Rainbow Playbook
vs. Brigham Young
Tomorrow: No. 8 BYU (4-1, 1-1 MPSF) vs. No. 7 Hawaii (2-0, 0-0 MPSF), 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
Coaches-Hawaii: Mike Wilton (8th season, 140-62). BYU: Carl McGown (10th season, 142-112).
Series: Tied, 10-10. BYU has won the past two meetings, including a 3-1 win at the Marriott Center last February that drew an NCAA-record crowd 14,156. The Cougars also ended the Rainbows' season in the MPSF Tournament semifinal en route to the NCAA national championship.
Probable Starters-Hawaii: Clay Stanley (6-9 Jr. OH) 6.14 kpg, .299, 7 aces; Torry Tukuafu (6-5 Jr. MB) 2.14 kpg, .455, 0.86 bpg), Brenton Davis (6-5 Jr. MB) 2.71 kpg, .438, 1.71 bpg; Russell Lockwood (6-0 Sr. LE) 2.00 dpg; Stefan Krejci (6-2 So. S) 15.71 apg, , Eyal Zimet (6-2 Fr. OH) 1.29 kpg, .316; Costas Theocharidis (6-2 Fr. OH) 5.43 kpg, .508, 2.29 dpg. BYU: Joaquin Acosta (6-5 So. OH) 5.40 kpg, .357, 2.20 dpg, 2.00 bpg), Chris Pitzak (6-1 Sr. S) 20.90 apg, 1.30 dpg;Casey Jennings (6-3 Sr. OH) 4.30 kpg, .375, 2.10 dpg; Jaime Mayol (6-2 So. OH) 3.00 kpg, .387; Scott Bunker (6-5 Jr. MB) 3.30 kpg, .448, 5 aces, 3.70 bpg; Brad Goldston (6-4 Sr. LE) 3.20 dpg; Matt Olsen (6-6 Jr. MB) 2.80 kpg, .438, 1.20 bpg..
About the Rainbows: Hawaii opened the season last week with two wins over Loyola of Chicago, 3-0 and 3-1. The Rainbows are 19-3 in season openers and have won 10 in a row ... Having the biggest impact among Hawaii's three starting newcomers is Theocharidis, who had a combined 38 kills against the Ramblers last week... Stanley had 22 kills against Chicago in the second match, as well as six aces, one off the school record ... The Rainbows shut out the Ramblers, 15-0, in Game 4 Friday night. It was the fifth blanking of an opponent in the program's 22-year history.
About the Cougars: BYU has just one starter back (Pitzak) from its 30-1 title team... The Cougars opened with wins at home last week over Loyola (3-1) and Lewis (3-0 twice). The Cougars hit the road this week, losing at No. 14 Pacific Tuesday, 13-15, 12-15, 15-13, 15-13, 15-13, but rebounding last night at No. 12 Stanford, 15-4, 15-6, 15-11. Against the Cardinal, Acosta had 18 kills and the Cougars had a 13.5-6.0 edge in blocking ... Mike Wilton Jr., son of Hawaii's coach, is sophomore libero for the Cougars but did not make the traveling squad.
Something new: A red, white and blue ball and the use of the libero (floating defensive specialist).
On the air: KFVE TV (Channel 5) live.
Tickets: $5-$9.
Next up: The Rainbows will host the sixth Outrigger Hotels Invitational next Wednesday-Friday. The field includes No. 1 UCLA, No. 4 Indiana-Purdue Ft. Wayne and No. 10 Penn State.
End quote: "BYU may have lost a lot of their players from last year's team but you know they're always going to put a competitive team on the floor,'' said UH coach Wilton.'
By Cindy Luis
Rainbow Playbook
vs. Rice Owls
Coaches: Hawaii, Riley Wallace, 13th year (209-203 career). Rice, Willis Wilson, 7th year (102-107 career).
Season record: Hawaii (1-2 WAC, 12-4); Rice (0-2 WAC; 4-9).
Top players: Hawaii, 6-8 Sr. C. Marquette Alexander (14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 6-6 So. G. Predrag Savovic (11.6 ppg, 38 percent 3-point shooter, 78 percent free throw shooter), 6-1 Sr. G. Johnny White (8.6 ppg, 3.3 apg), 6-9 Jr. F. Troy Ostler (12.1 ppg, 57 percent from the floor, 7.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg), 6-5 Jr. F. Nerijus Puida (6.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.6 steals per game). Rice, 6-6 Jr. F. Erik Cooper (21.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 5-11 Jr. G. Mike Wilks (15.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.8 apg), 6-11 Sr. C. Alex Bougaieff (12.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg), 6-11 So. C. T.J. McKenzie (7.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) 6-9 Fr. F. Brandon Evans (5.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg).
Interesting facts: The Rainbows won their last two games against Rice (Feb. 19, 1998 at home, 69-50 and Jan. 22, 1998 at Rice, 65-63)....But Hawaii has lost its last 10 games on the road, dating back to Feb. 28, 1998 at Fresno State (92-78)...The Owls are on a five-game losing streak. Their last loss was to Tulsa, 67-49, at home...Hawaii has won seven of its last eight games...Alexander seeks his 12th straight game in double figures...Savovic seeks his sixth straight...Hawaii's RPI ranking is at 77 while Rice is ranked 277...The Owls were 18-10 last season but lost three starters...Wilks had nine games of six or more assists last season.
Coach's quote: Wallace said he played for Centenary College at Rice's Autry Court nearly 40 years ago and he knows it's not the most comfortable place to play. "They don't have big crowds in there, and it's not a good atmosphere to play in," he said. "You have to self-motivate. It's an old-fashioned gym. There's a curtain there and behind it there might be intramurals going on."
Tipoff: Today, 3:35 p.m., Autry Court.
On the air: KCCN radio (1420 AM).
By Pat Bigold
