Sunday, August 12, 2001
[WAHINE BASKETBALL] The University of Hawaii 2001-02 women's basketball schedule has a curious mix of teams, ranging from four squads ranked in the top 16 of one preseason poll to Portland State, which is coming off a 4-24 season.
UH schedule includes
high-profile teamsBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThis season the Wahine will play Western Athletic Conference games on the road at Boise State and Texas-El Paso between Christmas and New Years due to the expansion of the league to 10 teams.
This has never happened since Vince Goo became head coach.
"We've always had about a 16-day break. We'll have 10 days this year and the players will get a couple of days off," said Goo.
In the past, it was common to see the Wahine's mainland players leaving the locker room with suitcases after the final preseason tournament game as they headed home for Christmas. That won't happen this year.
"We're going to take them to Boise and El Paso instead," said Goo.
Hawaii plays nine preseason games, down two from last year, and 18 WAC games.
Besides getting the Wahine ready for the conference season in those nine early games, Goo also tries to schedule teams that have a high RPI rating. Penn State finished last season with a 24 rating, Stanford was 30, Baylor 32 and Oklahoma State 64.
"Hopefully, this schedule gives us a better chance with the RPI. That's what we're concerned about. When Wisconsin pulled out last year, that cost us," Goo said.
"I'm not worried about playing fewer preseason games. Louisiana Tech comes into the league and they are a top four team. We get their RPI, win or lose."
The Lady Techsters finished the 2000-01 season with a 9 rating.
The Wahine, coming off a 26-8 season but needing to replace their top three scorers, who had a combined 12 years of collegiate experience, open against Pac-10 Conference member Washington State (11-17 a year ago) in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic on Nov. 17.
Texas A&M (12-16) and Portland State, coached by former UH assistant George Wolfe, round out the field.
The Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic on Thanksgiving weekend features Penn State (19-10) and Stanford (19-11), both expected to be in the Top 20 after making NCAA Tournament appearances last season.
Florida Atlantic (9-19), Minnesota (8-20), Weber State (14-15), Oklahoma State (16-15), a 52-51 loser to UH in a Women's National Invitational Tournament game here last March, and Hawaii's first-round opponent, Wyoming (11-17), complete the eight-team field.
Baylor, which finished 21-9, lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and returns all but two players, joins Illinois-Chicago (10-19) in the Hawaii Invitational starting Dec. 7. The Bears are ranked in preseason polls.
This was supposed to be a bracket tournament, but now is a round-robin affair since the University of the Pacific pulled out after receiving a Preseason WNIT invitation.
The final preseason tournament is the Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic on Dec. 17-18.
Hawaii opens against Conference USA member North Carolina-Charlotte (10-18) with new head coach Katie Meier. The other first-round game has Cleveland State (14-14) of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference playing Tennessee State (8-19) of the Ohio Valley Conference.
Hawaii opens and closes the WAC regular season against newcomer Boise State.
Local fans get their first look at national powerhouse and the other new conference member Louisiana Tech, Jan. 13.
2001-02 SCHEDULE
Home games at the Stan Sheriff Center.Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic
Nov. 17: Texas A&M vs. Portland State, 1 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Washington State, 3 p.m.
Nov. 18: Third place, Texas A&M-Portland State loser vs. Hawaii-Washington State loser, 11 a.m.; Championship, Texas A&M-Portland State winner vs. Hawaii-Washington State winner, 1 p.m.Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic
Nov. 23: First round, Penn State vs. Minnesota, 12:30 p.m.; Oklahoma State vs. Weber State, 2:40 p.m.; Stanford vs. Florida Atlantic, 4:50 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Wyoming, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24: Consolation semifinals, Penn State-Minnesota loser vs. Oklahoma State-Weber State loser, 9 a.m.; Stanford-Florida Atlantic loser vs. Hawaii-Wyoming loser, 11:10 a.m. Championship semifinals, Stanford-Florida Atlantic winner vs. Hawaii-Wyoming winner, 1:20 p.m.; Penn State-Minnesota winner vs. Oklahoma State-Weber State winner, 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 25: Seventh place, 11:30 a.m.; Fifth place, 1:40 p.m.; Third place, 3:50 p.m.; Championship, 6 p.m.Hawaii Invitational
Dec. 7: Baylor vs. Illinois-Chicago, 7 p.m.
Dec. 8: Hawaii vs. Baylor, 7 p.m.
Dec. 9: Hawaii vs. Illinois-Chicago, 5 p.m.Ala Moana Paradise Classic
Dec. 17: Cleveland State vs. Tennessee State, 6 p.m.; Hawaii vs. North Carolina-Charlotte, 8 p.m.
Dec. 18: Third place, Cleveland State-Tennessee State loser vs. Hawaii-North Carolina-Charlotte loser, 6 p.m.; Championship, Cleveland State-Tennessee State winner vs. Hawaii-North Carolina-Charlotte winner, 8 p.m.WAC games
Dec. 28: at Boise State. Dec. 30: at Texas-El Paso. Jan. 5: San Jose State, 7 p.m. Jan. 11: Southern Methodist, 7 p.m. Jan. 13: Louisiana Tech, 5 p.m. Jan. 17: at Rice. Jan. 19: at Tulsa. Jan. 24: Fresno State, 7 p.m. Jan. 26: Nevada, 7 p.m.
Feb. 2: at San Jose State. Feb. 7: at Louisiana Tech. Feb. 9: at Southern Methodist. Feb. 14: Tulsa, 7 p.m. Feb. 17: Rice, 5 p.m. Feb. 21: at Fresno State. Feb. 24: at Nevada. Feb. 28: Texas-El Paso, 7 p.m. Mar. 2: Boise State, 7 p.m.Postseason
Mar. 5-9: Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Tulsa, Okla.
Mar. 15-18: NCAA Tournament, first and second rounds.
Mar. 23-25: NCAA West Regional.
Mar. 29-31: NCAA Final Four.
UH Athletics
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