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Wahine wonder why The recent decision by the NCAA selection committee to not include the Hawaii women's basketball team in the field of 64 left coach Vince Goo incensed over the perceived slight of his program.
The Hawaii women's basketball
Louisiana Tech an enduring draw
team keeps winning games but
is not winning over the fans
Teamwork defined WahineBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comBut through the years, the NCAA hasn't been the only hard sell. Despite Goo's well-documented success on the court, his program hasn't attracted long lines at the Stan Sheriff Center. Why?
Is it because the men's game is viewed as more of a power affair with its slam dunks and great athleticism vs. the women's game, which is considered to be more finesse?
UH associate athletic director Jim Donovan recalls a statement made a couple of years ago by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.
"In the last couple of years, Wooden said the purest form of basketball being played today is by women," Donovan said. "I think there are purists out there who find the women's game more interesting."
What about the marketing/promotion dollars spent on the Wahine basketball?
Because of Title IX, the dollars promoting women's and men's basketball at UH is about the same, according to Mark Livingston, director of marketing.
UH printed 24,000 schedule cards and 24,000 posters for the Wahine and distributed them to schools and businesses. Spots promoting upcoming Wahine games run regularly on television stations KFVE and KHNL, and radio station KCCN.
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There are halftime contests with prizes for the participants. The Tesoro blimp circles the arena dropping gift certificates.Hawaii's high schools field boys and girls teams, so there is a youth factor that has the potential to produce paying fans down the road. The Wahine Basketball Booster Club has a program in which youngsters who register get to attend games free.
The Wahine certainly have benefited from local standouts over the years. April Atuaia, BJ Itoman, Hedy Liu, Nani Cockett, Melanie Azama, Nani Flores, Dana Takahara, Fran Villarmia and Kaui Wakita are some of the Hawaii high school products who have made significant contributions during the Vince Goo era.
There have been 11 seasons of 20 or more victories in the 15 campaigns since Goo became head coach, including this year's 23-8 season. The Wahine have gone to five NCAA Tournaments and four Women's National Invitation Tournaments under Goo, produced 22 all-conference players, three all-Americans and won three regular-season conference titles.
The 2001-2002 preseason schedule was dotted with ranked teams and teams from well-known conferences. Perhaps it takes time for fans to warm up to the Wahine because they start their season when women's volleyball is marching toward another postseason appearance. Or, perhaps afternoon games early in the year hurt attendance and fans do not realize how good and exciting the Wahine are until after the holidays.
As KFVE broadcaster Jim Leahey likes to say about the early season turnout, "It's an invitation-only crowd."
Next year, UConn, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Texas Tech, all ranked in the Top 25 this season in the Associated Press poll, and DePaul, UCLA, Kentucky, Gonzaga, UNLV and Loyola Marymount will be here for tournaments.
Game times and dates are definitely a factor, not only for Wahine basketball, but for all UH sports.
"We know starting a game at 7 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday is the best time we have in terms of attendance," Donovan said. "When you move away form those times or onto a weekend, you will start to see a drop in attendance in any sport. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday appear to be the worst days."
UH hosts close to 150 athletic events each year that draw more than a thousand fans, more events than most Division I schools, according to Livingston.
"Most schools have two men's sports (football and basketball) and one women's sport (usually basketball) that are popular with their fans," Donovan said. "At UH we have those plus women's and men's volleyball and baseball.
"I think that one of the biggest issues is when you consider how much disposable income a family has to spend on entertainment. We don't create the demand, the public makes that decision."
As an example of the choices UH fans have to make, look at the overall schedule leading up to the Wahine basketball game against nationally ranked Louisiana Tech on a Sunday in January. Working backward, the men's basketball team played a showdown game with Southern Methodist on Saturday, the Wahine played SMU on Friday, men's basketball played Louisiana Tech that Thursday, and men's volleyball opened its season Wednesday and Tuesday.
"I think it is amazing what the fans do here. I know a lot of marketing directors and athletic directors on the mainland that would love to have this kind of support," said Livingston, who noted attendance at all UH sports was down a bit this year.
"After every year we discuss what we can do better. Until that arena is sold out, my job isn't done."
UH officials had hoped Wahine basketball would be a better draw this season following the exciting finish a year ago when three consecutive home games in the WNIT drew crowds of 2,624, 3,400 and 4,474 in a span of six days.
