Russell Dung knew this year would be different -- he just didn't know how different. HPU coach Dung counts
first season as successfulBy Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.comDung wrapped up his first season as Hawaii Pacific's head coach last night, a campaign in which the Sea Warriors owned teams outside their conference but stumbled against those in the league.
"It was fun," Dung said of his first season out of retired coach Tony Sellitto's shadow. "We try to put the emphasis on winning, and we won more than we lost. Next time we are going to have to concentrate more on winning the conference and less on hoping, wishing and praying that the formulas will work out for us."
Dung's team roared out to a 12-1 record before beginning conference play, then used that confidence to play champion Brigham Young-Hawaii tough three times and win a game at Montana State-Billings. A loss at last place Western New Mexico while guard Nic Walters was sidelined, however, set the tone for the rest of the season.
Dung is calling the season a success because of all of the things he learned, and because his team never gave up. He points to the seniors as the reason for his team's persistence and making the transition easier on him.
"Leadership on the floor is sometimes something you lack," Dung said. "But our seniors gave us that. Even in practices, my thought is that we can practice all night until we get something down or get it over with quickly. The seniors were true leaders."
Even with a career on the bench as Sellitto's top assistant, Dung says that the game changed as soon as he was the head man. Instead of looking at parts of the game, he had to see the whole thing develop. Dung admits that he made some mistakes, that you never know everything there is to know about the game.
"Maybe early in the season I should have called some timeouts when we were losing the momentum," Dung said. "I took it for granted that the players would carry out what we had diagrammed. I learned to never assume anything."
Eye on California: The Seasiders are second in the regional poll, but could move up to earn the right to host the regional if they sweep Chaminade at home to end the season and No. 1 Cal State Bakersfield loses one of its two games.
The most crucial one occurs tonight, when the Coyotes travel to Cal State-Bakersfield. The Coyotes needed overtime to beat Bakersfield at home earlier this season.
The tournament will be held March 14-17, with the selection show live on the Internet at ncaasports.com/basketball/ mens on Monday at 5 p.m. Hawaii time. Fans must pre-register at the site to view the show.
Hosting the regional is important because the Seasiders hold the fifth longest home winning streak in the nation, while the Coyotes hold the second longest. Hawaii-Hilo is No. 10 in the regional poll, and is the only other Hawaii school with a shot at making the tournament.
Hilo playing catch up: The UH-Hilo softball team dropped a conference game to Chaminade last week, putting itself in the same position that cost it a berth in the regional tournament last year.
Last season the Mustangs went through the season undefeated against every Pacific West Conference school except Hilo, while the Vulcans dropped a game to Chaminade and finished a game behind after splitting with Western New Mexico.
Hilo travels to Silver City, N.M., in April and must hope that Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade or Brigham Young-Hawaii can steal a game from the Mustangs this year.
One thing working in the Vulcans' favor is the competitiveness of the PacWest this year, as each team has already scored an upset.