Wednesday, March 18, 1998
Big Apple at core
of UH effort
A victory over Fresno State
By Cindy Luis
tomorrow would send Hawaii to the
final four in the NIT men's
basketball tournament
Star-BulletinThe past seven days have been a trip down memory lane for Bob Nash. Actually, more of a stroll from 7th Avenue to 33rd Street. Nash, the University of Hawaii associate head basketball coach, was on the only Rainbow team to play in New York's Madison Square Garden. UH, featuring the "Fab Five," lost to St. Bonaventure in the quarterfinals of the 1971 National Invitation Tournament.
Back then, it was a 16-team tournament, with all invited squads making the trip to New York. Nearly three decades later, the Rainbows are back in the quarterfinals, 40 minutes away from taking a bite of the Big Apple.
"It was such a great atmosphere in the Garden," Nash said. "Dr. J (Julius Erving) was there with UMass. A lot of good players and teams were there.
"It's an experience I'd like to see for our kids, a chance to reach a national championship. They've shown so much resilience and have worked awfully hard. It would be a great run for them if they were to get to the final four of the NIT."
That H-1 ride to the airport goes through Fresno State tomorrow night. The Rainbows last saw the Bulldogs 19 days ago, when they helped the 'Dogs self-destruct at Selland Arena, 92-78.
It was Fresno State's worst home loss since Weber State defeated the Bulldogs, 102-86, in a 1995 Preseason NIT game. The Rainbow win, their first at Selland in five tries, was even more demoralizing for the Bulldogs because of the mass exodus of fans from the arena with nine minutes remaining.
Not hosting tomorrow's game disappointed Fresno State officials. Athletics director Al Bohl even made a call to NIT executive director Jack Powers at halftime of Monday's game against Memphis, trying to get him to change his mind.
Powers said the segment on Fresno State on Sunday's "60 Minutes" that cast a less than favorable light on the program had nothing to do with the decision to send the Bulldogs to Hawaii. But given yesterday's scathing editorial in the Fresno Bee, written prior to the latest incident -- yesterday's arrest of starting center Avondre Jones on assault and theft charges -- Fresno State might have been ready to leave town.
Jones was kicked off the team and redshirt sophomore Kenny Brunner, a transfer from Georgetown, was suspended indefinitely. Jones was suspended twice earlier this season, missing seven games, including the Feb. 2 contest at the Stan Sheriff Center, won by the Bulldogs, 91-76.
"Jones wasn't here the last time and they still beat us pretty good," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "They also didn't have (Tremaine) Fowlkes (also suspended). But the last time here, we didn't have Erin Galloway, either, who was out with the flu.
"We're at full strength now, assuming Eric Ambrozich (broken nose) is back. But I see Fresno having probably the most emotion that they've had in a game this season. Chris Herren (Fall River, Mass.) is looking at going home. The Garden is a good motivator. We both know we can beat each other. We just can't deviate from what we've been doing."
The Rainbows (21-8) have won seven of their last eight in putting together the first back-to-back 20-win seasons since Nash played. The NIT run began with an impressive 90-73 win over Arizona State on ESPN last Wednesday, followed by Monday's 78-70 hard-fought victory over Gonzaga.
Fresno State (20-11) won at Pacific, 73-70, last Wednesday and edged visiting Memphis, 83-80, Monday night on a disputed 3-pointer by Fowlkes. Television replays show that the ball did not leave Fowlkes' hands before time had expired, but officials let the 3-pointer stand, saying it was a "non-correctable call."
"What's been happening in their program is obviously a concern to their coaches and administration, but it doesn't concern us," Nash said. "We're only focusing on getting our guys ready to compete for an opportunity to go to New York.
"Travel is something that has plagued the University of Hawaii for a long time, and to have a third game at home is certainly a plus. We still have to take care of business, but going to the Garden would certainly be a tremendous reward for our players and for the entire state. In the number of years I've been around (20 as a player and coach), to see the way the people have come out and supported this team has been unbelievable."
NOTES: The 'Bows had a light practice yesterday, going for less than 90 minutes . . . Ambrozich is being fitted with a protective device that should allow him to play tomorrow. Ambrozich took an elbow in the face from Gonzaga's Bakari Hendrix early in Monday's game, breaking his nose for the fourth time. Doctors were concerned that Ambrozich suffered a deviated septum. They had difficulty stopping the bleeding after the incident . . . Wallace got word yesterday that his brother Loren's high school team upset the four-time defending Illinois prep champion in the state playoffs. "Our seasons seem to coincide, good and bad," Riley Wallace said. "I hope this is a good sign for us."
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Jumaine Jones hit a rally-killing 3-pointer with 5:27 remaining to help Georgia hold off North Carolina State for a 61-55 victory in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament last night. SEC rivals Georgia,
Associated Press
Vandy advance in NITThe Bulldogs (18-14) moved into a quarterfinal matchup with Southeastern Conference rival Vanderbilt, which defeated Wake Forest, 72-68.
Mired in 20 percent field goal shooting in the first half, the Wolfpack (17-15) looked to be out of it when Jones' 3-pointer from the top of the key gave Georgia a 43-26 lead with 12:30 to go.
But a five-minute Georgia drought opened the way for N.C. State's comeback that cut a 17-point gap to 43-39 after two free throws by Kenny Inge with 7:26 left.
Inge hit two more foul shots to bring the Wolfpack to 45-41 at 5:48, but the rally suffered when Jones hit his decisive 3-pointer for a 48-41 lead and C.C. Harrison was involved in a crucial call moments later.
Following two free throws by Inge to bring N.C. State to 48-43, Harrison was whistled for an intentional foul. Phenizee Ransom hit a free throw and Larry Brown added a jumper to give Georgia a 51-43 lead with 4:15 left. N.C. State got no closer than five points from there.
Vanderbilt 72, Wake Forest 68: At Winston-Salem, N.C., Dan Langhi scored a career-high 19 points off the bench as Vanderbilt notched its first 20-win season in four years with a victory over Wake Forest.
Langhi, who had 16 points in Vanderbilt's first-round win last week against St. Bonaventure, rallied the Commodores (20-12) from an eight-point second-half deficit with 11 points in the final 5:35.
Wake Forest (16-14) lost for only the fourth time in the last 64 nonconference games at Joel Coliseum.
NIT
1997-98 Rainbow Men's Basketball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
