Farris Center Floor Renovation

UCASports.com has updated the Facebook gallery with what looks like photos of the finished product.

What do you think of the new floor?

Before:

After:

More photos here at the official ucasports facebook page.

Coach Williamson bringing more pub to UCA

One obvious positive mentioned before and after the hire of Corliss Williamson was that he could be a media magnet. He’s already proved that to be true with his Rivals.com story posted on the forum last week. I don’t know that we’ve ever had a feature story on Rivals before – ever.

Now, Arkansas Life – the expensive ($4.99?) magazine produced by the DemGaz – has a big cover story on Coach W’s new job. The good news is that the magazine can be read online for free.

Former NBA basketball player and Razorback legend Corliss Williamson takes on expectations again – as UCA’s new coach.

The three-page story is full of a lot of the same information as other stories, but it does give us this gem:

But don’t think Williamson’s changed his nickname to “Big Warm and Fuzzy.” He’s as competitive as ever. He likes to give God credit for his success, but he admits to “losing my religion sometimes when I’m coaching on the sidelines.”

Meet a new Bear – Mark Rutledge

Mark Rutledge
Guard/Forward
6-4, 180
Edison HS, Tulsa
Connors State (Okla.)
13.2 pts / 4 rebs / 2.4 assists at Connors
19.8 pts / 5 rebs / 5 assists at Edison

• Played against Arkansas Baptist last season
• Played one season at UA-Fort Smith
• From Hoopmasters.com:
  Mark Rutledge 6-4 WF Connors State CC, OK -Solid wing man who had 20 points in game we watched. he hit jumper off dribble from 15-17 feet and created dribble drive on the wing. He will see mid-major interest this next month.
• At Connors last season
  • Played in all 34 games
  • 2nd on team in ppg, 8th in the JuCo region
  • 2nd in assists, 9th in region; however, had more turnovers than assists
  • 10 in steals in region
  • 73% ft shooter, 42% fg, only 28% 3pt
• At Edison High
  2008 Tulsa World All-Metro selection, 3-time Green County All-Conference, 1st team All-State by two publications, 1st team All-Metro by state coaches association
• McDonald’s All-American nominee

Meet a new Bear – Jeff Jackson

Jeff Jackson
Point Guard
5-10, 165
LR Central HS and
Logan College (Ill.)
16 pts / 5 assists at Central
3pts / 1.4 assists at Logan

• Stuck behind UCLA signee at Logan.
• Also looks like he was overshadowed by Alandise Harris while at LRCentral.
• Will have three years of eligibility.
• 2:1 assist-turnover ratio last season.
• Often listed at 5-8 in high school.

Meet a new Bear – Aubrey Ball

Aubrey Ball
Guard
6-2, 180
Carrollton Creekview HS, Texas
15 pts / 4.6 assists

• Unsure of actual offers, but chose UCA “over The Citadel, Central Connecticut State, North Texas, Lamar, Minnesota and Santa Clara.”
• Unanimous first-team all-district selection last season.
• Helped lead team to school-record 22 wins.
• His head coach “and the Mustangs call Ball ‘the head of the snake,’ because he leads the team on the floor and does a bit of everything, averaging 16 points, five rebounds and 5.3 assists. Built like a strong safety, the 6-foot-2 point guard can post up and bull smaller guards right into the lane.” – ESPN Blog
• Expected to begin career as shooting guard and develop into point guard.
• (Teammate Reggie Sonnier is headed to UALR.)

Meet a new Bear – JaDarius Davis

JaDarius Davis
6-7, 225
Lufkin HS, Texas
18pts / 8rebs

• Reportedly had offers from Texas A&M and Oklahoma State at one time; interest from Oklahoma and Colorado among others.
• Very strong (300# bench)
• Described repeatedly as people have always described his new coach: “mean streak,” has “nasty” side.
• Was invited to the 2008 Reebok Summer Championships as a junior; ESPN said:
  Davis is a tad undersized for the 4/5 position, but Davis plays with reckless abandon at both ends around the basket. He did an excellent job defending the much taller Evan Anderson and showed no signs of being timid when he attacked the basket. His post moves are raw and he needs to sharpen his footwork, but he has the heart and athleticism to compete at the mid-major level or higher with more skill development.
• Another eval from the Reebok tournament:
  Jadarius falls in line as the quentessential “Texas big man” physically and athletically inclined. Jadarius has average foot work and moves around the basket. Jadarius is very aggressive, plays at a high intensity level and he’s also a good clean up man or as some of you may refer to as “a garbage man,” consistantly getting put backs, second and third attempts before scoring or getting fouled. If Jadarius improves his foot work and moves around the basket this young man will become a force to be wreckoned with.
• Reportedly from a Rivals story:
  Lufkin High School big man JaDarius Davis earned a reputation last year as a beast in the paint, someone who made it a priority to dominate inside.So imagine the slight surprise when the physical 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward said his summer workout routine included dribbling – lots of dribbling.Davis averaged roughly 19 points and nine rebounds last season at Lufkin, combining raw strength (he bench presses almost 300 pounds) and nice inside touch with a bit of a mean streak to make the physical player that has attracted college recruiters. . .
• OU fans were starting to get excited that Davis was on the radar.
• Local story after signing on Monday