RAINBOW BASKETBALL PLAYBOOK
vs. Texas-El Paso Miners
Coaches: Hawaii, Riley Wallace, 13th year (211-204 career). UTEP, Jason Rabedeaux, 1st year (11-8 career).
Season record: Hawaii (3-3 WAC, 14-5); UTEP (2-4 WAC; 11-8).
Top players: Hawaii, 6-8 Sr. C. Marquette Alexander (14.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 81 percent free throw shooter), 6-6 So. G Predrag Savovic (12.0 ppg, 78 percent free throw shooter), 6-1 Sr. G Johnny White (9.3 ppg, 3.1 apg, 72 percent free throw shooter), 6-9 Jr. F Troy Ostler (11.6 ppg, 53 percent from the floor, 6.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg), 6-5 Jr. F Nerijus Puida (6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.7 steals a game). UTEP, 6-95 Jr. F Brandon Wolfram (20.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 85 percent free throw shooter), 6-2 Sr. G William Smith (14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.6 apg), 6-4 Sr. G Jarvis Mullahon (12.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 6-6 Fr. F Roy Smallwood (12.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-1 Sr. G Eggie McRae (9.1 ppg, 4.5 apg).
Interesting facts: Hawaii had six players in double figures for the first time this season in Saturday's win over San Jose State... Alexander has scored in double figures in 14 straight games and is the fifth best free throw shooter in the WAC at 81 percent...Sophomore guard Mike McIntyre turned 20 on Jan. 22, Alexander turned 22 on Saturday, and freshman redshirt guard Carl English turned 19 yesterday...The Miners snapped Hawaii's longest win streak of the season (six games) when the Rainbows lost at El Paso, 95-83...Puida is second in the WAC in assists per game and third in assist/turnover ratio (5.0 to 2.9). ...Hawaii's 7-0 reserve center Todd Fields turned an ankle in practice yesterday but is expected to play tomorrow.
Keys to winning: Hawaii must improve on its 16-for-25 free-throw shooting performance at UTEP, close the gap on a 41-34 rebounding deficit, and do a better job of containing McRae and Wolfram. On Jan. 8, they each scored 23 points against the Rainbows. Alexander must avoid fouling Wolfram who is the WAC's second best free throw shooter.
Quote: "We shoot the ball well (47 percent, third in the WAC) and that helps a little, but it would be easier if we were a better rebounding team." - Riley Wallace, on Hawaii being outrebounded six of the last seven games:
Tipoff: Tomorrow, 7:05 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
On the air: Live, KFVE TV (Channel 5). KCCN radio (1420 AM).
RealAudio: Click here
By Pat Bigold, Star-Bulletin
UH VOLLEYBALL PLAYBOOK
vs. UC Irvine
First serve: 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
Coaches-Hawaii: Mike Wilton (8th season, 142-64). UCI: Charlie Brande (4th season, 33-49).
Records: No. 15 UC Irvine (3-5, 1-3 MPSF) No. 7 Hawaii (4-2, 0-1 MPSF).
Series: Hawaii leads, 6-1. The Anteaters won for the first time ever last April 3, winning, 3-2, at Irvine
Probable Starters-Hawaii: Clay Stanley (6-9 Jr. OH) 5.67 kpg, .224, 18 aces, 2.26 dpg; Torry Tukuafu (6-5 Jr. MB) 3.52 kpg, .522, 1.30 bpg; Brenton Davis (6-5 Jr. MB) 2.78 kpg, .415, 1.65 bpg; Russell Lockwood (6-0 Sr. LE) 2.91 dpg; Stefan Krejci (6-2 So. S) 18.22 apg, 1.96 dpg, 1.13 bpg; Eyal Zimet (6-2 Fr. OH) 2.05 kpg, .302, 1.58 dpg; Costas Theocharidis (6-2 Fr. OH) 6.04 kpg, .402, 2.57 dpg. UC Irvine: Steve Cavella (6-7 Sr. OPP) 5.59 kpg, .335; Erick Helenihi (6-8 So. MB) 4.07 kpg, .330, 1.25 bpg; Josh Richardson 6-4 Sr. MB) 1.59 bpg; Cory Hinkle (6-2 Sr. S) 13.32 apg.
About the Rainbows: Hawaii is coming off a marathon 3-2 loss to No. 1 UCLA in the title match of the Outrigger Hotels Invitational that lasted 3 hours, 16 minutes. Freshman Tony Ching again came off the bench to spark a rally that fell short. ... Hawaii has 52 aces, 18 by Stanley, and is on pace to break the single-season mark of 226 in 1996
About the Anteaters: UCI is also coming off a 3-2 loss, this to Pepperdine in Malibu. ... There are four island products on the roster: Punahou graduates Brenden Watumull (6-5 So. MB), Wade Ichinose (6-1 So. OPP) and Lucas Rigg (6-2 Fr. OH), and Aiea's Chris Chun (6-1 Jr. OH)... Coach Brande is a former Hawaii Wahine assistant and is married to former Wahine player Pam Lawrence.
On the air: Live, KFVE TV(Channel 5).
RealAudio: Click here
Tickets: $5-$9.
By Cindy Luis , Star-Bulletin
