'Bows look to rebound UH faces Rice and Tulsa in a pair of key WACgames
By Cindy Luis
Star-BulletinIn the school of experience, the University of Hawaii basketball team is learning the hard way. Two losses in three conference games has the No. 24 Rainbows questioning how they went from the head of the class to study hall. After a 10-hour overnight flight to Houston, Hawaii was mentally and physically drained when it arrived yesterday afternoon. The Rainbows had a 90-minute practice where they walked through their game plan for tomorrow's contest with Rice, a game that has grown exponentially larger in importance after Monday's 83-76 loss at home to Texas Christian.
"The guys are feeling OK today," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said last night. "They know we didn't finish what we started against TCU. I think we wore ourselves out early against them. We needed to pick our spots when we ran.
"We're concerned about Rice. They're playing their best basketball of the year right now. We've got to find a way to win these next two."
The Rainbows can't afford to look past the Owls to Saturday's game against Tulsa. Despite its 5-11 record, Rice has the potential to give Hawaii plenty of trouble inside and out.
Outside, guard Bobby Crawford leads the Owls in scoring with a 15.5 point average. But the 6-foot-2 senior was averaging 27 points in the four games prior to last Saturday's loss at Fresno State. Inside, 6-9 senior forward Jarvis Kelley Sanni is averaging in double figures in scoring and rebounding.
Rice gave then-No. 4 Utah fits Jan. 3 before falling to the host Utes, 73-65.
After the game, Utah coach Rick Majerus called Rice, "The best 3-10 team in the history of college basketball."
"I'll have to send Rick a thank you note," Rice coach Willis Wilson said.
"I probably owe him for how Fresno State came after us (Saturday), feeling like we were a threat."
The Owls lost at Fresno, 93-65, their first Western Athletic Conference defeat after beating Tulsa and San Jose State. Wilson said tomorrow's game is pivotal for both teams.
"There's no question Hawaii struggled shooting the basketball against TCU," said Wilson, who watched the nationally televised game. "I felt that was the difference in the game. Anthony Carter didn't have one of his better shooting performances (3-for-14) and he's definitely one of the guys the Rainbows look to.
"My feeling is experience is always the best teacher. Hawaii obviously is going to be hungry to win and they've got to be feeling like this is a good opportunity to get one. In college basketball, you never know which team is going to show up on a given night, but we're preparing to see the best Hawaii team."
The Rainbows are hoping to live up to that, as well as their own expectations. Monday night, Hawaii left the Stan Sheriff Center dazed and disappointed.
Carter was particularly upset, questioning the no-calls on his drives to the basket. The 6-2 senior had averaged eight free-throw attempts per game going into the TCU game. He didn't go to the line against the Horned Frogs and finished with just seven points, but had 10 assists.
"The thing that concerns me the most is Hawaii's ability to pass the basketball," Wilson said.
"They're a very, very good passing team, and because they can do that, they can score a lot of different ways.
"It should be an exciting basketball game. We're similar in the respect that we like to run when we can, are opportunistic and like to take advantage of the break when it's there. I thought Hawaii controlled the tempo against TCU. For us, we hope to get into a tempo that we can control."
Senior forward Micah Kroeger re-injured his knee against TCU. He is expected to start tomorrow, but is anticipating surgery again after the season is over.
WAC men's basketball
n Tomorrow: No. 24 Hawaii (12-3, 1-2) at Rice (5-11, 2-1), 3:35 p.m.
Where: Autry Court, Houston
