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Wednesday, March 14, 2001

Star-Bulletin
Mindaugas Burneika, right, and the rest of the Rainbows
are going up against Syracuse on Friday
in the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Mid-season run
made contenders
out of ’Bows

Rainbow men turned dejected
fair-weather fans into
wagon hoppers

---

By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

DAYTON, Ohio -- Last fall Riley Wallace told anyone who would listen that the 2000-2001 University of Hawaii basketball team had a chance to be very good.

Of the few who listened even fewer believed, and those who did saw the Rainbows lose four starters and more games than they won early in the season.

Even with post Troy Ostler and guard Mike McIntyre back in the fold, UH was 10-12 as late as Feb. 11, when it was trounced, 91-73, at Fresno State. It appeared Hawaii was going nowhere, and the few who believed dwindled to a handful of extreme loyalists.

Game time What: NCAA Men's Basketball Midwest Regional game Who: Hawaii vs. No. 17 Syracuse When: Friday, estimated start time, 5:10 p.m. Where: University of Dayton (Ohio) Records: Hawaii (17-13, 8-8 WAC); Syracuse (24-8, 10-6 Big East).

Now everyone wants to hear what Wallace and the Rainbows have to say as Hawaii prepares for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1994.

In the past two days, national media requests have fallen on the team as suddenly as the hail shower that hit the area yesterday.

UH (17-13) plays No. 17 Syracuse (24-8) on Friday here at the University of Dayton, in the Midwest Regional first round. As the No. 12 seed facing the No. 5 seed, Hawaii is supposed to be the underdog.

The Rainbows enter with the second-worst record among the field of 65. But many are penciling in Hawaii for a first-round win in the office pool. They know UH is one of the hottest teams in the nation, having won seven of its last eight games.

That includes a scintillating 78-72 overtime victory over Tulsa in Saturday's Western Athletic Conference championship game before a packed house of Golden Hurricane fans.

Wallace said it is UH's biggest road win under his tenure. But the turning point of the season was March 1 at San Jose State, when the Rainbows won, 71-61.

"We changed our style on the road and that got us going," he said.

Not playing style, but travel style.

With the assistance of team psychologists Michael D'Andrea and Judy Daniels, the Hawaii coaches developed an itinerary that helped the players focus on basketball and schoolwork and avoid distractions common to the road.

Seemingly small things, like eating meals and doing other things together as a complete team, were also stressed by the psychologists.

After guard Predrag Savovic scored 29 points to lead the Rainbows past the Spartans, 71-61, the Rainbows had finally won one in somebody else's house.

Now it didn't matter to the team who believed in them -- because they did themselves.

"That boosted up our confidence so much," Ostler said. "We hadn't won on the road all season. Playing well at UTEP (in a 85-77 loss three days later) was an added bonus, and we just carried it on through the WAC Tournament."

Freshman post Phil Martin is among the strongest believers in D'Andrea and Daniels, who have had the Rainbows doing exercises that include laying down in a circle meditating.

"Right after the meditation sessions, and when we started doing everything together, you could feel things were kind of different," Martin said.

Of course, it's not just in their heads. The Rainbows have talent -- from all over the world.

Ostler, from Utah, is a future professional, and Yugoslavian Savovic could end up in the NBA after next season.

Freshman Carl English, the WAC Tournament MVP, is a rising star and an incredible human interest story, as he was raised in a tiny fishing village in Newfoundland after his parents perished in a fire.

Lithuanians Nerijus Puida and Mindaugas Burneika are solid "team-first" players, and Canada native Martin is another potential star.

Also, Yugoslavian Bosko Radovic's broken leg is healing quickly, and no one has given up on freshman guard David "Jeep" Hilton from New York.

While fans in Hawaii were slow to appreciate the collection of players from five different countries, coaches love the way they play together, running a flex offense that requires precision cutting and passing and hitting open jumpers.

The Rainbows have also toughened up defensively, thanks in large part to the addition of freshman center Haim Shimonovich eight games ago.

Shimonovich's statistics to date are not impressive, but the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Israeli makes everybody else's job easier. Ostler doesn't get banged around as much.

The guards can play closer man-to-man defense with his presence in the key, as opponents will think twice about trying to take them on the dribble with Shimonovich patrolling the paint.

