensive effort that held Miami gunner Johnny Hemsley to 13 points and 10 shots, of which he made four. Coley finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots.

“It’s not any different from what he’s been doing all year,” Kurtz said. “The guy seems to be all over the floor. That’s his style of play. He creates havoc.”

Tulsa previously had reached the Sweet 16 in 1994 and 1995, but this is the first time the school that nurtured the coaching careers of Nolan Richardson and Tubby Smith has made it to a regional final--playing No. 8 North Carolina (21-13) on Sunday.

Tulsa is tied with Iowa State for the most victories this season, but the Golden Hurricane’s dominance in the Western Athletic Conference drew skepticism.

Tulsa’s four losses were by a total of seven points--with every loss decided on the final possession. Three of the losses were to Fresno State, the other to Oral Roberts.

The Golden Hurricane’s victory over the Miami Hurricanes Friday was a gale-force win.

Tulsa Coach Bill Self’s theory that “speed beats size” proved itself early, even in a half-court game.

A little more than 13 minutes after the opening tip, Tulsa led, 25-8.

With eight minutes left in the half, Miami had as many turnovers as it did points--eight.

Miami, after a three-point basket by James Jones five minutes into the game, went scoreless until John Salmons’ layup with 6:06 left in the half.

But Tulsa--which forced a trademark 20 turnovers--turned sloppy and scored six points over the last 6:57 to hold only a 31-25 lead at halftime.

Miami (23-11) went ahead, 46-43, on a three-point basket by Vernon Jennings in the second half. But Kurtz and Coley went to work and a 20-4 run by Tulsa spelled the end for Miami.