UH short on
game experience
The Wahine basketball team
opens its season tomorrow in the
Hawaiian Regent Classic
By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin
The University of Hawaii women's basketball team would be in the top five nationally in 6-foot-and-under competition head coach Vince Goo said at the Honolulu Quarterback Club Monday.
Unfortunately, there is no such hideout in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
The Wahine starting lineup looks like this: 5-11, 5-11, 5-10, 5-9 or 5-8 and 5-5.
Translation: Hedy Liu, Raylene Howard, Crystal Lee, Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe or Kyla Evers and BJ Itoman. Howard and Itoman are the only returning starters.
The loss of 6-foot, high-scoring forward Kylie Page for the season due to injury hasn't caused any major revisions in Goo's plans for 1998-99. The Wahine still plan to keep the pace fast, forcing the action at both ends of the court and making opponents play the full 94 feet.
The Wahine open their season tomorrow against Minnesota in the four-team Hawaiian Regent Classic.
"More practice would have helped our younger players, but it's time to play," Goo said. "We're probably the least game-ready of anyone in the tournament."
Each visitor has played at least one exhibition game and one regular-season game.
If opponents give the Wahine the inside shots, they'll go to the basket. But if the middle is clogged, the Wahine will go with the perimeter game. Hawaii has players who can do both, but Goo sees a necessary progression to the offense.
"We can't start by going inside because we'll be out-inched," he said. "We have to force defenses to come out, and do that we have to knock down baskets from the outside."
Itoman, elected captain by her teammates Tuesday, says the Wahine are focused and no one is moping around because of the loss of Page.
"It has helped that Kylie has shown strength. She's been at all our practices. I can hear her calling out the plays just like she was out on the floor," Itoman said. "We lost someone big -- Kylie -- but people have stepped up.
"I'm definitely looking forward to the competition we have coming in. We have a young team, but with our heart I feel we can compete.."
Minnesota (1-0): The Gophers rallied in the second half Tuesday night to defeat Illinois State, 67-63, as 5-10 senior forward Sonja Robinson and reserve Jackie Tate each scored 10 points.
Second-year coach Cheryl Littlejohn has had to replace seven letterwinners. Guard Antoinetta Blevins and 6-2 center Moneeke Bowden, both junior college transfers, have worked their way into the starting lineup.
Kansas (0-1): Cold shooting in the first half cost the No. 11-ranked Jayhawks in their season-opening loss to No. 10 North Carolina.
Kansas, led by 6-2 guard/forward Lynn Pride, the Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year and an All-American candidate, is the favorite in this tournament. Pride had 19 points and 10 rebounds against North Carolina.
The Jayhawks, with nine returnees, were picked to win the Big 12 in the preseason coaches poll.
Massachusetts (1-1): The defending Atlantic 10 champions return their top two scorers in 5-11 forward Tez Kraft (14.2 points per game) and 5-9 guard Alison MacFarland (10.1).
Kelly Van Huisen, an accomplished 3-point shooter, scored 13 points in UMass' season-opening victory over St. John's and 18 in a loss to Boston College.
MacFarland had 14 and 11, respectively, and Kraft scored 10 and 18. UMass outrebounded both opponents with Kraft picking up 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively.
NOTES: The Wahine have never played Minnesota or Massachusetts. They are 1-1 against Kansas . . . Freshman guard Ki'i Spencer-Vasconcellos has been cleared to practice following leg surgery in August . . . Freshman walk-on Kim Taylor, a 5-9 forward/guard from Kalaheo High School, has decided to transfer to a junior college next semester.
Wireless Challenge
Nicholls State Colonels
1-1
Coach: Rickey Broussard (8th season, 80-44).
1997-98 record: 19-10. Southland tournament winner. Lost to Arizona in NCAA first round.
Projected Southland finish: Between 1st and 5th.
Key returnees: Jason McCutcheon (6-7 Sr. forward, 14.2 ppg); Lorenzo Wright (6-7 Jr. forward); Taurus Howard (6-1 Sr. guard); James Banks (6-2 Sr. guard).
Top newcomers: Terence McCutcheon (6-3 So. guard); Tracy Blake (6-5 Jr. forward); Linzie Green (6-3 Jr. swing).