"Our players, our coaching staff can't control how many people show up. What we can control is the kind of effort and product we put on the floor," Goo said. "That's what we are concerned about.
"It means a lot to have a good crowd. But, at the same time, our players really appreciate those who are regular. Let's not dwell on what we don't have, just appreciate what we do have."
This season, 18,070 fans have attended Wahine games, an average of 1,004. The average for the nine Western Athletic Conference home games is 1,221. Hawaii trailed only Louisiana Tech in average home attendance in the WAC.
"There is a correlation between winning and strength of schedule," Donovan said. "By getting a WNIT bid, fans said, 'Hey, you've got a pretty good women's basketball program and you're playing good teams.' It was a validation, like an outside vote of confidence.
"However, when the WNIT games were held here, the men's basketball season was over. They weren't competing for the disposable income, which perhaps supports that theory."
There wasn't the carryover Donovan hoped for. Wahine basketball season ticket sales dropped to 288, down about 100, despite UH changing its policy from all reserve seating to general admission.
"You have to remember when the arena opened, women's basketball drew about 150 people a game," Donovan said. "We hoped after last year the team might average 3,000 a game."
Number sold by UH athletic department Season tickets
1997-98: 258
1998-99: 329
1999-2000: 370
2000-01: 343
2001-02: 288
Per-game average nationally NCAA attendance leaders,
2000-01 season1. Tennessee, 15,510
2. Texas Tech, 12,660
3. Connecticut, 12,265
4. Iowa St., 11,370
5. New Mexico, 8,712
6. SW Missouri St., 8,435
7. Purdue, 7,286
8. Wisconsin, 7,149
9. Notre Dame, 6,376
10. Ohio St., 6,256
56. Hawaii, 1,914Source: NCAA
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Louisiana Tech's first year in the Western Athletic Conference wasn't much different from its last nine seasons in the Sun Belt Conference. Louisiana Tech keeps on
winning and drawing fansBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comThe Lady Techsters captured the regular-season conference title and the tournament championship. Tech did suffer its first conference loss in 77 games, when it dropped a squeaker to Rice in late February.
But one thing that didn't change for the Lady Techsters was attendance. Tech averaged 3,490 fans a game in 14 home matchups.
Behind football, women's basketball drew the largest crowds in Ruston, La., a town with a population of about 20,000 and two universities (Louisiana Tech and Grambling State) in close proximity.
Whereas football and men's basketball are typically the top sellers at most institutions, men's basketball at Louisiana Tech struggles to equal the women's attendance.
The Bulldogs drew 35,560 for 13 home games this year, an average of 2,735 a game. The Lady Techsters had 48,857 watch their 14 home games, approximately 755 more people a game.
Louisiana Tech coach Leon Barmore says the size of Ruston is one reason why the Lady Techsters have high attendance. As a small town, college sports is the main attraction. But it is Tech's winning tradition in women's basketball that makes it the second-most watched sport at the university.
The Lady Techsters have played in 13 Final Fours and have won three national championships. Louisiana Tech and Tennessee are the only two teams to have played in every NCAA Tournament.
Tech's successful history began in 1976, only two years after the program's inception. That season, the Lady Techsters posted the first of 23 20-win seasons. Four years later, Tech captured its first national championship.
The success of the program is more evident when you consider that the Lady Techsters rarely lose. Their longest losing streak is three games and the last time that happened was in 1992.
"We're just there every year," Barmore said. "We've been consistent. We hadn't disappeared for 10 years and come back for one or two and then disappear again. We're pretty much there every year."
And so are their fans. Barmore estimates a fan base of 4,000, though the Lady Techsters draw about 6,000 if they're playing a high-ranked school like Tennessee.
There are more season-ticket holders for women's basketball than there are for men's basketball.
"There are a lot of senior citizens, without question," Barmore said. "It is an older crowd. Our student body supports us fairly well. There's just a lot of people 60 and up who just flock to the game. They really do. We've got an area where they can come and park the car. They don't have to walk as far. It's a big love affair between those types of people and our team."
The love affair has been continuous even with players from seven different states. But it's not just the fans who have shown their love for the team.
Barmore says the administration is supportive and the Lady Techsters get special attention. After clinching the conference title, university president Dan Reneau was in the Lady Techsters' locker room congratulating them on their season.
Women's basketball isn't promoted any differently than any of the other sports. The same person who handles marketing for football also does basketball.
