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Notebook
Thursday, January 11, 2001
The Hawaii Pacific basketball team was the only one of four local small college squads to win its first two Pacific West Conference games at home last week. SMALL COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
HPU on winning streak
The Sea Warriors (7-4 overall) are atop the Pacific Division of the PacWest after convincingly defeating Western Oregon on Thursday and winning a tight battle against Humboldt State on Saturday.
Brigham Young-Hawaii and Chaminade each dropped their PacWest openers before rebounding with wins, while Hawaii-Hilo lost its first two conference games.
Not many, including HPU coach Tony Sellitto, figured the Sea Warriors would start conference play 2-0.
HPU has nine new players and only one returning starter.
"We could never believe we would be 2-0," Sellitto said. "But I think that we've come together really well, we have a lot of good players and a really deep bench. So what can happen is, we don't have to let anybody get tired."
Sellitto said he recruited quality shooters and knew he had the right components for a good team, but figured it might take a little more time for them to win. Not the case, however, as the Sea Warriors have now reeled off six straight wins going into the first conference road trip.
A big reason for the winning streak has been the stellar all-around play of HPU's lone returning starter, team captain Kawika Smith. From his forward position, Smith regularly shows strongly in nearly every important offensive and defensive category.
Smith has received lots of help from his new teammates, particularly forward Nash Subotic and guard Nick Spajic. They are 1-2, respectively, for the Sea Warriors in scoring this year, with Subotic averaging 28 points in conference play.
"We're making beautiful strides," Smith said. "We're still not at 100 percent (of our ability) though, but I think we're definitely doing better than expected.
"It's easy for me to be a captain for these guys because each and every one of them are just great guys. They're all willing to listen and to do whatever we need to do to win."
HPU visits Montana State-Billings for games tomorrow and Saturday before finishing the trip at Western New Mexico next Monday. And as the Sea Warriors well know, it's one thing to win at home, quite another on the road.
"I think for all coaches and all conferences, if you can't win on the road you're not a good team," Sellitto said. "There's nothing hard about it (what makes a good team), you gotta win on the road. So we're looking forward to this road trip and maybe seeing if we can."
Also Road Swingin'
BYUH, Chaminade and UHH are also on three-game road trips.The Seasiders (7-4, 1-1) face Western New Mexico tomorrow and Saturday, before taking on Montana State-Billings next Monday.
The Silverswords (7-4, 1-1) visit Alaska-Fairbanks tomorrow and Saturday, before battling Alaska-Anchorage next Monday.
The Vulcans (5-6, 0-2) tangle with Alaska-Anchorage tomorrow and Saturday, before finishing at Alaska Fairbanks next Monday.
Brandon Lee,
Special to the Star-Bulletin
Hawaii Pacific
BYU-Hawaii
Chaminade
U.H. Hilo
