Rainbows are missing
a beat without Carter

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Without guard Anthony Carter tickling the keyboard, the metronome for the University of Hawaii basketball team was offbeat.

The syncopation particularly affected the timing of Alika Smith, who spent most of the first half out of rhythm. Fortunately for the senior off-guard, he finally got his feet under him in time for Hawaii to secure an 80-66 victory over Southern Illinois last night in the championship game of the PowerBar Invitational.

"The biggest difference without Carter is the tempo of the game," Micah Kroeger said. "He pushes the ball every time and it changes the pace of the game.

"We're a transition team. We like to get out and run. I think the biggest asset of our team when he's in there is he pushes it and pushes it.

"In the first half, we didn't find our running game very much. And in the second half, we did. Alika really stepped it up. He led us on that one big run and everyone followed."

Down 43-42, Smith keyed a critical 9-0 run early in the second half that put the Rainbows up for good. He scored six of his 18 points in that four-minute stretch.

Fellow guard Casey Cartwright, who led all scorers with 19 points, finished it off with a 3-point play. The run came off transition baskets, a Rainbows trademark since Carter came to town.

"The tempo is just not the same without AC in there," Smith said. "We didn't get that many fast breaks or that many open looks. Fortunately, Casey came in and stepped up real big."

Cartwright and fellow junior college guard Chad Hook did their best to fill Carter's spot on the floor. Cartwright knocked down 6 of 10 from the field, while Hook added nine points, dished out eight assists and committed only one turnover.

"I was excited more than nervous about getting a chance to play," Hook said. "I didn't want AC hurt. When he was injured early in practice, it helped me learn the offense more.

"When he came back, I could look at my game and see what he does to make the offense work. The more comfortable I get, the more the shots will fall."

Cartwright also found the range early and often. While Smith struggled in the first half -- he was a woeful 1 for 9 from the field -- Cartwright didn't miss a shot and was instrumental in keeping the Rainbows in the game.

"Our fast break just isn't the same without AC out there because he's usually the quickest guy on the floor," Cartwright said. "Fortunately for us, we've got other seniors like Alika, who can pick us up and go."

Carter doesn't expect to be gone for long. He said last night he would be back at practice on Wednesday and in the starting lineup for Saturday's game with Long Island University. That's music to Rainbows head coach Riley Wallace's ears.

"Everybody just rises to the occasion with AC in there," Wallace said. "Alika shoots with more confidence because he has more time.

"The entire team gets built up into thinking they're good because they get a lot of layups with AC in there. They know if they run the floor, they're going to get the pass and be rewarded for it.

"On the positive side, this gives guys like Chad and Casey some playing time, so when we have to put them in there later in the season, they'll be ready to go."

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http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu