Monday, February 18, 2002
Consider it new math. ’Bows get less love, still
move up a spotStar-Bulletin staff
Hawaii wins a game, loses a point, and moves up a spot. That's what happened yesterday in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll.
The Rainbows, runaway winners over San Jose State Saturday night, received 31 points, good for 29th place. Last week, Hawaii (21-4, 12-2) had 32 points and was ranked No. 30.
The only points that matter this week, however, are how many the Rainbows can score on Western Athletic Conference leader Tulsa (22-4, 13-2). The teams meet Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in a game that will go a long way toward determining the conference regular-season championship.
Should Hawaii beat Tulsa for the second time this season, and the two teams tie in the final standings, the Rainbows would get the top seed in next month's WAC tournament. Should the Rainbows lose to the Golden Hurricane and the teams finish tied, Tulsa gets the top seed by virtue of the first tiebreaker.
The tiebreaker is head-to-head competition against the next team in the standings, which is Louisiana Tech. Tulsa swept the Bulldogs, while the Rainbows split.
The Associated Press writers' poll will be released later today. Hawaii was No. 40 with 16 points in last week's rankings.
UH Athletics