Shimonovich was slated to start at the beginning of the season, but on the eve of the season-opener with Louisville, the Rainbows decided to hold him out of the lineup because he had played in a pro league (although he did not receive pay) in Israel before enrolling at UH.

After UH self-reported the problem to the NCAA, Shimonovich was eventually dealt a 22-game suspension. Since his first game as a Rainbow, Hawaii is 7-1.

And everybody's listening.

The Rainbows

Haim Shimonovich
6-10 freshman F/C
At 245 pounds, provides imposing presence on both ends. Good ballhandler and runs well for big man. Hawaii is 7-1 since he began playing after 22-game NCAA suspension.

Phil Martin
6'7 FRESHMAN FORWARD
WAC all-newcomer team member led conference in shooting percentage (62.9). Scored 10 points and snared 13 rebounds on 21st birthday, March 9 in WAC semifinal win over Fresno State.

Mike McIntyre
6-3 JUNIOR GUARD
Streak shooter and strong defender fully recovered from mid-season right-ankle sprain. Scored 19 with 5-of-8 on treys in WAC final win.

Lane O'Connor
6-7 SENIOR FORWARD
Accurate shooter made 10-of-17 from field this season. Excellent scout team player.

Predrag Savovic
6-6 JUNIOR G/F
Explosive scorer can hit deep three and penetrates quickly and strongly. Good rebounder is capable of stifling defense. Scored 29 at San Jose State on March 1.

Lance Takaki
5-4 SOPHOMORE GUARD
Only local player (Mid-Pacific Institute) runs point for scout team. Crowd favorite hit 10-footer against TCU on his first shot of the season in WAC quarterfinal.

David Hilton
FRESHMAN GUARD
Started 18 games at point guard before turning ankle last month. Had six assists and one turnover in Dec. 29 win over St. Louis. Biggest asset is quickness.

Todd Fields
7-0 SENIOR CENTER
Valuable scout team player provides practice intensity. Played in 18 games, scoring 6 points Jan. 6 against SMU. Good in half-court game.

Troy Ostler
6-10 SENIOR FORWARD
Scored 19 in both TCU and Fresno State WAC tourney wins. Has blocked at least one shot in all but two of 27 Had 13 assists in WAC Tourney.

Nerijus Puida
6-5 SENIOR G/F
Quiet but effective. Can score, but does what's needed to win. Team assist leader also strong rebounder. Scored 21 in WAC quarterfinal win over TCU.

Riley Wallace
HEAD COACH
On his second trip to the NCAA Tournament. Previous appearance was in1994. Trying to win in the first round for the first time.

Ryne Holliday
5-10 JUNIOR GUARD
Brings it hard to practice each day on scout team. Appeared in four games, including March 8 WAC quarterfinal victory over TCU.

Mindaugas Burneika
6-6 JUNIOR FORWARD
Took three charges to key defense in late-going of WAC title win. Nice 3-point touch; scored 27 points with 7 rebounds in Feb. 1 win over Fresno State.

Carl English
6-4 FRESHMAN GUARD
Hit one of biggest shots in UH history with 1.8 seconds left in regulation to send Saturday's WAC final into overtime. Scored 25 points and named tourney MVP.

Matchups:

POINT GUARD

UH's Mike McIntyre (6-3, 205, Jr., Long Beach, Calif.) vs. SU's Allen Griffin (6-1, 187, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Scoring: McIntyre 7.0, Griffin 10.8

Assists: McIntyre 2.1, Griffin 6.6

Rebounds: McIntyre 1.4, Griffin 3.4

Assist/turnover ratio: McIntyre 1.3, Griffin 2.2

Steals: McIntyre 1.3, Griffin 2.0

Comment: McIntyre is a solid defender, but erratic offensive player. Griffin is a classic all-around point guard who is good in transition.

Edge: Syracuse.

SHOOTING GUARD

UH's Predrag Savovic (6-6, 225, Jr., Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia) vs. SU's Preston Shumpert (6-6, 198, Jr., Fort Walton Beach, Fla.)

