Notebook
Thursday, November 11, 1999
Wahine Playbook
At Southern Methodist Mustangs
and Texas Christian Horned FrogsTomorrow: No. 3 Hawaii (20-1, 9-0) at SMU (17-10, 6-2), 3 p.m. HST. Saturday: Hawaii at TCU (8-16, 2-6).
By Cindy Luis
Wallace picking up the pace
Facing a tough exhibition game against a well-conditioned California Midwest All-stars team on Sunday, Riley Wallace stepped up the pressure last night at practice in the Stan Sheriff Center. "We have to show a tremendous amount of conditioning this week," he said, noting that the collegiate opener against Tennessee-Martin is just a week from tomorrow.
"We put penalties in. Every time they got back-to-back turnovers, they got a set of lines (end-to-end sprints on the court)."
Wallace finished the night by having the team do double sets of sprints twice. Each double set had to be done in 22 seconds.
Everyone made it under the clock, including 7-footer Todd Fields, and that pleased Wallace.
Hawaii routed a newly organized Northwest All-stars team four days ago, 89-67. But the California Midwest All-stars are bigger, better and have played together as a team against Division I programs since Nov. 1.
Last year, the California West All-stars beat Hawaii, 80-72, in the Rainbows' exhibition opener.
"They have to be in pretty darned good shape because they've been playing every night," said Wallace. The all-stars have played nine Division I teams in the last 10 days. They lost to DePaul, 49-40, on Nov. 7 and trailed by only a point at the half to North Carolina State on Nov. 3. The all-stars lost that game, 91-84.
"They'll be wiser on the floor," said Wallace. "They have 10 to 12 guys and they're coming here to win."
The all-stars have a 7-footer in Leif Nelson (Washington State 1998) and a 6-9 player in Alvin Robinson (Loyola of Chicago, 1999).
The game will start at 4:30 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Nerijus Puida, the 6-4 junior small forward from Lithuania injured last week in a bicycle accident, practiced at full speed in yesterday's half-court drills.
Asked if he might assume his starting role at the "3" on Sunday, Wallace said he won't rule it out.
"But Lane (O'Connor) is playing pretty good, so I don't know yet," he said.
O'Connor, a 6-7 junior, had 17 points and no turnovers in Sunday's exhibition.
Geremy Robinson, the 6-4 senior who also can play the 3, has been almost perfect from around the arc and the baseline in drills the past week. "He's been looking good," said Wallace. "He's playing better and he's listening to the coaches. I see progress. He's improved 100 percent."
Robinson scored 15 points and made a steal during a nine-minute stretch of the second half Sunday. He had only one turnover.
Wallace had been critical of Robinson for not staying within the offense. "He'll still make mistakes but at least now he's trying to please us," he said.
Wallace said he plans to go with sophomore Mike McIntyre as the No. 2 point guard in his rotation for now.
Freshman point guard Carl English, originally signed to back up starting point guard Johnny White, is hampered by ligament trouble in his left ankle.
The 6-4 Newfoundlander continues to practice with the team. Wallace is contemplating redshirting him.
"I have to go with Mike because Carl might not be there," said Wallace.
Wallace used English for seven minutes on Sunday, pairing him with starting point guard Johnny White.
"I'm using him in two-guard fronts," said Wallace. "I have to get him to where he handles pressure well and gets things started up front."
Bernard McIntosh, a 6-7 junior forward who received therapy for back spasms earlier this week, received praise in practice last night from his coaches for his work under the offensive glass. McIntosh started on Sunday and had eight rebounds and seven points.
Season ticket sales are at 87 percent of last year despite a mandatory donation of $15 for lower level this year, according to associate athletic director Jim Donovan.
Donovan said that includes 81 percent renewals.
By Pat Bigold
