Friday, October 12, 2001
[ UH BASKETBALL ]
Hawaii’s midnight Fourteen years ago, Riley Wallace initially turned down the idea of a "Midnight Madness" to celebrate the opening of the first basketball practice of the season.
madness tonight
The UH women's and men's
basketball teams make their first
appearances of the 2001-02 seasonBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com"We had drawn something like 1,200 a game the year before at Blaisdell Arena and I told (then sports information director) Eddie Inouye to get out of my office," the Hawaii men's basketball coach said. "I said no one will come. He said that everyone else was doing it and our guys should have the chance."
It's one of the few times Wallace will admit he was wrong. The first "Midnight Ohana" was held in Klum Gym on Halloween night in 1988. Fans packed the place, lured by free hot dogs and soda.
From that humble beginning the event has blossomed into a promotions dream. Themes have ranged from Dynamic Duo (Anthony Carter and Alika Smith) to Erin Galloway's airdrop by helicopter to BowWatch with the cast and crew of Baywatch Hawaii.
It has gotten bigger and better each year, according to Wallace. So much so that the drafting of teams for the 12:01 a.m. Green-White intrasquad scrimmage turned into a media event Wednesday, covered by all four television stations, several radio stations and both daily newspapers.
This year's Midnight Ohana has a "Challenge" theme, similar to the television show "Survivor."
This week, there have been various challenges between teams comprised of UH men's and women's basketball players, with the winners becoming a part of tonight's festivities. The carnival games include a dunking booth and a rock-climbing wall.
At the conclusion of tonight's Wahine volleyball game against Texas-El Paso (7 p.m. start), there will be other activities leading up to the 11:45 p.m. introduction of the UH men's and women's basketball teams.
When: After the 7 p.m. Wahine vs. UTEP volleyball match Coors Light Midnight Ohana
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Cost: Free
HIGHLIGHTS
>> Introduction of Hawaii men's and women's basketball teams
>> Men's vs. women's 3-point shootout
>> Slam-dunk contest
>> Men's intrasquad scrimmage
>> Professor/student shootout
>> Honolulu Ford free tuition for the spring semester shootout
Security measures will be in effect, including bag searches. Where fans were allowed to enter through any door in previous years, only the main entrances will be open tonight.
The highlight of the night has been the slam-dunk competition. Wallace said that sophomore guard Carl English "thinks he's going to win it, but whether or not he still has the hops after (offseason) ankle surgery we'll have to see."
"The big guys don't usually win, they can dunk but they don't usually win," said Wallace. "We always have two or three who think they can dunk but then it's really ugly. We don't have a lot of showmanship on this team. This is all about creativity."
The scrimmage will consist of a 20-minute game with a running clock for the first 18 minutes.
Notes: Hawaii has been invited to compete for the first time in the Maui Invitational in 2003 ... Wallace said he has not heard from the NCAA regarding the penalties, if any, for alleged pro participation by senior Predrag Savovic and junior transfer Luc-Arthur Vebobe. NCAA officials requested more information from Wallace last week on the two. Wallace expects to hear by Oct. 23 or Oct. 24. If it's found they violated NCAA amateur rules, Savovic would likely have to sit out a maximum of eight games and Vebobe one to two.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
