Thursday, December 17, 1998
’Bows hope to
break out
Hawaii will try to put a stop
By Cindy Luis
to a three-game losing streak in
tomorrow's sixth Nike Festival
Star-BulletinRiley Wallace's grandson is three months old. Wallace's basketball team is seven games old.
The Hawaii men's coach isn't sure who's going to learn to walk first: baby Jackson or the baby Rainbows.
After a two-week layoff, Hawaii (2-5) tries to break a three-game skid as well as a very bad habit -- falling apart after halftime -- in the sixth Nike Festival. The Rainbows have been ahead at intermission in two of their five losses and trailed by seven points or less in the other three.
"There is no excuse for us to be in games at halftime then lose by 20 points," said freshman swingman Philipp Czernin. "The team has come together over the last couple of weeks and we've made a lot of progress. We're basically tired of beating up on each other in practice and are ready to accept the challenge and beat up on another team."
Czernin has the stitches to prove it. He took an elbow in the chin from teammate Geremy Robinson recently.Czernin is not the only one banged-up. Senior Casey Cartwright, the team's leading scorer, is out for a third straight game with a bruised cartilage in his left knee.
Cartwright's injury has Hawaii limping in the experience department. He was set to switch from small forward to shooting guard, but that shooting spot may go to rarely-used sophomore Gary Gillman, who is averaging 1.3 minutes in four appearances.
Gillman and Czernin are two of Hawaii's seven first-year players, a situation that has led to a dramatic turnaround from a year ago. At this point last season, the Rainbows were 5-1 and on the verge of a six-game run that included the titles of this Nike Festival and the Rainbow Classic.
"It is a different feeling this year," Wallace said. "Last year, we were building up to the Rainbow Classic. But if we win two this weekend, it still would be a good buildup to the Classic.
"This team needs some confidence. A couple of wins this weekend would definitely take us into the Southwestern Louisiana (Classic opener Dec. 27) feeling a heck of a lot better about ourselves."
Wallace had hoped to be no worse than 5-2 by now. The 12th-year coach didn't count on how much work that was needed to get his youngest-ever team (two freshmen, five JC transfers) ready for Division I play.
"The biggest thing we've got to do -- besides win these two games -- is learn to sustain ourselves throughout the game," Wallace said.
"We have to go out there and stay in the game for 40 minutes. That's the only way we're going to win. We're not good enough to play 30 and still win.
"We don't have that go-to guy that can get the big bucket for you. We have to do it as a team, have everyone step up. They haven't learned yet how to play two good halves, respond when the other team makes adjustments. We haven't fought as hard but I think we're tougher mentally now."
Czernin, who redshirted last season, agreed.
"Last year, our fall came in the WAC season," said Czernin. "This year, we've already had our fall. We're hoping it's the reverse of last year.
"We were on such a high at this time last season. But we had experienced players. Now, there's so much uncertainty, guys who don't know what they're in for. But we have a lot going for us, a lot of potential and talent, and we've been working hard during the breaks on the little things that make a winning team."
HAWAII (2-5) A look at the teams in the Nike Festival:
Coach: Riley Wallace (12th year, 178-157 record)
Key players: Mike Robinson (6-8 Sr. F) 11.1 points, 5.3 rebounds; Johnny White (6-0 Jr. G) 8.1 points, 4.7 assists; Marquette Alexander (6-8 Jr. F) 9.6 points, 6.0 rebounds; Erin Galloway (6-10 Sr. C) 6.4 points, 5.4 rebounds.
Keys: Hawaii needs to find an outside scoring threat if they have any hopes of getting the inside to open up. Galloway has to become more of a factor, Robinson has to score and stay out of foul trouble.EASTERN ILLINOIS (4-5)
Coach: Rick Samuels (19th, 266-259)
Key players: Kyle Hill (6-2 So. G) 14.6 points; Marc Polite (6-5 Jr. F) 14.1 points; Keith Hibbler (6-7 Jr. F) 5.8 rebounds.
Keys: The Panthers are quick and could present the Rainbows with all sorts of problems. Hill and Polite are explosive shooters.NORTHERN ARIZONA (5-3)
Coach: Ben Howland (3rd, 63-54)
Key players: Ross Land (6-5 Jr. G), 12.5 points; Dan McClintock (7-0 Sr. C) 12.1 points; Casey Frank (6-9 Sr. C) 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds; Michael McNair (6-3 Sr. G) 11.0 points); Kawika Akina (5-10 Sr. G) 3.4 assists.
Keys: The Lumberjacks were the best 3-point shooting team in the country last season, second in field-goal percentage. With four starters returning, not much should change.ST. BONAVENTURE (3-4)
Coach: Jim Barron (12th, 82-90).
Key players: Isaac King (6-5 Sr. F) 22.0 points; David Capers (6-3 Jr. G) 16.1 points, 7.4 rebounds; Caswell Cyrus (6-9 Jr. C) 14.2 points; Tim Winn (5-10 Jr. G) 12.0 points.
Keys: Isaac King became eligible last week and hit for 22 points against Niagara. If St. Bonaventure meets Hawaii, the Rainbows' big men will have to step up and box out against the Bonnies, who average 37 rebounds a game.
NIKE FESTIVAL
Tomorrow: Northern Arizona (5-3) vs. St. Bonaventure (3-4), 5 p.m.; Hawaii (2-5) vs. Eastern Illinois (4-5), 7:07 p.m.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
