NCAA? What NCAA? NIT making UH fans
forget other tourneyThis might not be the Big Dance, but the Hawaii Rainbows and their noisy fans are sure relishing every moment of the National Invitation Tournament so far, thank you.
And thank you, NIT, says coach Riley Wallace for letting his Rainbows host three games, including Thursday's upcoming showdown against Fresno State, which also advanced with an 83-80 victory over Memphis.
The home-court advantage paid off again for the Rainbows as they ousted Gonzaga, 78-70, in a tension-packed game before a sellout crowd of 10,225 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center last night.
Both Hawaii and Gonzaga knew before tip-off what was at stake -- the winner would get to host the next game. And they played like it. After all, there's no tomorrow in tournament time.
It was one of the most physical games this season for the Rainbows, who improved their season record to 21-8. Just ask Eric Ambrozich, who suffered a broken nose after getting elbowed by Gonzaga's Bakari Hendrix in the first half.
"It was physical at times. But, hey, when it comes to playoff time, it doesn't make a damn if it's Jackie Junior High. They (the officials) let you play. They want you to perform on the floor and the best team wins," Wallace said.
Both teams went at it in a fast-paced thriller that kept nervous Rainbow fans on the edge of their seats until Anthony Carter (who else?) dropped in four straight free throws down the stretch. Then, for an exclamation point, Carter scored on a fast-break layup on a long inbounds pass from Michael Robinson to finish up with a career-high 33 points.
IF all that was just to see who'll be hosting the next game, imagine what it'll be like Thursday when the prize for the Hawaii-Fresno State winner is a trip to New York City for the NIT's Final Four at Madison Square Garden.
Get to the Big Apple and nobody here will remember that the Rainbows were slighted by the NCAA selection committee.
"These kids do want to try to get to the Big Apple," Wallace said. "And the fans here would go crazy if they did."
They were pretty crazy as it was last night.
The sound level at the arena reached mega decibals especially with 21/2 minutes left in the game when Gonzaga tried to play catch-up.
"It was as loud as the Kansas game," said Carter. I beg to differ. I thought last night was even louder.
Whatever, Wallace hopes that the fans will make it a din of inequity Thursday night against the next group of Bulldogs to hit town -- WAC rival Fresno State.
"I know the fans hate them, so it would be great for us to beat them," said Carter. "We're going to try to go out with a bang."
For sure, the boos that they rained down throughout the game on Hendrix for his flying elbow will befall next on Fresno State's Chris Herren. More so since Herren beat out Carter for first team All-WAC honors.
NOBODY'S playing better right now than AC, who followed up his season-high of 28 points in the 90-73 victory over Arizona State with his career-high 33 last night. "You keep playing hard and good things happen," Carter said.
"What can you say? He's AC," said Wallace, who added that playing at home sure helped.
"Thank you, NIT, for letting us be at home, because I wouldn't want to play these guys in Spokane," Wallace said about Gonzaga, which had scored an upset victory at Wyoming in the first round.
But you can throw out any talk that playing at home is an advantage against Fresno State. The Rainbows haven't beaten the Bulldogs here in the last two years.
Wallace's hoping the third time will be a charm.