NOW the full-court pressure is really on for the University of Hawaii men's basketball program. The season that just ended will be an easy win compared to next year. UH faces big test
after its big successHere's what must be done: Recruiting is big as always, but it looms especially large this time around.
This year's crop -- or lack of a good one -- will be watched with not only local scrutiny, but national attention as well.
The good recruiting news is that the success of the 1996-97 Rainbows, with four starters coming back, will be an exceptionally good sales pitch for a possible center.
Obviously, a big man in the middle is the first concern with the departure of seniors Seth Sundberg and Danny Furlong.
He won't have to be a big scorer -- although that would be a dream come true for head coach Riley Wallace, the program and its fans.
Just a good rebounder and adequate defender would fill the hole. Any more than that is gravy.
Yet another recruiting challenge remains: possibly going up against bigger, more traditional schools and their recruiting machines.
Wallace said that he and his staff are confident about the current picture, although they have yet to land the designated starting big guy in the middle.
Ales Zivanovic would be a good back-up center, according to Wallace, unless he really toughens up and fully recovers from a severe knee injury.
The bottom line for recruiting is to get a solid group, on and off the court, to fill the individual holes.
But if UH makes the mistake of shooting for too high of a talent level, it could wind up dropping even further than usual.
The second potentially major area of concern is that UH's returning players will get a bit complacent after this past season, which was engineered on being in great shape and hustling until the final buzzer.
It sounds unlikely all of the time, but it happens. Just look at this year's Fresno State team, which wound up being a major disappointment.
I don't think that will be a problem with this group of returning UH players -- especially with the leadership of the four returning starters.
MY guess is that they will do what it takes, which starts right now, to have an even better season next year.
Game after close game, the Rainbows saw the result of training and discipline, on and off the court, firsthand.
They also were given an unfortunate lesson from the three players who were suspended -- and were missed when it really counted.
All returning players also will have to be very careful with their studies and work closely with their advisers on eligibility.
Every year, outstanding college basketball players are ruled ineligible, which severely hurts the team and program.
The team also will have to create a challenging preseason practice environment, which isn't easy when four starting spots -- and most likely all five -- are already nailed down.
Some of the recruits will at least have to believe that they can win a starting position.
Finally, the team has to play a big role in getting more fans out right from the start.
True, the university itself should do a better job of promoting the team, but players staying out of personal and grade problems would help even more.
Taking part in some university and community functions or legal charity events would also help.
Then, once the season-opening tip goes up, the answer for success is easy.
It's the execution that's the hard part.
Score more points on a regular basis than the other guys and the fans will come.
Especially if the Rainbows show a lot of heart and desire along the way, which last season's team did so very well.