RAINBOW BASKETBALL PLAYBOOK
at San Jose State Spartans
Tipoff: Tomorrow 5:30 p.m., The Event Center
Coaches: Hawaii,: Riley Wallace, 15th season (213-208, .505 ); :San Jose State: Steve Barnes, 1st season (13-13, .500).
Season records: Hawaii (5-7 WAC, 16-9 overall); San Jose State (4-7 WAC, 13-13 overall)
Series record: Hawaii leads the series, 7-4. Riley Wallace is 6-1. Hawaii won the last meeting, 84-75, in overtime on Jan. 29 at the Stan Sheriff Center. San Jose State's last win over the Rainbows was a 70-55 decision on Jan. 28, 1999, at The Event Center.
Top players: San Jose State, Billy Landram ( 6-5 Jr. F) 12.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Darnell Williams (6-6 Jr F) 11.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg; Eric Griffin (6-7 Sr. C) 4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg; R.J. Powell (6-0 Sr. G) 7.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.8 apg; David Egans (6-3 So. G) 6.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg; .. Hawaii, Marquette Alexander (6-8 Sr. C) 15.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg; Predrag Savovic (6-6 Sr. G) 12.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg; Troy Ostler (6-9 Jr. F) 11.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg; Johnny White (6-1 Sr. G) 8.8 ppg, 2.92 apg; Nerijus Puida (6-5 Jr. F) 7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.0 apg..
Interesting facts: San Jose State is 9th in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing 58.5 points per game. Nine opponents have been held under 50 points...The score was tied at 67-67 when Savovic missed two free throws to send the Jan. 29 game with the Spartans into OT. But he sank eight in a row in the last 52 seconds to seal Hawaii's victory...The Spartans have gone to overtime in three of their last seven games.Alexander seeks his 21st straight double-digit scoring game...Hawaii, which struggled at the free throw line earlier in the season, now leads the WAC in that category (.728)..
Series keys: The Rainbows must tune out the San Jose State crowd and stick to their game plan.The bench (guards Mike McIntyre and Geremy Robinson, center Todd Fields, forward Lane O'Connor) must be able to respond as reliably as it has in the past few games...Hawaii is first and San Jose State eighth in the WAC in defensive rebounds. But the Spartans out-rebounded Hawaii, 31-30, on Jan. 29.
On the air: Broadcast live on KCCN radio (1420 AM),KFVE TV (Channel 5).
RealAudio: Click here
By Pat Bigold, Star-Bulletin
WAHINE BASKETBALL PLAYBOOK
vs. San Jose State Spartans
Tipoff: Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
Coaches: Hawaii, Vince Goo, 13th season (258-114, .694); San Jose State, Janice Richard, 7th season (161-55 .753).
Season records: Hawaii: (9-3 WAC, 17-7 overall); San Jose State, (0-11 WAC, 2-21 overall).
Series record: Hawaii leads the series, 27-4. The teams last met on Jan. 29 in San Jose with UH winning, 73-57. Kylie Galloway led UH with 17 points.
Top players: San Jose State, Sasha Spalding (6-2 Sr. C) 10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg; Natasha Johnson (5-8 Sr. G) 10.7 ppg, 2.4 apg; Juliana Smith (5-8 Fr. G) 8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg. Hawaii, Raylene Howard ( 5-11 Sr. G) 17.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg; Kylie Galloway (6-0 Jr. F) (13.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Kyla Evers (5-8 Sr. G) 10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.5 apg); Dainora Puida ( 6-4 Jr. C) 7.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg.
Interesting facts: Hawaii fell nine places to No. 49 in the latest unofficial RPI rankings by Collegiate Basketball News after last week's 0-2 road trip, but the Wahine still are the top ranked WAC team. Southern Methodist is No. 50 followed by Rice (96), Texas Christian (134), Tulsa (145), Fresno State (210), Texas-El Paso (259) and San Jose State (308) ... Among the nonconference teams UH has defeated, Texas, at No. 40, has the top ranking. The next two are Wichita State (68) and Tennessee Tech (104).
Game keys: The Spartans have lost 16 consecutive games and 27 consecutive WAC games. They commit twice as many turnovers (482 to 217) as their opponents which helps explain why they average 20 less points per game than their opponents ... The Wahine have to overcome the troubles that plagued them on the road, especially poor shooting and getting beat for easy transition baskets ... The Wahine are 14-0 when they have a better shooting percentage than their opponent .
On the air: Broadcast live on KFVE TV (Channel 5).
RealAudio: Live 'Net broadcast Click Here
Tickets: $6 adults, $5 senior citizens (65 and over), $4 students 4-18, UH students with valid ID. Available at Stan Sheriff Center, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by telephone, 944-2697 ($1 fee assessed per ticket). Only Mastercard and Visa accepted. The box office remains open for weekday games and opens two hours prior to Saturday games. $3 parking charge.
By Al Chase, Star-Bulletin
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
