WELCOME to Babble On. ’Bows can’t leave
stones unturnedThe Hawaii men's basketball team missed last week's Rolling Stones concerts, busy with its own tour: Bridges to Obscurity.
Maybe the Rainbows need to tune in, turn on and quit dropping out of sync when it comes to their opening act in the first five minutes of the second half.
With apologies to Mick and the Boys, Micah (Kroeger) and the 'Bows need to do something if they're going to have the Stan Sheriff Center rocking again the next few weeks like Aloha Stadium did Friday and Saturday.
Perhaps cutting their own album would do the trick. With a little help from the Stones' latest release, here's some tracks the Rainbows should consider in order to go platinum in March:
FLIP THE SWITCH: This is the song that needs to be played at the start of the second half when the Rainbows come out of the locker room, not the theme from Batman. Or maybe "Start Me Up."
A disturbing pattern has developed the past five WAC games when Hawaii leads at halftime then struggles in the opening minutes after intermission.
"If we could get rid of those first five minutes, we'd be undefeated (in the WAC)," said senior guard Alika Smith.
ALREADY OVER ME: No question that the voters are already over the Rainbows, dropping them out of the Top 25 polls this week. Maybe it's a good thing. Hawaii has not played well since the pressure of being ranked was applied three weeks ago.
Coach Riley Wallace says he's not coaching any differently, that game preparation is not any different. But the Rainbows have historically done better when being the underdogs. Hawaii is used to being the hunter, not the hunted.
The target is off their backs. Time now to get back in the hunt for the Pacific Division title.
TOO TIGHT: The Rainbows have spent more time working on their offense during practice the past few weeks, letting their defense take care of itself. The result? Defense has kept Hawaii in games that the offense has tried to give away via turnovers.
The answer is to get the offense back in the flow of the game (read that getting Smith back to shooting his shot). Hawaii needs to rediscover the patience that led to the open layups off the option and get the big guys some stickum for their hands.
HOW CAN I STOP: The good news is the Rainbows are home for the next three games, leaving their road "Beast of Burden" at the airport until leaving for the Feb. 12 game at Texas Christian.
The rims have been friendlier at home, particularly when Hawaii is shooting free throws. The charity strip proved uncharitable Saturday, when the Rainbows missed 9 of 21 attempts, including 4 of 10 in the last 7:40.
Hawaii was 17th among Division I schools in free throw shooting with a 73 percent average. In their two losses last week, the Rainbows sank to 69 percent against TCU and 61 percent at Tulsa. That's not going to win the close ones.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT: OK. It's not recent but it's a classic. The Rainbows have had some dreams "Shattered" and are looking for an "Emotional Rescue" right now.
They are not "Out of Time" and it's not "All Over Now." But can't "Fade Away."
Hawaii got what it wanted in the first six weeks of the season: big wins over Indiana and Kansas; national recognition; and the first ranking in 24 years.
But if the Rainbows want to get some "Satisfaction" this season, they've got to go back to what they were doing before the WAC attacked them. Maybe they can't get what they want -- the division title -- but they can still get what they need -- a good tournament seed -- if they win at home and get at least a split on the road.
Otherwise, Hawaii will just be remembered as a Jumpin' Jack Flash in the pan.
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.