UH loses to
Syracuse but wins
love of fans
The "Traveling Thirteen"
kept the heat on but were
unable to pull ahead
>> Local fans gather to enjoy the game and cheer team.
>> Reporter's notebook from coverage on the mainland.
By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin
DAYTON, OHIO >> The run of the Traveling Thirteen finally ended last night here, where rain, not Rainbows, ruled in the chill of Montgomery County.
No. 17 Syracuse was also supreme, taking advantage of Hawaii's poor early shooting to grab the lead, never letting go, to win a first-round NCAA Tournament basketball game, 79-69, as a full house of 13,133 (including about 200 UH fans) looked on at the University of Dayton Arena.
Syracuse was seeded fifth in the Midwest Regional, and Hawaii 12th. But on a day when upsets abounded, tradition and experience won out over pluck and persistence. The favored Orangemen got 20 points from Damone Brown and 18 by Preston Shumpert and ended an unlikely odyssey by the Rainbows.
The Couch Trip -- with team psychologists credited in part for the team's turnaround -- began 18 days prior in San Jose, Calif. One Western Athletic Conference championship later in Tulsa, Okla., and UH headed east again, to its first Big Dance appearance since 1994.
Despite Troy Ostler's 21 points, the Rainbows return to Honolulu tomorrow without their first NCAA win in their third try, but with the love of newfound fans who finally took to an eclectic group of players, including seven internationals.
The Rainbows were strangled by the Orangemen's (25-8) zone defense, which held UH to 42 percent shooting for the game.
"They get to spots real quick (on defense)," Ostler said. "They panicked us a little bit, trapping us in corners, causing some confusion."
UH finished its season 17-14, and with the respect of its coach, Riley Wallace.
The 14th-year head coach was obviously disappointed by the final score, but not by the effort of his team, which had been counted out by most before winning seven of its eight games prior to last night.
"This team is one of the
most special I've had."
Riley Wallace,
UH men's basketball coach
"It's a great feeling. This team is one of the most special I've had. The way they worked for us, they never let up," he said. "It's a very special group, with lots of guys coming back. Tonight was a very special night for the state of Hawaii. We have a young ball club that can mature and come back."
But the night belonged to Syracuse, and to coach Jim Boeheim, who got his 600th coaching victory, thanks in large part to his team's zone defense, which the Rainbows tried to blast from long range. But the Orangemen -- playing in the program's 27th NCAA Tournament -- were too comfortable, too calm, too good to break.
"We were efficient on offense and our defense was reasonable," said a placid Boeheim, who now will prepare for Kansas in the second round.
UH showed heart, coming back from several double-digit deficits, and still had a chance after Ostler's three-point play made it 74-67 with 1:31 left.
But as they did all game, the Orangemen answered every strike by the Rainbows.
Hawaii missed its first eight 3-point attempts, and Syracuse shot 50 percent from the floor to take a 35-29 lead into the locker room at half time.
Allen Griffin (15 points) and Shumpert each scored nine points before the break to lead the Orangemen.
Syracuse jumped to a 10-2 lead as Shumpert scored on a drive and a 12-footer.
Hawaii missed its first four shots, including 3-point tries by Nerijus Puida, Predrag Savovic and Mike McIntyre. Phil Martin's 8-footer in the lane got UH untracked at 17:27.
UH averted an early blowout by scoring nine of the next 11 points. Savovic sparked the rally with Hawaii's first successful 3-pointer.
Boeheim called a timeout, and Hawaii was back in the game at 33-27 with 48 seconds left in the half. Ostler quickly added a pair of free throws to open the scoring in the second.
Then the Orangemen went on a 9-0 run with Shumpert hitting a 16-foot banker and a trey at 16:50, making it 44-31.
The Rainbows again appeared to be on the verge of being put away, but Carl English stopped the bleeding with a trey at 16:11, and McIntyre hit one, and English another. After two free throws by Mindaugas Burneika, it was 52-44 with 11:36 left.
Syracuse took control again, scoring 11 of the next 14 points and pulling out to its biggest lead, 60-47, with 10:01 left.
‘Bows’ loss
doesn’t quench fans’
thirst for beer
UH has loyal fans, happy
to hoist the suds win or lose
By Rod Antone
Star-Bulletin
The beer was plentiful at Players Sports Bar on Alakea Street during last night's NCAA playoff game between the University of Hawaii and Syracuse.
And fans seemed to need more and more of it whenever things went wrong for the Rainbows.
Like whenever UH lost the ball.
Or whenever Syracuse hit a three.
Or whenever UH missed one.
"At least there's beer," said Jason Ideta.
"Everything is great except for the score," said Chris Kawabata as he watched the 'Bows' first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 7 years. Kawabata and his friends got to Players at 3:45 p.m. to get prime-time seats for a 5 p.m. tip-off only to watch the 'Bows lose 79-69.
"Boys looking like they gotta be stepping up least a whole 'nother notch," he said when the score was 52-42 Syracuse with 11:40 to go in the second half.
"They look like they're a step behind everything," said attorney Pat McPherson. "And they need somebody to play some 'D'"
Throughout the game 'Bows fans hoped to see some "D." Instead it D-materialized along with the high hopes of many.
"I had them beating Kansas," said Evan Mizue.
