Tuesday, March 17, 1998
Sellitto’s hopes high
By Pat Bigold
for Hawaii Pacific
Star-BulletinHawaii Pacific University head coach Tony Sellitto said he's never felt more comfortable in a national tournament than he does right now.
"I could be wrong, but I've never felt this comfortable with a team," said Sellitto from his Tulsa, Okla., hotel room last night.
Tomorrow at 5:45 p.m. (HST), at Tulsa's Mabee Center, the Sea Warriors (22-4) will open play in the 61st NAIA Men's Division I National Tournament against East Central University (18-8) of Ada, Okla.
"This is one of the best defensive teams we've had and it's easily one of the best teams we've had. I emphasize team. Last year's team was our best collection of individual players."
Sellitto led the Sea Warriors to the 1993 NAIA title.
Brigham Young University-Hawaii (19-7) opens today against Olivet-Nazarene (27-8) at 6:30 p.m. It's a team the Seasiders beat a year ago, 87-80, in Hawaii.
Sellitto said his team's allowance of 70 points a game this season is a key to success in the tournament.
"If we continue to play good defense, I won't be unhappy, no matter what happens."
Defense is what HPU will need to contain Roland Miller, the 6-3 junior guard who is the NAIA's leading scorer (29.2 points per game). He will probably be shadowed by 6-foot-4 senior forward Gilbert Smith.
"He's our best defensive player and he did all right against BYUH and all the guys we've put him on," said Sellitto.
One thing that might be in HPU's favor is the fact that East Central does not sub. "It's a five guys the whole game, and we're going to run. So, if they can do that, God bless them, because we're going to run."
BYUH coach Ken Wagner said he's expecting to see his team shoot better against Olivet-Nazarene.
"We have to shoot the ball better from the '3' than we did last week (in loss to HPU)," he said. "We've been in the top five or six in the country all year long in that category."