Scoring: Savovic 17.8, Shumpert 19.5

Assists: Savovic 3.4, Shumpert 1.6

Rebounds: Savovic 4.8, Shumpert 5.8

Assist/turnover ratio: Savovic 1.1, Shumpert 0.9

Steals: Savovic 1.3, Shumpert 0.6

Comment: The marquee matchup. Shumpert led the Orange in scoring in 17 games, Savovic led the Rainbows in 13. Both players shoot NBA-distance 3-pointers with regularity. Shumpert suffered an eye injury in his last game, but will likely play. Savovic's ability to slow down Shumpert is a big key. Savovic is 59-for-163 on 3-pointers, Shumpert 75-for-190.

Edge: Even.

SMALL FORWARD

UH's Nerijus Puida (6-5, 195, Sr., Sakiu Raj, Lithuania) vs. SU's DeShaun Williams (6-3, 202, So., Paterson, N.J.)

Scoring: Puida 9.6, Williams 12.3

Assists: Puida 4.5, Williams 2.6

Rebounds: Puida 5.9, Williams 3.0

Assist/turnover ratio: Puida 1.8, Williams 1.3

Steals: Puida 1.1, Williams 1.9

Comment: Puida is Hawaii's most dependable all-around player, including on defense. Williams is an athletic leaper who also loves to shoot the trey (64-for-185).

Edge: Hawaii.

POWER FORWARD

UH's Phil Martin (6-7, 198, Fr., Toronto, Ontario) vs. SU's Damone Brown (6-9, 193, Sr., Buffalo, N.Y.)

Scoring: Martin 9.1, Brown 16.7

Assists: Martin 0.7, Brown 1.9

Rebounds: Martin 4.4, Brown 8.9

Assist/turnover ratio: Martin 0.5, Brown 0.9

Steals: Martin 0.9, Brown 1.7

Comment: Brown's numbers are from 36 minutes per game, while Martin's are from 24 per game. An intriguing battle, as Brown is a good ballhandler and shooter from up to 17 feet, and Martin shot a WAC-best 63 percent from the floor. Martin may have the quickness to slow Brown, but must stay out of foul trouble.

Edge: Syracuse.

CENTER

UH's Troy Ostler (6-10, 220, Sr., West Valley City, Utah) vs. SU's Jeremy McNeil (6-8, 257, Fr., San Antonio, Texas)

Scoring: Ostler 15.3, McNeil 2.4

Assists: Ostler 2.3, McNeil 0.1

Rebounds: Ostler 6.0, McNeil 3.1

Assist/turnover ratio: Ostler 0.9, McNeil 0.2

Steals: Ostler 0.4, McNeil 0.3

Comment: Ostler is explosive around the basket and has an effective jumper to nearly 3-point range. McNeil, who fouled out of nine games, is strictly a low-post player.

Edge: Hawaii.

BENCH

UH's G Carl English (6-4, 178, Fr., Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland), F Mindaugas Burneika (6-7, 225, Jr., Kaunas, Lithuania) and C Haim Shimonovich (6-10, 245, Fr., Rishon LeZion, Israel) vs. SU's C Billy Celuck (7-0, 213, Sr., Jessup, Penn.), G/F Kueth Duany (6-6, 185, So., Bloomington, Ill.)

Scoring: English 4.7, Burneika 7.2, Shimonovich 2.1, Celuck 4.4, Duany 5.6

Assists: English 1.6, Burneika 1.3, Shimonovich 0.5, Celuck 0.6, Duany 0.9

Rebounds: English 2.9, Burneika 2.6, Shimonovich 2.6, Celuck 4.2, Duany 3.3

Assist/turnover ratio: English 1.1, Burneika 1.0, Shimonovich 0.3, Celuck 0.8, Duany 0.7

Comment: Hawaii does not lose much at all when it goes to the bench, and won the WAC final with Ostler disabled by injury and Savovic on the bench in heavy foul trouble. English gets better every game, as does Shimonovich. Burneika is a solid role player who shoots well and plays tough. Celuck is a big body who rebounds, and Duany is athletic but not steady.

Edge: Hawaii.

