Friday, November 13, 1998
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Erin Galloway, left, and BJ Itoman are two reasons the
UH men's and women's basketball teams have great
expectations for this season.
The Rainbows: They may be more
By Cindy Luis
talented, top to bottom, than ever,
but can they put it all together?
Star-Bulletin
Imagine it as a giant jigsaw puzzle with pieces scattered all over the table.Where are those corners that will frame the picture? Where is that one interlocking piece that will bring it all together?
Such is the dilemma for the Hawaii men's basketball team this season. There are so many new players that coach Riley Wallace doesn't know if all the pieces even came in the box.
"I don't remember ever having it where everybody had to learn so much," said Wallace, who is opening his 12th season as head coach of the Rainbows. "Athletically, this may be the most talented group we've ever had from top to bottom. But the question is how quick most of them can make the adjustment to Division I.
"There's not a lot of creativity right now because these guys are playing it pretty straight fundamentally. They listen and are hungry to learn. They're fun to work with and are improving every day."
But whether the Rainbows will be ready by Sunday's season opener against a very good California team is the question. A third consecutive 20-win season may be a reach unless the pieces begin to fall into place -- and quickly.
Senior posts Mike Robinson and Erin Galloway are the lone returnees with considerable starting experience. Senior swingman Casey Cartwright was usually first off the bench.
They are surrounded by a bevy of junior college all-stars who are long on talent but short on experience. Guard, Hawaii's position of strength and stability the past few seasons, could be a liability this year.
Two days before the opener, Wallace hasn't decided on a starting lineup. The givens are Robinson and Galloway at the post and newcomer Johnny White at the point.
The options are whether to start Cartwright at shooting guard, which puts redshirt freshman Phil Czernin at small forward. Or to use newcomer Geremy Robinson at shooting guard, moving Cartwright to small forward.
A look at the Rainbows by position:
Power forward
Mike Robinson: Granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA, the 6-8 Robinson is being counted on to lead by example. He played in all 30 games last season, starting 28 of them.
He was third in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and fourth in scoring (8.6 ppg), totals that will have to at least double if the Rainbows are going to be competitive.
Robinson has worked hard in the off-season to get stronger and runs the floor well. Needs to stay focused and avoid early foul trouble.
The 6-8 Galloway is very quick but has also had problems focusing for long periods of time. Needs to find ways to get open more and work on put-back baskets.
Quit the team briefly after last Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, frustrated by his lack of success.
"Once he learns the offense, the rest will be easy for him," Wallace said. "He's going to have to continue to work hard and know where he is on the court."
Small forward
Center
Shooting guard
Has the potential to put up big scoring numbers but the 6-4 junior transfer from Monterey Peninsula (Calif.) College needs to work on his confidence, according to Wallace.
Point guard
A true point guard, maybe a little too unselfish. Will need to shoot more.
White has picked up the offensive and defensive schemes quickly.
He is the key to Hawaii's scoring; if the Rainbows can't establish an inside game with Mike Robinson and Galloway, they will be in trouble.
Reserves
On the roster, but not expected to see much playing time, are: sophomore guard Rhett Garon, sophomore forward Dean Penebacker and senior guard Kelii Silva.Redshirting is Alabama-Birmingham transfer Pedrag Savovic, who started for the Blazers as a freshman last season before being injured.
Rainbow roster
No Player Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown 44 Marquette Alexander F 6-8 Jr. San Francisco 21 Casey Cartwright F-G 6-6 Sr. Midwest City, Okla 23 Philipp Czernin F-G 6-6 Fr. Pacific Palisades, Calif. 00 Erin Galloway F 6-8 Sr. Marietta, Ga. 25 Rhett Garon G 6-4 So. Kapolei 32 Gary Gillman F 6-3 So. Morro Bay, Calif. 5 Damon Lee G 6-4 Jr. Menlo Park, Calif. 3 Mike McIntyre G 6-3 Fr. Long Beach, Calif. 54 Bryan Moeller C 7-0 Sr. Fort Worth, Texas 33 Dean Penebacker F 6-5 So. Kailua 30 Geremy Robinson G 6-2 Jr. Baton Rouge, La. 4 Mike Robinson F 6-8 Sr. Philadelphia 42 Pedrag Savovic * G 6-5 Jr. Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia 24 Kelii Silva G 6-2 Sr. Honolulu 11 Johnny White G 6-0 Jr. Cocoa, Fla.* Denotes redshirt
Coaching staff