Fun facts: Eight different players have started in the two games for the Colonels. In the 97-74 win over Loyola of New Orleans, four players were in double figures, led by Jason McCutcheon's 25 points. McCutcheon played all 40 minutes in the 66-59 loss to Centenary, scoring a team-high 15 points ... Terence McCutcheon, a transfer from Southern Idaho, is the third brother to play for the Colonels. Oldest brother Russell was a senior on last year's NSU team.
Against Hawaii: NSU has been known for its tough defense. Senior point guard James Banks led the Southland Conference in steals with Jason McCutcheon right behind. Banks could give Hawaii's point guard Johnny White a challenge ... Hawaii matches up athletically and in experience -- or lack of. Erin Galloway will need to atone for last Sunday's lackluster performance against Cal. Mike Robinson (6-8) against Jason McCutcheon (6-7) could be a key matchup ... NSU is an excellent free-throw shooting team. Hawaii, which was just 3-of-6 from the line against the Golden Bears, could be if given the chance.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
1-0
Coach: Eddie Sutton (9th season, 181-77).
1997-98 record: 22-7. Lost to Duke in NCAA second round.
Projected Big 12 finish: 2nd.
Key returnees: Adrian Peterson (6-4 Sr. guard, 17.7 pgg); Desmond Mason (6-6 Jr. forward, 14.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg); Doug Gottlieb (Jr. 6-1 guard, 6.9 apg); Joe Adkins (6-2 Jr. guard, 12.6 ppg).
Top newcomers: Roy Candley (7-2 Jr. center); John Gilmore (6-7 junior forward); Linzie Green (6-3 Jr. swing).
Fun facts: Senior guard Adrian Peterson is the preseason Player of the Year in the Big 12. In the season opener Monday, he had 21 points against Northwestern State. Backcourt partner Joe Adkins scored 23 points in Monday's 90-65 win, OSU's 24th consecutive victory in home openers.
Against Hawaii: Oklahoma State is ranked 13th for good reason. Actually four of them: returning starters Peterson, Adkins, Desmond Mason and Doug Gottlieb. The Cowboys are smallish but very athletic with a solid point guard in Gottlieb ... Peterson has led the Cowboys in scoring the past two seasons. Mason is considered one of the best athletes in the Big 12. Nine of the players have NCAA Tournament experience ... OSU likes to penetrate. The Cowboys went to the line 52 times against Northwestern State, hitting for 37 points on free throws ... OSU could give the Rainbows the same kind of problems that Cal did last Sunday. The Cowboys strength -- guards -- is Hawaii's weakness. The Rainbows are still learning to play together and that inexperience could mean a long night.
Marquette Golden Eagles
2-0
Coach: Mike Deane (5th season, 88-40).
1997-98 record: 20-11. Lost to Minnesota in NIT third round.
Projected Conference USA finish: Between 4th and 6th in American Division.
Key returnees: Jarrod Lovette (6-10 Sr. center, 10.8 ppg); Mike Bargen (6-7 Sr. forward); Brian Wardle (6-5 So. guard).
Top newcomers: Cordell Henry (5-9 Fr. guard); David Diggs (6-4 Fr. guard).
Fun facts: Marquette ended Boston College's consecutive win streak in season openers at 24 last week, 70-49. The Golden Eagles won again against Morgan State, 85-51 ... Marquette lost three starters but Deane has an outstanding freshmen class, led by Henry and Diggs. Diggs had 15 points against BC and Bargen 11. Wardle led the Golden Eagles in scoring against BC with 18 points but is listed as doubtful for this tournament after spraining a knee. Henry is quick, creative and can score ... Marquette is looking for its seventh straight 20-win season..
Against Hawaii: Inexperience could be a factor for the Golden Eagles on the road. Lovette and Bargen are a solid combination down low ... The mark of Deane's teams have been tenacious defense and controlled offense. The Rainbows may be frustrated by a slow-down game ... An improving Marquette Alexander may be called upon early to neutralize Lovette. Johnny White/MikeMcIntyre against Henry at the point and Mike Robinson against Bargen in the low post will be interesting matchups.
VoiceStream
Wireless Challenge:
Today: Marquette (2-1) vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State (1-0), 5 p.m.; Hawaii (0-1) vs. Nicholls State (1-1), 7:05 p.m.
Tomorrow: Hawaii vs. Oklahoma State or Marquette, 8:05 p.m.; Nicholls State vs. Oklahoma State or Marquette, 10 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Television: Both UH games each day live on KFVE (Channel 5)
Radio: KCCN (1420-AM)
Tickets: $7-13.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
