New York City or Chicago, maybe. But Paris?
Olivier Saint-Jean is the main man at San Jose State. The 6-6, 225-pound junior forward was an all-Big West first-teamer last season - and he has picked up where he left off as San Jose State joined the WAC this year.
He is averaging 21.7 points per game - third best in the conference - for the Spartans, who host Hawaii tonight at 5:30 p.m. (HST).
Saint-Jean is hitting at a 46-percent clip from the floor and is also fifth in the league in rebounding with a 9.3 average for San Jose State (9-7 overall).
"Everybody's saying that he could play in the NBA," UH head coach Riley Wallace said yesterday from San Jose. "He is very tough."
The Rainbows (13-3, 5-1) are coming off an impressive 85-63 victory at San Diego State last Saturday, which was the first of their three-game road trip.
"They have trouble scoring, but they're a good defensive team - which keeps them in the game," Wallace said. "I'm very, very nervous about this one."
The Spartans, under veteran head coach Stan Morrison, got off to a good start this season, going 8-2 in the first 10 games, which included an upset of Alabama.
"He is a very good coach," Wallace said of Morrison. "You can bet that he spent some time breaking down our films and will do some special things to stop us."
But the Spartans have struggled in the conference with a 1-5 record. Last week, San Jose State lost at Wyoming (75-59) and at Colorado State (80-76).
The other Spartan starters are: 6-5, 210-pound sophomore forward Thomas Lowery; 6-0, 175-pound senior guard Tito Addison; 6-2, 192-pound senior guard Brad Quinet, and 6-9, 223-pound center Rich Taylor.
Quinet is the team's second-leading scorer at 13.5 points per game.
San Jose State is averaging only 64.8 points per game (61.8 in the WAC) and is allowing 67.6 (69.5 in the WAC).
Hawaii will go with its usual starters.
Anthony Carter, the team's leading scorer with a 17.7 average (19.5 in WAC play), will be at one guard, with Alika Smith (16.2 overall and 13.5 in the WAC) at the other.
Micah Kroeger (10.4 overall and 11.8 in the WAC) will be at forward, along with Eric Ambrozich (10.0 overall and 11.8 in the WAC). Seth Sundberg (7.2 overall and 7.7 in the WAC) is at center.
Kroeger is coming off of a 20-point performance at San Diego State. Ambrozich had 12 rebounds against the Aztecs, while Carter picked up nine assists - his 6.3 assists average is second in the WAC.
Hawaii is averaging 74.8 points per game, while allowing 64.3.
Wallace said that the Rainbows will start the game in a man-to-man defense and that Kroeger will guard Saint-Jean.
Wallace said that reserve forward Greg Miller sprained his ankle in practice yesterday and is doubtful for today's game. Reserve guard Quentin Gallon was sent back to Hawaii by Wallace for missing team curfew.
UH completes its three-game West Coast swing at Fresno State on Saturday.
The UH-San Jose State game will not be televised, but will be live on the radio on KCCN (1420 AM).
Hawaii vs. San Jose State