PonyFans.com

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Published: 10/4/2010 1:39 PM
Last Modified: 10/4/2010 1:39 PM

Todd Graham said his University of Tulsa defense is getting better on the heels of a second straight win.
The Hurricane head coach was asked during Monday’s weekly media conference if the young unit had turned the corner.
“I don’t know if it’s turned the corner,” he said. “I know it’s gotten a whole bunch better. Any time you can hold somebody to around 200 yards of total offense, that’s pretty impressive.”
The Hurricane (3-2) allowed a season-low 207 yards in Saturday’s 48-7 win at Memphis after holding Central Arkansas to 313 yards the week before.
How much better the defense has gotten will be clearer Saturday when the Hurricane visits SMU for a key Conference USA clash.
It’s important for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that Tulsa is 1-1 in conference play and probably can’t afford another league loss. SMU improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in league play with a 42-31 win at Rice last Saturday.
Graham said SMU is impressive not only for the Ponies’ “innovative offense” under third-year coach June Jones, but also their defense. SMU ranks second in the conference and 27th nationally in rushing defense while allowing 362.6 yards per game.
“I think they’re playing as good a defense as anybody in our league right now. They’ve got some really good players,” Graham said.
SMU ruined Tulsa’s homecoming with a 27-13 win in Chapman Stadium last year, part of an 8-5 campaign that led the Ponies’ first bowl appearance in 25 years.
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