The University of Hawaii men's basketball team opens the season tomorrow night with Texas-Pan American, a program that's actually had more problems recently than the UH athletic department. In September, the Broncs had another four years of probation tacked on to the three they already were serving for NCAA violations.
Two months ago, UTPA had its scholarships reduced from 13 to 12 for each of the next two seasons and are not allowed to award scholarships to junior college players during that time. Those sanctions hurt the Broncs, who have often gone the quick-fix route and have just two returning starters back from the team that went 9-19.
Hawaii's 10th-year coach, Riley Wallace, is preaching nothing but positive thinking heading into the season opener.
"People who like each other play well together," said Wallace, whose team had a school record 33 assists in Tuesday's exhibition win over Jiangu Nanjing Club of China. "One of the things that's impressed me all along is how they want to make the extra pass, how they love to give their teammates a good pass.
"It's an important win for us to get the season started off right, but nothing's worrying me about Tuesday other than it being the first game. I'm more concerned about what we need to do than what they (UTPA) do."
What Hawaii needs to do is rebound and play team defense. The Rainbows need centers Seth Sundberg and Danny Furlong to be more aggressive on the boards and junior forward Mike Robinson needs to step up his transition from junior college ball.
Wallace was impressed by the efforts of junior forward Eric Ambrozich in his first outing in nearly a year. Ambrozich, sidelined most of last season with a urinary tract infection, "gets inside the way we need Seth and Danny to," Wallace said.
"We need to have someone else on the boards," he said. "Right now, we have (Micah) Kroeger, who's averaged three rebounds last season. That's not going to get it done. We may have to sacrifice offense for defense and find someone who'll rebound."
Depth inside will be particularly important with the emphasis officials will place on finesse defense this season. Forearms resting on the back and trying to walk someone out of position while in the key are going to be considered fouls.
"Those things, and palming the ball, is what the refs are going to be watching for this year," Wallace said. "The emphasis is going to be on the post play, both offense and defensive."
The Rainbows will have a chance to work on adjusting against different types of defenses. The Broncs like to switch from man-to-man to zone, and also like to zone press.
During a 2-0 exhibition season, UTPA relied on guards Ivan Ostarcevic and 1994-95 Rainbow walk-onKeli'i Bandmann. Ostarcevic averaged 15 points and Bandmann, from Kauai, averaged 12.5.
Who Texas-Pan American (0-0) vs. Hawaii (0-0)
When 7:35 p.m. tomorrow
Where Special Events Arena
TV/Radio Live on KFVE and KCCN 1420-AM