Rainbows Playbook
vs. Texas El Paso
Tipoff: Tomorrow, 7:05 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
Coaches: Hawaii, Riley Wallace, 13th year (211-204 career). UTEP, Jason Rabedeaux, 1st year (11-8 career).
Season records: Hawaii (3-3 WAC, 14-5 overall); UTEP (2-4 WAC, 11-8).
Top players: Hawaii, Marquette Alexander, 6-8 senior center (14.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 81 percent free throw shooter), Predrag Savovic, 6-6 sophomore guard (12.0 ppg, 78 percent free throw shooter), Johnny White, 6-1 senior point guard (9.3 ppg, 3.1 apg, 72 percent free throw shooter), Troy Ostler, 6-9 junior forward (11.6 ppg, 53 percent from the floor, 6.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg), Nerijus Puida, 6-5 junior forward (6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.7 steals a game). UTEP, Brandon Wolfram, 6-9 junior forward (20.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 85 percent free throw shooter), William Smith, 6-2 senior guard (14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.6 apg), Jarvis Mullahon, 6-4 senior guard (12.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Roy Smallwood, 6-6 freshman forward (12.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Eggie McRae, 6-1 senior guard (9.1 ppg, 4.5 apg).
Interesting facts: Hawaii had six players in double figures for the first time this season in Saturday's win over San Jose State. ... Geremy Robinson developed his fast-break speed as a multievent track man at McKinley High in Baton Rouge, La. He did the high jump, triple jump, long jump and 4x400-meter relay. He was Louisiana state champ in the high jump as a junior. ...Puida was a decathlete in high school in Lithuania. ... Alexander has scored in double figures in 14 straight games and is now the fifth-best free throw shooter in the WAC at 81 percent. ... Sophomore guard Mike McIntyre turned 20 on Jan. 22, Alexander turned 22 on Saturday, and freshman redshirt guard Carl English turned 19 yesterday. ...The Miners snapped Hawaii's longest win streak of the season (6) when the Rainbows lost at El Paso, 95-83. ... UTEP leads the series with Hawaii, 29-11. ... Hawaii's 7-0 reserve center Todd Fields turned an ankle in practice yesterday but is expected to play tomorrow.
Game keys: Hawaii must improve on its 16-for-25 free throw shooting performance at UTEP, close the gap on a 41-34 rebounding deficit, and do a better job of containing McRae and Wolfram. On Jan. 8, they each scored 23 points against the Rainbows. Alexander must avoid fouling, Wolfram who is the WAC's second-best free throw shooter.
On the air: Live on KFVE TV (Channel 5) and KCCN radio (1420 AM).
By Pat Bigold
Wahine Playbook
at Texas-El Paso Miners
Tipoff: Tomorrow, 3 p.m., Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas.
Coaches: Texas-El Paso, Sandra Rushing, 10th season (114-147, .437); Hawaii, Vince Goo, 13th season (254-112, .694).
Season records: Hawaii (5-1 WAC, 13-5 overall); Texas-El Paso (1-5 WAC, 4-14 overall).
Series record: Hawaii leads the series, 4-0. The teams opened the WAC season at the Stan Sheriff Center, Jan. 8, with the Wahine prevailing, 91-55.
Top players: Texas-El Paso, Amy Park, 6-foot freshman center (15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game); Heidi Walker, 6-1 freshman center (17.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg); Christina Mata, 5-5 junior guard (9.2 ppg) ... Hawaii, Raylene Howard, 5-11 senior guard (17.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg); Kylie Galloway, 6-0 junior forward (14.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Kyla Evers, 5-8 senior guard (10.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Hedy Liu, 5-11 senior forward (7.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg).
