Tuesday, January 5, 1999

Wallace considers
changing Rainbows’
lineup on road

Mike Robinson might move
to the small forward position

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

In another effort to jump-start the lifeless University of Hawaii basketball team's offense, Rainbows head coach Riley Wallace said he might try moving the team's leading scorer, Mike Robinson, from strong forward to small forward.

The Rainbows (3-9) have lost seven of their last eight games. But the 6-foot-8, 240-pound Robinson has scored 21 points in each of Hawaii's two most recent games against NC-Charlotte and Texas in the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

"He knows how to play the game and he gives us some offense," said Wallace after a 212-hour practice yesterday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawaii left on its first road trip of the season -- a two-gamer to open the Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division schedule.

The 'Bows will play games on Thursday and Saturday in the home arenas of two programs with winning preseason records: the University of Texas-El Paso (8-5) and No. 15 New Mexico (12-1).

"This team needs offense," said Wallace. "Mike's got the good offensive body down inside and he's a good passer. He's in better condition than anybody out here because of his strength."

Wallace said Robinson, who leads the 'Bows with a 12.5 points per game average, is the only really strong player on the roster right now.

The small forward position requires an aggressive player of Robinson's size who can combine ferocity with agility. He's supposed to hit the short and the long shots, as well as rebound.

The theory is that Robinson will physically overwhelm whoever the opposing team puts on him and become a reliable scorer.

"But he is going to make a lot of mistakes out there because he's not used to having his face to the basket," said Wallace, nonetheless willing to try whatever it takes these days.

Robinson, who also had 15 rebounds in his last two games, said he's sure he can handle the job, but he said he's not sure when was the last time he played the No. 3 spot. It certainly wasn't in college.

"Maybe when I played recreation ball," he said.

"I think my jump shot is OK. I just have to freshen up on what I do know about the '3' spot. I think it will bring more depth and mobility to our game because I'm big, I can shoot the ball a little, and I'm quick. I can defend people down low in the mismatch. It's just a matter of going around a few more picks, running on the wing a little more than I'm used to."

Wallace said the 'Bows must learn to strike early.

"We need a little more early offense," said Wallace. "We're too weak to play power basketball and not strong enough to run full-time. If we don't take some fast-break baskets early, then we're only going to score 60 points. In the tournament (Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic), we scored some extra points because we got some early offense."

Wallace said Hawaii's second half woes can also be blamed on the team's overall lack of strength.

"We get tired and we don't have the perimeter shooters," he said. "We wind up having to play power ball as we get more tired, but the strength is not there."

Wallace, who said he'll keep experimenting until he finds the right chemistry for this team, wasn't sure about Thursday's starting lineup. But he might start junior Geremy Robinson (5.3 ppg) at the No. 2 spot in place of senior Casey Cartwright (11.6 ppg). Cartwright scored 17 points against NC-Charlotte but only seven against Texas.

Marquette Alexander (11.2 ppg), a 6-8 junior Wallace said is not very strong but knows how to use his 269 pounds, is likely to remain up front. Erin Galloway (5.8 ppg), a 6-8 senior, is a possibility to be reinstalled as a starter in place of 6-6 freshman Philipp Czernin (5.8 ppg).

Czernin scored only nine points in two Rainbow Classic games.

Junior Johnny White (8.5 ppg) is expected to remain the starting point guard.

"The first game is winnable," said Wallace. "We have to steal one at UTEP and hope it will lift us against New Mexico."

He said the Miners, who were 3-11 in the WAC last year, will not be easy pickings. They lost only one player who saw considerable time last year.

"They're off to a good start," said Wallace. "You couldn't tell about their schedule early, but when they beat Washington State, that made a statement. Then they lost by a few points to a good Detroit team."

New Mexico's Kenny Thomas, who led the Lobos to a 4-0 record last week while averaging 19.3 points and 11.3 rebounds, was named WAC co-player of the week.

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