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Monday, February 26, 2001
Some say the University of Hawaii men's basketball team is on a roll, with three victories in a row. Streaking Rainbows
must prove themselves
on the roadBy Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinAt least for now, UH has left the second division of the conference; it is tied for fifth in the nine-team league.
But coach Riley Wallace wants his Rainbows (13-12, 7-7 Western Athletic Conference) to show him something away from the friendly confines of the Stan Sheriff Center as the season winds down.
"If we win on the road, I'll say we have momentum," Wallace said after practice yesterday, as his team prepares for its final road trip, which begins with a game Thursday at San Jose State (14-12, 6-9).
UH is 0-7 away from home, including 0-6 in the WAC.
Impressive home victories over conference headliners Fresno State, Tulsa, Southern Methodist and Texas Christian have only served to point out the home-and-away disparity for a team that plays opponents based several time zones and thousands of miles away.
Wallace said he has some ideas to find the way to win at San Jose and at Texas-El Paso in the regular-season finale on Saturday (before next week's WAC Tournament in Tulsa).
But he chose not to disclose the proposed solutions yet. "We have some plans," is all he would say.
One thing that will help is that the Rainbows are the closest to full strength they've been all season. Starting post Phil Martin missed his first game as UH beat TCU, 102-87, on Thursday, but is back practicing.
Martin underwent a deep tissue massage for his ankle strain on Thursday, and is nearly 100 percent. He went through drills yesterday with some discomfort.
Freshman guard Jeep Hilton, who started 18 games before missing the last three with an ankle sprain, is also practicing again. But he appears to have been displaced by Mike McIntyre, who has played very effectively of late.
To beat San Jose State, Hawaii will have to continue the fine execution that has led to 71 assists and only 36 turnovers the past three games.
The Spartans have won four of their last five, including a 91-90 overtime victory over TCU on Saturday at San Jose.
Hawaii -- which can clinch avoidance of the WAC Tournament play-in game with a victory Thursday -- beat San Jose State, 65-64, in overtime Jan. 20.
But that was at home, and home has been where the wins are for the Rainbows this season.
WAC standings
Conference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct. Fresno St. 11 3 .786 22 5 .815 UTEP 9 5 .643 20 6 .769 Tulsa 9 5 .643 18 9 .667 SMU 8 7 .533 18 10 .643 TCU 7 7 .500 18 10 .643 Hawaii 7 7 .500 13 12 .520 San Jose St. 6 9 .400 14 12 .538 Rice 5 9 .357 13 13 .500 Nevada 2 12 .143 9 16 .360
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