Interesting facts: UH has defeated UTEP by an average of 36.5 points in two WAC home games the past two seasons, but had to battle to pull out a 13-point win in El Paso last year. ... In their first meeting this season the Wahine held the Miners to 13 first-half points, all scored by talented freshman Amy Park. ... The Wahine have a modest four-game winning streak. ... Kylie Galloway leads the nation in free throw percentage (.899 on 62-of-69). ... In overall statistics, Hawaii is second in the WAC in field goal percentage (.445), UTEP is seventh (.354). UH is first in free throw percentage (.729), UTEP is third (.688). ... In the latest RPI rankings, Hawaii is No. 47. WAC leader Southern Methodist is No. 49. Rice is next at No. 97.
Game keys: Whether Heidi Walker is able to play will be a major key for the Miners. She missed the first game against UH with a broken foot, returned to play against Texas Christian on Jan. 22, but sat out last Saturday's 80-40 loss to Rice with a sprained knee. Walker was the WAC's leading scorer when she broke her foot. ... Hawaii is still plagued by turnovers. UH had 25 in the SJSU game. ... The Wahine need to win this game and Saturday's contest at Fresno State if they want to be in a position to challenge SMU for a share of first place Feb. 12 at the Stan Sheriff Center. ... If the Wahine enter the UTEP game feeling complacent after the easy win in the first round, Goo says he will make sure that feeling changes in the first minute of play.
On the air: Broadcast live on KCCN radio (1420 AM); also available on the Internet at http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Sportslive/listen.html
By Al Chase
Rainbow Playbook
vs. UCLA BRUINS
First pitch: Tomorrow and Friday, 6:35 p.m.; Saturday, 3:05 p.m., Rainbow Stadium.
Coaches: UCLA, Gary Adams, 31st season (1,016-743-12, .578); Hawaii, Les Murakami, 30th season (1,053-546-4, .658).
Season: UCLA (0-0), beat Alumni, 4-0, last Saturday; Hawaii (2-4).
Series record: Hawaii leads the series, 25-18. Last year, the Rainbow swept the Bruins, 3-0, 6-0, 5-3, at Rainbow Stadium.
Probable starting pitchers: UCLA, Ryan Carter, left-hander (1-8, 7.95 ERA in 1999),Jon Brandt, right-hander (7-4, 4.21 in 1999), Josh Karp, right-hander (8-3, 4.26) ... Hawaii, Randon Ho, senior left-hander (1-1, 9.00), Rich Snider, senior right-hander (1-1, 5.40), Chad Giannetti, freshman right-hander (0-1, 6.10)
Top position players: UCLA, preseason All-American selections Bill Scott, junior left fielder (.380, 28 HR, 86 RBIs in 1999), Chase Utley, junior second baseman (.317, 16 HR, 56 RBIs in 1999) and Garrett Atkins, junior third baseman, (.375, 14 HR, 41 RBIs in 1999) ... Hawaii, Shane Chan, sophomore designated hitter (.539, 8 RBIs), Derek Honma, sophomore outfielder (.462, 3 RBIs), Danny Kimura, junior third baseman (.304, 5 RBIs) and junior shortstop Patrick Scalabrini (.286, 5 RBIs).
Interesting facts: The Bruins were ranked No. 4 in the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball preseason polls and No. 10 in the Baseball Weekly preseason poll ... Thirty-four of Adams' former UCLA players have made it to the major leagues.
Series keys: The Rainbows have played six games that exposed some weak spots. The pitching showed some improvement last week and it looked like the hitters were coming around in the first game against San Diego. However, in the last two games of the San Diego series, Rainbow right-handed batters displayed a strong desire to pull the ball and that rarely is a recipe for success at Rainbow Stadium. UCLA may have the best starting pitching UH has faced this season ... Many of the Bruins are making their third trip in three years here and have yet to return to Los Angeles with a victory in six games.
On the air: Friday and Saturday, live on KCCN (1420 AM).
Tickets: $6 orange and blue sections, $5 red section. $4 senior citizens (65 and over),students 4-18 and UH students with valid ID. Available at the Stan Sheriff Center, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by telephone, 944-2697 ($1 fee assessed per ticket). Telephone order available until noon on game days. Only Mastercard and Visa accepted. The Rainbow Stadium box office opens one hour prior to all games. $3 parking charge.
By Al Chase