Barmore believes weather could be one of the reasons why the Lady Techsters have such a strong fan base. Given the same circumstances, weather could also be one of the factors in why the Rainbow Wahine don't draw as well, despite 13 20-win seasons.
"A winter here is a winter," Barmore said. "People here go indoors and go to basketball. You all have such beautiful weather you've got people outside all the time. I don't know what all it would take for you to draw better. There's not much competition here in the winter for sporting dollars."
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The 2001-02 Rainbow Wahine were not the most talented or most experienced team in Hawaii history according to head coach Vince Goo, but they discovered a way to win 23 games. Teamwork defined Wahine
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comWhat made this team successful, drove them to reach the Western Athletic Conference championship game and earn a post-season trip?
"Teamwork," said Goo. "They played together and they took a lot of pride in their defense. You don't know if you have those qualities until the season progresses on and you make a final evaluation when the season it over. They were doing it from the beginning, but you never know if they are going to finish that way."
Hawaii allowed 56.1 points per game, 14th-best in the nation, and held opponents to a 34.6 shooting percentage from the field, seventh-best in the nation through March 11th statistics.
The players didn't waver in their commitment to each other and to the team throughout the season. Goo used one starting lineup for the first 17 games, then made one adjustment due to sophomore guard April Atuaia's injury. Freshman wing Chelsea Wagner took over for the final 14 games.
Team chemistry, always a question mark at the beginning of a season, turned out to be very good this year.
"They supported one another, pushed one another and expected a lot out of themselves individually and out of their teammates," said Goo. "They had a common goal to be successful, to win and they knew they couldn't do it by themselves. They needed everybody pushing toward that same goal."
The Wahine didn't win the WAC title, losing to Louisiana Tech, 53-50, in the final minute of the championship game and didn't realize their goal of going to the NCAA Tournament.
Throughout the season they showed an ability to rebound well from disappointment. They lost consecutive games just twice, at midseason to Louisiana Tech and Rice, and the last two of the year.
"They had maturity about them that I didn't expect because of their youth, but they showed it from the first week, the second week and on through the season," said Goo.
With a set starting five, the reserves had a chance to develop this year. The second five all saw an average of nine minutes per game, which was a big key for the Wahine. Not only were starters able to get needed breathers, but when Wagner was needed, she was ready to contribute.
Wagner started 10 WAC games and finished third in scoring with 10.1 points per game, a shade behind senior wing Karena Greeny and senior point guard Janka Gabrielova, both at 10.2. Allen's 10.4 ppg were tops for the full season.
The production of those three players increased out of necessity as the season progressed because opponents put heavy emphasis on shutting down UH's inside game powered by juniors Christen Roper and Allen.
Kim Willoughby joined the team for the last preseason tournament, played in 23 games averaging 6.1 points, finished second with 15 blocked shots and was fourth with 128 rebounds.
What was special about this team?
"With this team being inexperienced, I found it amazing they prepared for people week after week and went in with the thought they were going to win," Goo said. "Some people would have been satisfied staying close to people like Stanford and Baylor, but our players were disappointed when they lost. I think that they have a cockiness and confidence inside them that I didn't realize they had."
Gabrielova and Greeny have used up their athletic eligibility and graduate next year. Everyone else returns.
Wagner or Jade Abele or even Atuaia could move into Greeny's three spot.
The biggest question is who will take over at point guard.
"We have three good choices," said Goo. "It's going to depend on what they do in the spring (weight training) and over the summer. They have individual programs to follow during the summer, If they all follow them, they will be OK. If they exceed what is asked, then those are the ones who will play next year."
The candidates this fall will be senior Michelle Gabriel, sophomore Milia Macfarlane and incoming freshman Trisha Nishimoto.
Also signed for next year are 5-foot-11 guard Amy Sanders, 6-2 forward Penny Jones and 6-3 center Callie Spooner. Goo says all four recruits have the potential to break into the starting lineup.
With the early signings and Willoughby's scholarship switched to basketball (The NCAA pecking order of sports has women's basketball higher than women's volleyball), the Wahine have used their compliment of 15 scholarships for the 2002-03 season.
Notes: Atuaia is scheduled for ACL surgery on her left knee soon. ... The six Wahine road trips had them traveling 42,884 miles this season. ... UH is 42-6 over the last two seasons and 21-2 this year when leading a halftime. ... The Wahine have won 20 or more games six of the last seven seasons, been to two NCAA tournaments and three National Women's Invitation Tournaments.
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