Season Scores

Hawaii

Regular season

Louisville 86, Hawaii 71
Hawaii 59, Southeast Louisiana 55
San Diego 65, Hawaii 63
UCLA 84, Hawaii 64
Hawaii 86, Texas Pan American 73
Georgia State 65, Hawaii 64
Hawaii 76, Cal State Northridge 70
Hawaii 100, Alabama-Birmingham 86
Hawaii 81, Manhattan 67
Hawaii 75, St. Louis 67
Tennessee 69, Hawaii 58
Texas Christian 103, Hawaii 64
Southern Methodist 69, Hawaii 56
Texas-El Paso 79, Hawaii 71
Hawaii 68, Tulsa 65
Hawaii 65, San Jose State 64
Rice 70, Hawaii 64
Tulsa 79, Hawaii 67
Hawaii 91, Fresno State 73
Hawaii 76, Nevada 69
Nevada 73, Hawaii 60
Fresno State 86, Hawaii 63
Hawaii 79, Southern Methodist 65
Hawaii 61, Rice 53
Hawaii 102, Texas Christian 87
Texas El-Paso 85, Hawaii 77
Hawaii 71, San Jose State 61

Postseason

Hawaii 99, Texas Christian 79
Hawaii 76, Fresno State 67
Hawaii 78, Tulsa 72

Syracuse

Regular season

Syracuse 73, St. Francis 53
Syracuse 92, DePaul 84
Syracuse 77, Ohio State 66
Syracuse 84, Missouri 62
Syracuse 73, Colgate 65
Syracuse 81, Akron 51
Syracuse 88, Virginia Tech 68
Syracuse 105, Albany 75
Syracuse 69, Wisconsin-Green Bay 57
Tennessee 83, Syracuse 70
Syracuse 61, Columbia 47
Syracuse 95, Niagara 69
Syracuse 79, Notre Dame 70
Syracuse 71, Pittsburgh 66
Syracuse 64, Rutgers 63
Syracuse 86, West Virginia 80
Seton Hall 77, Syracuse 65
Notre Dame 74, Syracuse 60
Syracuse 68, Rutgers 54
Syracuse 70, Georgetown 63
Syracuse 54, North Carolina State 53
Boston College 65, Syracuse 63
Syracuse 63, Seton Hall 62
Miami 68, Syracuse 57
West Virginia 87, Syracuse 76
Syracuse 65, Connecticut 60
Georgetown 72, Syracuse 61
Syracuse 80, Pittsburgh 69
Syracuse 93, St. John's 91
Syracuse 86, Connecticut 75

Syracuse postseason

Syracuse 55, Providence 54
Pittsburgh 55, Syracuse 54

Rosters

Hawaii

1. Predrag Savovic	G/F	6-6	225	Jr
2. Phil Martin	F	6-7	198	Fr
3. Mike McIntyre	G	6-3	205	Jr
4. * Bosko Radovic	F	6-9	220	Fr
5. David Hilton	G	5-11	145	Fr
10. Lance Takaki	G	5-4	135	So
12. * Ricky Terrell	G	6-3	190	Jr
14. Haim Shimonovic	F/C	6-10	245	Fr
21. Mindaugas Burneika	F	6-7	225	Jr
22. Nerijus Puida	G/F	6-5	195	Sr
23. Carl English	G	6-4	178	Fr
24. Troy Ostler	F	6-10	205	Sr
25. Ryne Holliday	G	5-10	170	Jr
30. Kimo Keiter-Charles*	G	5-10	170	Fr
33. Lane O'Connor	F	6-7	211	Sr
34. Todd Fields	C	7-0	252	Sr
Head Coach: Riley Wallace

* - Did not make trip

Syracuse

1. Allen Griffin	G	6-1	186	So
3. Preston Shumpert	G	6-6	188	Jr
10. Andrew Kouwe	G	6-0	170	Fr
11. Ronneil Herron	G	5-11	158	So
13. Kueth Duany	G/F	6-6	186	So
15. James Thues	G	5-10	170	Fr
21. DeShaun Williams	G	6-3	198	So
23. Chris Schau	F	6-9	215	Sr
24. Rob McClanaghan	G	6-2	199	Sr
25. Damone Brown	F	6-9	200	Sr
32. Ethan Cole	F	6-10	235	Jr
33. Greg Davis	F	6-8	215	Fr
34. Jeremy McNeil	F	6-8	248	So
35. Billy Celuck	C	7-0	216	Sr
41. Mike Rosenblum	G	5-10	161	Sr
42. Tim Byrnes	G	6-2	178	Sr
Head Coach: Jim Boeheim

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UH Athletics
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