Thursday, October 15, 1998
Rainbows relying
on ‘retooled’
Robinson
He hopes his hard work
By Cindy Luis
during the off-season
pays off for the Hawaii
men's basketball team
Star-BulletinThe tools have always been there: strength, size, quickness. But focus had been missing from the toolbox.
This season, it's there. And Mike Robinson is ready to build himself into a player to be reckoned with and recognized for his pro potential.
The Hawaii men's basketball team opens practice with its 11th Midnight Ohana tomorrow night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbows do so with a gift from the NCAA: an extra year of eligibility for Robinson, who left the first community college he attended to take care of his cancer-stricken mother.
Cassandra Robinson is doing fine. Her eldest son, Mike, wants to make her life even better.
"My mom has paid her dues, raising us by herself," said Robinson, the oldest of six children. "Before my mom dies, I want her to have the things she's never had before. I want her to live a little easier.
"They say that money is the root of all evil, but for some people, it's the answer. You'd be surprised what a dollar can do for a person. I have a lot of people back home (in Philadelphia) depending on me to get my degree and, hopefully, go pro."
The Rainbows are depending on their "Mr. Robinson" to take them even farther than last season's 21-8 mark. The 6-foot-8 Robinson is one of four seniors on the team, but the only player who has been with the program for more than one season.
"I'm the old man of the team and I've got to show more leadership and make better decisions than I have in the past," said Robinson, 23, who begins his third season. "Everybody on this team has to take a little bit of leadership on themselves so that it's not a big burden on just one person. I accept that as a captain. (Erin) Galloway and (Casey) Cartwright have accepted the leadership role as the other captains. We don't want to talk about it, we want to lead by example."
Robinson has always talked a good game. This time, he's living it.
He worked out daily over the summer, lifting in the training room and running laps around campus. When fall conditioning begin, he was there at 6 a.m. to lead drills.
"He's a man on a mission," Rainbow coach Riley Wallace said. "Mike is setting the example, pushing himself and the rest of the team."
"It's huge for us that we could have Mike for another year," assistant coach Jackson Wheeler said. "There's never been a question of Mike's ability, just of his focus. He had a good last month of last season and we're hoping it carries over to this season.
"He's as talented an athlete as you're going to find. He's the fastest guy on the team, the strongest, and he's incredibly quick for a big man. He's got everything you need (to play professionally). He's just got to stay focused because, with such a young team, we need him to be a leader.
"I'm expecting him to have a great season."
Robinson averaged 12.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in Hawaii's three postseason NIT games. That was nearly double his averages during the regular season, when he often got into early foul trouble.
But it's different now. Robinson has matured. Two goals that he's had -- to graduate from college and play professionally -- are within his grasp.
"I never thought I'd get a degree," said Robinson, who is majoring in ethnic studies. "I was so behind in my credits and I was more worried about staying eligible. I went to summer school. I'm doing good in my classes now. I can graduate next summer if I continue to work hard.
"My mom has never flown before. But she said she'd fly to come see me graduate."
It's been a sobering summer for Robinson. His uncle died on Father's Day and "that really opened my eyes," he said. "He had a heart attack and he was only 40. It just let me know that you never know when your time is going to come.
"You've got to get everything done that you can. I know that if I don't make it happen now, it's never going to happen.
"I really do welcome this season with open arms. I think all my hard work and determination will pay off this year for me and my team."
Midnight Ohana
What: Opening practice for Hawaii men's and women's basketball teams
’Bows picked fourth;
By Cindy Luis
Wahine favored in
Pacific Division
Star-BulletinWith it's two star guards gone and only two players returning who had much playing time, it's no surprise that the Hawaii men's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the WAC's Pacific Division.
The surprise may be on the rest of the league, according to returning senior forward Mike Robinson.
"Our team is going to be the sleeper team, I can tell you that for a fact," said Robinson. "They think that because we've got a few unknown people and lost Alika (Smith) and AC (Anthony Carter), that we're not going to be as good as last year. They're in for a surprise.
"For two years, we've been denied an NCAA berth. This year, the attitude is we're going to the tournament. We're not going to accept less."
Utah, which last year advanced to the NCAA title game, was the overwhelming favorite to win the WAC according to a preseason media poll released at yesterday's Media Day in Las Vegas.
The Utes, who return three starters from last year's team that lost to Kentucky in the national championship game, received 18 of 28 votes, finishing well ahead of New Mexico (6) and Texas Christian (2).
Utah also was picked to win the WAC's eight-team Pacific Division, with TCU tabbed as the favorite in the Mountain Division.
WAC men's media poll
Pacific Division: 1. Utah (23 first-place votes), 228 points. 2. New Mexico (5), 208. 3. Fresno State, 174. 4. Hawaii, 140. 5. BYU, 98. 6. UTEP, 97. 7. San Diego State, 92. 8. San Jose State, 43.Mountain Division: 1. TCU (14), 211. 2. UNLV (13), 209. 3. Tulsa (1), 170. 4. SMU, 137. 5. Wyoming, 130. 6. Colorado State, 107. 7. Rick, 76. 8. Air Force, 40.
WAC Tournament winner: Utah (18), New Mexico (6), TCU (2), UNLV (1), Tulsa (1).
The Hawaii women's team was chosen to repeat as Pacific Division champion by the the league's coaches. Wahine picked first
The Wahine received 10 of 16 first-place votes. Colorado State also received 10 first-place votes in being tabbed as the Mountain Division favorite as well as the overall WAC champion.
WAC women's coaches' poll
Pacific Division: 1. Hawaii (10), 115. 2. New Mexico (5), 103. 3. Utah (1), 93. 4. BYU, 77. 5. Fresno State, 62. 6. UTEP, 48. 7. San Diego State, 40. 8. San Jose State, 30.Mountain Division: 1. Colorado State (15), 120. 2. Rice (1), 102. 3. SMU, 95. 4. TCU, 73. 5. Wyoming, 66. 6. Tulsa, 54. 7. UNLV, 47. 8. Air Force, 22.
WAC Tournament winner: Colorado State (13), Hawaii (1), New Mexico (1), Rice (1).
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