Pollsters take
notice of UH

The University of Hawaii men's basketball team is starting to attract some attention.

The Rainbows received nine points in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and two in the Associated Press list.

Also, sophomore guard Predrag Savovic was named WAC player of the week.

Savovic, who averaged 18.3 points a game during the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic, is the first Rainbow to be honored this season.

Hawaii is 11-2 and on a six-game win streak. The last team with those numbers was the 1997-98 team, which finished 21-9 and made it into the NIT.

"That gives them (the players) some recognition for coming out of six good ballgames," said Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace.

"If you continue to win then they'll add (votes) to it and that's how you get in (the top 25). And once you get in, it's hard to get out unless you really blow it."

The Rainbows are third among Western Athletic Conference teams in nonconference play. Tops is Tulsa, which is 13-1, and second is SMU at 12-2. The Mustangs will be Hawaii's first WAC opponent at home on Jan. 12.

Hawaii leaves tomorrow night for its WAC opener at UTEP (9-3) on Saturday.

Road woes

Hawaii hasn't won its first WAC game on the road since Jan. 3, 1994, when the Rainbows beat San Diego State, 78-73.

It was obvious at yesterday's practice that Wallace was pushing his players extra hard in preparation for a hostile opening environment.

Wallace knows that beating UTEP is important to having a crack at the top 25, but he won't bank the season on it.

"If we go over there and play good and still get beaten by a good ballclub, then we know we can get them when they come here," he said. "If you win at home and steal a few wins on the road, you're OK."

Asked if he will do anything different on this road trip to avoid a repeat of the 85-56 USC blowout on Dec. 8, Wallace said no.

"We didn't do anything wrong, except mentally they just didn't get after it," said Wallace. "They let the other team dictate everything on the floor. The guys have to learn from that. That's what we're talking about, and that's why we're pushing them and that's why we're working on conditioning. That's why we're trying to get a little tougher physically and mentally. It's not going to be like it is at home and you have to adjust to that."

Hot streak

Savovic is also the most improved scorer for the Rainbows over the last couple of games. He entered the Rainbow Classic shooting 41 percent from the field, 30 percent from outside the arc and averaging 8.1 points. But against Colorado and Oregon, Savovic shot 11-for-20 from the field (55 percent), 6-for-10 from 3-point range (60 percent) and averaged 23 points. He's averaging 10.5 points on the season, third on the team.

Inside job

Hawaii's scoring and rebound leaders remain its inside men, 6-8 Marquette Alexander (13.4 ppg and 7.6 rpg) and 6-9 Troy Ostler (11.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Alexander has scored in double figures a team-high eight consecutive games.

Rainbows 78th in RPI

Hawaii's RPI ranking as of Sunday is 78 and its strength of schedule is ranked 247th.

The highest the Rainbows ever finished a season in the RPI ranking was 41 in 1997-98.

The Sagarin rating has Hawaii at 75 but lists its strength of schedule at 310.

2000 Classic field

The field for the 2000 Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic, Dec.27-30, is almost complete.

Committed are No. 13 Tennessee (fifth appearance), Texas A&M (second), St. Louis (third), Iowa (fifth), Detroit (first) and Manhattan (first).

The seventh berth will be filled by either No. 17 Temple or Boston College.

Recruiting

The Rainbows' coaching staff is said to be recruiting another Lithuanian player from Puida's alma mater.

Mindaugas Burneika, a 6-7, 225-pound forward for Weatherford College in Texas, is averaging 16 points in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference and was a preseason all-conference pick.

The word on him is that he's physically strong, a good athlete and can shoot the 3.

"I think he can shoot 42.3 percent from 3-point line," said Puida.

Puida said the 21-year-old Burneika has played for the Lithuanian junior national team.

Hawaii is also interested in Warren Busby, a 5-11 Weatherford guard from Houston. He led the conference in assists and is regarded as one of the better JC point guards.

Scholars

Hawaii has five players who earned grade-point averages above 3.0 this semester. Junior small forward Lane O'Connor tops the list, followed by Puida, Savovic and walk-ons Lance Takaki and Ryne Holliday.

No TV

There will be no TV broadcast on KFVE for this weekend's game against the Miners. The game will be aired on KCCN radio (1420 AM) at 4:05 p.m.

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By Pat Bigold