Wayman Tisdale Returns To OU As Television Analyst

Oct. 23, 2001

Audio

K. Sampson

W. Tisdale

NORMAN, Okla. - Wayman Tisdale, University of Oklahoma men's basketball's career leader in points and rebounds, will return to Lloyd Noble Center this year as analyst for the Sooner Sports Television Network.

Tisdale, who averaged 25.6 points, 10.0 boards and 2.0 blocked shots per game as a Sooner during the 1982-83, 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons under Billy Tubbs, will pair with third-year Sooner Sports Television Network play-by-play announcer Dean Blevins. Former Sooner Renzi Stone will work his second year as courtside reporter.

"It will be a different position because I'm used to being out on the court playing," said Tisdale, a three-time consensus All-American and Big Eight Player of the Year. "But I'm looking forward to getting involved with Oklahoma basketball again. It's one of the most promising programs in the country right now. I'm excited to see it come into its own over the next couple of years."

Added Tisdale, who is finishing requirements to earn a bachelor's degree in radio and TV broadcasting from OU, "It took Coach Sampson a little while to get the program in line, but, now, with a couple of great recruiting years and getting the right pieces in place, I think he has set himself up to have a powerhouse in Norman like we had in the 80s. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this team does. We should be extremely proud to have a guy like Coach Sampson leading our program."

A native of Tulsa who played at Booker T. Washington High School, Tisdale led the Sooners to Big Eight titles his sophomore and junior seasons when OU went 70-11 overall and 33-0 at home. Tisdale competed in the 1984 Olympics and helped the U.S. squad to its first basketball gold medal in 16 years by averaging a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game. The left-handed center turned pro following his junior campaign and was the second overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. Tisdale played 12 NBA seasons for the Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns and averaged 15.3 points during his pro career. He also became the first OU athlete to have his jersey retired when his No. 23 was hoisted to the Lloyd Noble Center ceiling on Feb. 22, 1997.

"We're extremely excited that Wayman Tisdale is once again an immediate member of the Oklahoma basketball family," said OU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. "It's great for him to be actively involved in a sport he loves, and it's meaningful to us that we continue to find ways to strengthen ties with our former student-athletes. Wayman is a class individual who has always represented Oklahoma well, both on and off the court."

Tisdale has enjoyed an extremely successful musical career since retiring from basketball. He has released four contemporary jazz albums, the most recent titled "Face to Face" on the Atlantic Records recording label. He returned to Tulsa three-and-a-half years ago with his wife Regina and four children.

The Sooner Sports Television Network will air seven OU men's contests this season. Games will be televised by Oklahoma City's KWTV Channel 9 or KSBI Channel 52, by Tulsa's KWBT Channel 19, by Woodward's KOMI Channel 24 and by Lawton's KSWO Channel 7 or Lawton Cable.

2001-02 Sooner Sports Television Network
Men's Basketball Schedule

Nov. 28   Central Michigan     7 p.m.

Dec. 5    St. Bonaventure      7 p.m.

Dec. 18   Eastern Illinois     7 p.m.

Jan. 5    Texas A&M            7 p.m.

Jan. 16   at Nebraska          7 p.m.

Feb. 6    Baylor               7 p.m.

Feb. 19   at Baylor            7 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Wayman Tisdale Returns To OU As Television Analyst

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors