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Monday, February 28, 2000
Postseason hopes
By Pat Bigold
diminish for ’Bows
Star-BulletinYou have to hope the University of Hawaii men's basketball team subscribes to Scarlett O'Hara's philosophy in that memorable scene from "Gone With The Wind."
Silhouetted against her father's war-ravaged Tara plantation, looking ragged, dirty and wan, Scarlett uttered her favorite refrain, "Tomorrow is another day."
After Saturday's lethargic 67-50 loss at San Jose State, all the Rainbows have is tomorrow. A couple of them.
At 16-10 overall and 5-8 in the Western Athletic Conference, the Rainbows have two more chances to reach that 18-win mark. But outside of winning the WAC tournament title -- and a possible NCAA berth -- Hawaii's only shot at postseason play is in the National Invitation Tournament.
The Rainbows needed overtime to defeat the Spartans at the Stan Sheriff Center on Jan. 29. Saturday's loss to the Spartans (14-13, 5-7) in San Jose was the most lackluster performance of the season.
Marquette Alexander failed to score in double digits for the first time in 21 games and Nerijus Puida, one of the WAC's top playmakers, was held to one assist for the first time in 26 games.
The Rainbows, who have been among the NCAA's top 20 field goal percentage teams, shot just 35 percent (20-for-56) and got to the free-throw line for only six shots.
"We didn't show any patience in our offense," said Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace.
The loss was also Hawaii's lowest offensive output since a 53-49 home court loss to Bowling Green on Nov. 21.
"Our team just didn't show up to play, physically or mentally," said Wallace, whose Rainbows have lost five of their last six games.
Having lost six of seven road games this season, Hawaii faces improbable odds against winning two more games.
The Rainbows have a final WAC regular-season date at Fresno State this Saturday. The Bulldogs (9-3 WAC, 19-9) rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat the Rainbows on Feb. 5 at the Sheriff Center.
On March 9, Hawaii opens play in the WAC tournament, also being held in Fresno.
The loss, Hawaii's fifth on the road in the WAC, dropped the Rainbows one spot to sixth in the conference. The Spartans moved into fifth.
Wallace said it was obvious his players "had no energy in their legs" during the game Saturday.
"I've been giving them two days in a row off to get their legs back but it doesn't work," he said.
"I've never done that before. They're just very tired. The conditioning has got to be there because it's March."
Sophomore guard Mike McIntyre was the only Rainbow in double digits with 11 points.
Corey Powell and Billy Landram led San Jose State with 13 points apiece, while R.J. Powell added 11.
Hawaii was never in the game, trailing by 35-19 at halftime. The Spartans led by as many as 20 before a 17-4 Rainbow run cut the lead to 45-38.
San Jose State went on a 7-0 run and Hawaii never got closer than 10 after that.
WAC men
C onference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct. Tulsa 11 2 .846 26 3 .897 SMU 9 3 .750 21 5 .808 Fresno St 9 3 .750 19 9 .679 TCU 6 6 .500 15 13 .536 San Jose St 5 7 .417 14 13 .519 Hawaii 5 8 .385 16 10 .615 Texas-El Paso 4 9 .308 13 13 .500 Rice 1 12 .077 5 20 .200 Saturday's results
Tulsa 85, UTEP 55
Fresno St. 65, Rice 57
San Jose St. 67, Hawaii 50Today's game
TCU at SMU
Wednesday's game
San Jose State at Fresno State
Friday's game
Rice at TCU
Saturday's games
Hawaii at Fresno State
San Jose State at Texas-El Paso
Tulsa at SMU
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
