Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Saturday, November 11, 2000
As a kid shoveling snow in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Jeff Law never projected himself mopping rainwater in a Hilo gym. Law not above cleanup
work at Hawaii-HiloBy Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin"Thursday was ugly," the Vulcans' basketball coach said, referring to last week's deluge. "When I went in to work, I had to take a squeegee to the gym floor and the office floors."
Someone else swabbed the decks when Law was an assistant for the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His duties included scouting opponents and helping develop game plans.
Now he's collecting and analyzing information on the Rainbows, since his Vulcans play them in a 4 p.m. exhibition game tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.
RAINBOWS VS. VULCANS
Who: University of Hawaii-Manoa vs. University of Hawaii-Hilo exhibition men's basketball game.
Law, 38, left the Rainbows for Hilo three years ago, so he doesn't know much about Manoa's players -- the seniors are junior college transfers who were not coached by him.
"Those guys don't know who I am, except I heard that (Rainbow coach) Riley's (Wallace) yelling at them in practice that they'd better be ready for coach Law," he said.
Law has less resources and more responsibility than at Manoa -- and he enjoys it, because he's adjusted to the atmosphere on the Big Island.
"I love the people here. At this point I wouldn't change anything in my career," he said. "The people of Hilo have been fantastic and given me lots of opportunity. I hope to return that with a good season."
Law hopes the Vulcans -- who haven't had a winning season in six years -- can continue to improve. After a 7-19 record his first year, Hilo went 12-14 last season, but 0-8 on the road.
"We haven't gone on the road and beaten Chaminade, much less Manoa," Law said. "So I'm looking at this not just as the game, but the whole trip. I'll be taking notes on who shows up on time in the lobby, that kind of thing."
The Vulcans face a tough challenge in the Rainbows. Though guards Scott Prather and Alan Thomas should test the Manoa backcourt, Hilo's tallest player is 6-foot-7 sophomore center Ryan Hogue. Manoa has seven on the roster at least that height.
"My guys are ready, but Riley's got one done already with the uniforms on and the lights," Law said. "I don't know what those seats on the visiting side feel like, but I guess I'm going to find out."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
U.H. Hilo
