CONWAY, Ark. (KATV) — UCA men’s head coach John Schulman is gearing up for his second season with the team, and he’s ready to take on the challenge of rebuilding the program.
“We’re on year two. It takes some time,” Schulman said.
The team opens their season against the University of North Carolina, a formidable opponent, before heading up to Fayetteville to take on the Hogs.
“It’s good. We have kind of a tough schedule, but we’re excited about it,” Schulman added.
Schulman, who had never been to Arkansas before taking the job, shared his initial hesitation.
“I told my wife, we’re going to do a Zoom call with AD at Central Arkansas. She was like, that’s great, but we’re not going to Arkansas,” he recalled.
However, the potential and community spirit won them over. “We love the community, love our neighborhood, love the University,” he said.
The team is excited about local talent, including Cam Hunter, a Bryant native.
“We got Arkansas kids playing at Central Arkansas,” Schulman said. With a new arena on the horizon, there’s a buzz around the program. Schulman emphasized the importance of heart over talent, saying, “Talent is the most overrated thing in everything that we do, in your business, in our business. I think you better be able to show up every single day and work, and talent is just, kind of overrated.”
For fans focused on the Razorbacks, Schulman has a message: “We’re a little bit more real. Cal is a buddy of mine and he’s doing a great job at Arkansas. We’re bringing in Arkansas kids. We want to recruit the state of Arkansas. We want to be a little different and we want Arkansas- come to a game. Come check us out.”
With Little Rock joining their league, Schulman is eager to build local rivalries and excitement. The season promises to be an exciting one for UCA basketball fans.