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Star-Bulletin Sports

Tuesday, January 25, 2000


R A I N B O W _ B A S K E T B A L L



Now there’s
Spain in Wallace’s
Rainbows

Rainbows hold steady in RPI

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Tapa

Riley Wallace's course in World Geography 101 continued last night as yet another European was introduced as a member of the Rainbows.

This time, Wallace turned to Spain to fill his most critical need for the 2000-2001 season.

Albert Tecul Real, an 18-year-old point guard, flew in directly from his home in Barcelona to enroll at the university on Saturday and was introduced to Rainbow fans as a surprise guest on Wallace's "Call the Coach" radio show last night.

Tecul Real, who joins fellow Europeans Predrag Savovic of Montenegro and Nerijus Puida of Lithuania, is eligible immediately, as he assumes a vacant scholarship. But Wallace will redshirt the Spaniard for the remainder of the season.

That will give Hawaii three redshirt freshmen next season, including guard Carl English (Newfoundland) and forward Phil Martin (Ontario).

Wallace has said that, contrary to earlier expectations, English is more inclined to play as a shooting guard. That leaves Tecul Real the only candidate in the fold to succeed senior Johnny White.

He takes the scholarship left open when junior college point guard Roy DelaCruz reneged on his letter of intent last summer.

The 6-foot-2, 165-pounder said he has played 14 games for C.B. (Club Basketball) Sant Josep Badalona this season, averaging 14 points a game. He competed in the E.B.A. (the Spanish amateur basketball league).

Tecul Real said he played point guard and shooting guard the past two seasons but he is willing to play full-time at the point.

"I just want to help the team," said Tecul Real, who was recommended to Wallace by Rob Meurs, a San Antonio Spurs scout who specializes in European talent.

The young Spaniard said he had no hesitation about accepting a scholarship so far from home.

"This is a great opportunity because, after high school in Europe, you can only play club ball," said Tecul Real. "If you want to study, you can not play ball."

BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK

Tapa

Rainbows hold steady
in RPI ratings at 77

After beating Hawaii and San Jose State last week, Western Athletic Conference leader Tulsa (4-0 WAC, 19-1) moved to 13th from 15th in the Associated Press poll, and two spots in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, to 15th from 17th.

Hawaii's RPI rating on CollegeRPI.com remains at a season-best 77 despite going 1-1 on the recent road trip.

But the Rainbows (2-3 WAC, 13-5) dropped to 96 from 89 in the Sagarin ratings.

More rest

Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace decided not to resume practice until tomorrow, giving his players a third day of rest since losing at Tulsa on Saturday, 100-78.

"This is midseason and I'm giving them a chance to rest their legs," he said.

The team was to work out in the weight room today.

Hawaii hosts San Jose State (2-2 WAC, 11-8) Saturday night in the first game of a three-game homestand.

The Rainbows will play UTEP (1-3 WAC, 10-7) on Feb. 3 and Fresno State (2-1 WAC, 12-7) on Feb. 5.

Alexander 9th in WAC

Hawaii has only one player - senior center Marquette Alexander - in the WAC top 10 in scoring.

Alexander, averaging 14.3 points, is in ninth place.

But the Rainbows have two players near the top of the WAC in other categories.

Sophomore Mike McIntyre is second in 3-point shooting percentage at 47 percent, while Nerijus Puida is second in assists, averaging 5 a game, and he has the fourth best assist-turnover ratio.

Hawaii has two players in the top 10 in rebounding: Alexander is seventh, averaging 7.3, and Troy Ostler is 10th, averaging 6.7.

Puida is fifth in the conference in steals, averaging 1.78.

Team stats

In WAC team statistics, Hawaii is now sixth in scoring offense (74.3 average) and fifth in scoring defense (68.2 average).

The Rainbows are only sixth in free-throw percentage (66 percent) and fourth in field-goal percentage (47 percent).

Hawaii is fifth in 3-point shooting (34 percent) but first in defending 3-pointers, allowing opponents to convert only 38 percent.

Future on gridiron?

The athleticism of some of Hawaii's players has not been lost on football head coach June Jones.

Asked last week if he thought any of Wallace's players could play football, he said that Predrag Savovic would make a good linebacker and Geremy Robinson a good cornerback.

Pat Bigold, Star-Bulletin


http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Ka Leo O Hawaii



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