Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

RAINBOW BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK

UH denies
Pitino rumors

If there's a deal in the works to hire Rick Pitino as head basketball coach at the University of Hawaii, athletic director Hugh Yoshida isn't aware of it.

"We haven't talked to the guy. We've got a basketball coach," Yoshida said, addressing the increasing volume of rumors about Pitino (most recently the Boston Celtics head coach) coming to UH. "A few people are out there spreading some very far-fetched things."

Hawaii head coach Riley Wallace said the speculation is laughable, considering Pitino never acknowledges the two years he spent with the Rainbows early in his career as an assistant and temporary head coach. (It was a stint that ended in 1976 with UH going on NCAA probation.)

"He doesn't want anyone bringing that up," Wallace said. "He says he was a grad assistant when he was the interim head coach."

Pitino is reportedly negotiating to become the next coach at UNLV, from where Bill Bayno was fired earlier this season.

The former Boston University, Providence, New York Knicks and Kentucky coach left the Celtics last month in the fourth season of a 10-year deal.

SMU's Sasser named player of week

Southern Methodist comes to town to play Hawaii on Thursday with the reigning WAC player of the week in guard Jeryl Sasser. Sasser, who nearly left the Mustangs for the NBA Draft after last season, paced SMU to victories over Rice and Texas-El Paso, averaging 15 points and 11.5 rebounds.

The Mustangs beat the Rainbows, 69-56, in Dallas on Jan. 6.

Hawaii comes into Thursday's game 10-12 overall and 4-7 in the WAC, while SMU is 18-6 and second in the conference at 8-3.

Shimonovich can finally play

Freshman post Haim Shimonovich can finally play for Hawaii starting Thursday, after completing a 22-game NCAA-imposed suspension for playing in a pro league in his native Israel.

Wallace said he plans to move the 6-foot-10, 245-pound center into the rotation gradually.

"He has all the basic stuff down," Wallace said of Shimonovich's knowledge of UH's offensive schemes. "He'll give us some added depth with some size and beef. He could work his way in there. Start him right away? No, we wouldn't do that to him or the team."

Shimonovich has not played in a game since the Nov. 12 exhibition victory over Hilo, but has practiced with the Rainbows all season.

Stats and stuff

Junior guard Predrag Savovic still leads Hawaii in scoring at 17.2 points a game. ... Freshman post Phil Martin continues to pace the WAC in field goal percentage at 63.4. ... Junior forward Mindaugas Burneika has a higher 3-point percentage (45.2) than overall field goal percentage (42.4).

Tip-ins

Former UH forward Mike Robinson scored 28 points in his International Basketball Association debut last Wednesday. Robinson, playing for Fargo-Moorhead, helped the Beez to a 104-88 victory against the Salina Rattlers. Robinson is now a teammate of Dominick Young, the former Fresno State guard. Young made 8-of-9 from 3-point range, scoring a game-high 31 points. ... After SMU on Thursday, Hawaii hosts Rice on Saturday, and then Tulsa on Feb. 22 to wrap up the WAC home season. ... Hawaii has won four consecutive home games. ... There is a Coaches vs. Cancer benefit Feb. 20 at Murphy's Bar & Grill. What is being billed as a "basketball block party" includes food and drink and a memorabilia auction for a $35 fee.

---

Dave Reardon, Star-Bulletin