RAINBOW BASKETBALL
Practices go by fast for ’Bows
Hawaii is learning on the fly as it prepares for the season opener
The Hawaii basketball team is less than a week into practice, and the Rainbow Warriors can already sense the clock ticking.
With the NCAA allowing teams to open the season on Nov. 10 this year, the Rainbow Warriors don't have as much time as usual to prepare for the start of the season. Their game at UNLV will mark the program's earliest start since going to an all-collegiate schedule in 1969.
Last year, the Rainbows had more than a month from the start of practice at Twilight Ohana on Oct. 14 to the opener against Michigan State on Nov. 19. This year's schedule allows them about a week less in practices and the returnees can see the difference.
"You can tell we're trying to put in stuff a lot faster this year," said senior guard Matt Lojeski. "It's a lot of concentrating and getting the new guys into what we want to do as a team, what we want to do as an offense, what we want to do as a defense. We need to start picking things up a little faster because it's not too much longer before we start exhibition games."
Hawaii coach Riley Wallace likened the situation to the 1993-94 season, when practice didn't start until early November and the team opened at the Great Alaska Shootout on Thanksgiving week.
Though the coaches are installing the plays at a faster rate this year, Wallace said the Rainbows' group of returnees -- including four players who sat out most of last season -- aids the process. The rule allowing teams to work together for 2 hours per week prior to the official start of practice has also helped.
"We've got more guys back from last year with experience because of the redshirts, so I don't fear not knowing what we're doing as much," he said. "The new guys are picking it up because the old guys teach by example. We're coming along.
"You've got to get it all in so they can master it so we're pushing it pretty hard."
Last year, Lojeski was one of the newcomers trying to learn UH's system and feels for this season's class of six newcomers.
"It was easier for us because we didn't cover as much as fast as we are this year," he said.
"We know where we need to get to and we're not there yet, so we're trying to get as much done as we can. There's a little bit of urgency right now."
The Rainbows will have a dress rehearsal against Division II Hawaii-Hilo on Nov. 4 leading up to the start of their 30-game regular-season schedule, which includes five road meetings prior to opening Western Athletic Conference play.
"The offense is ahead of schedule I'd say," Wallace said after yesterday's practice, "but the defense right now is behind, we have to work on that."
Leading the Pack: As the Rainbows look for a strong start to their season, the WAC is also looking to make some noise in November and December in hopes of earning greater notice in March.
Before beating up on each other in league play, the WAC's coaches are looking for a solid nonconference showing to boost the league's national profile.
Three-time defending regular-season champion Nevada figures to be the most visible of the nine teams, with one coach calling the Wolf Pack "the flagship of the WAC right now."
"That's a compliment they think that way, but I just feel like our league's underappreciated," said Nevada coach Mark Fox, who led the Pack to a 27-6 record last season. "We're all trying to fight in our nonleague schedules to represent our conference, because our conference is so much better than I think the national media recognize."
Nevada's nonconference schedule is highlighted by games against California on Dec. 3 and Gonzaga in the "Battle in Seattle" on Dec. 30.
Hawaii can get some national exposure with a solid showing at the Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 22-25. Louisiana Tech hosts Texas Tech on Dec. 6 and later plays at LSU and Arkansas.
A New Mexico State team expected to challenge Nevada for the WAC title faces a big test at Arizona on Nov. 19 and plays a home-and-home series with UTEP. San Jose State plays at Duke on New Year's Eve.