Chang to
Soccer, basketball
take over at QBAfter two big wins as a relief starter, Nick Rolovich will step aside this week, relinquishing Hawaii quarterback duties in favor of Tim Chang, UH coach June Jones confirmed yesterday.
"I'm 100 percent sure he will start," Jones said of Chang, who suffered a sprained right (throwing) wrist in Hawaii's Sept. 29 loss to Rice at Aloha Stadium.
Jones said Chang could have possibly played last week against UTEP, but, "I didn't want to take a chance that he'd be out longer." Jones said that despite Rolovich's recent steady performance, the senior would not replace a healthy Chang.
"I don't think that I'll see that," Jones said. "I'm happy that Rolo did what he did and it's a comfort to know that he's there and everybody feels that way. But I've not seen anything from Timmy ever in a game that would warrant me to take him out."
Some key stats: Although Ashley Lelie fell from first in the nation to fourth in receiving yards per game (122.8) after Saturday's game, both his catches were for touchdowns.
>> Freshman running back Mike Bass played his best game statistically, and now averages 104 yards per game in all-purpose yardage.
>> Hawaii is second in the nation in team passing yards with 353.8 a game and tied for 11th in team total offense with 454.8 yards per game.
>> The last time UH scored 24 points in a quarter was at San Jose State (27) on Nov. 6, 1999.
Players of the week: UH nominated Bass, Matt Wright and Justin Ayat for WAC offense, defense and special teams players of the week.
Nevada freshman Chance Kretschmer, who rushed for 242 yards in a loss to Louisiana Tech, shared the offensive honor with SMU's ShanDerrick Charles, who ran for 243 yards in a win over San Jose State. Rice's Joe Bob Thornton had 17 tackles in a win over Navy and Fresno State's Asen Asparahov had two clutch kicks and four field goals in the Bulldogs' overtime win at Colorado State for the respective defensive and special teams honors.
Ayat's 50-yard field goal is a career high. But the redshirt freshman also kicked a 50-yarder as a senior at Kamehameha two years ago.
Unlucky 7s: Jones said that the only notable injuries from Saturday's game were to defensive back Matt Manuma, who hurt a knee, and quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen, who pulled a hamstring while on special teams. Both wear the number 7.
Early start: UH announced an 11:05 a.m. kickoff for its Dec. 8 game with BYU. UH's ESPN-televised Oct. 26 home date with Fresno State has had its start moved back to 4:05 p.m.
Coach Lance Noble called the victory "probably the biggest win in the program's history." Wahine soccer team
shut out on the roadStaff and wire services
Stephen F. Austin blanked visiting Hawaii 2-0 in a nonconference women's soccer match last night at Homer Bryce Stadium, the seventh loss in the last eight matches for the Wahine.
Freshman midfielder Kendra Cannon scored both goals, the first on an assist from Kim Elger at 30:45 and the second an unassisted effort at 86:19.
"We just came out tonight and played, more so we fought for this win," said Noble.
Ladyjacks goalkeeper Elizabeth Evatt only had to make one save in the first half. However, the senior made five in the second half, two from point-blank range including a stuff of Arlene Devitt's attempt on a breakaway.
The match was played on artificial turf, which caught the Wahine by surprise, and featured Hawaii's ball-control attack against Stephen F. Austin's love of the long ball.
Hawaii had a 12-8 edge in shots and a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks but couldn't dent the net for the second time this season.
The Wahine return home today to prepare for Western Athletic Conference matches against Texas-El Paso on Friday and league-leader Southern Methodist on Sunday at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Rainbows at full strength for first time this year
The Hawaii men's basketball team was at full strength for the first time in three official practices yesterday at Gym II.Senior Mindaugas Burneika, who did not participate in the Midnight Ohana Green-White scrimmage, worked out with the team for the first time. The 6-foot 7-inch forward is recovering from an insect bite on his left forearm, a bite believed to be from either a centipede or red ant.
Back after missing Sunday's practice was sophomore forward Phil Martin who had an allergic reaction after applying lotion to his upper body. Sophomore guard Carl English also had a rash due to an allergic reaction, possibly to the material used in the new practice jerseys. He did not miss any of the three workouts.
The Rainbows have two new walk-ons this week in guards Gabe Lombard from Guam and William Brance from Aiea. The two bring the number of players to 19.
UH coach Riley Wallace said he will keep 15 players on the roster, 13 scholarship and two walk-ons. The Rainbows open their season Nov. 16 against Norfolk State in the Nike Tip-Off Classic.
Wallace said yesterday he expects to hear from the NCAA by the end of the week regarding any sanctions for senior guard Predrag Savovic and junior forward Luc-Arthur Vebobe. The two are among 60 foreign student-athletes nationwide being investigated for participation in European semi-pro leagues.
Wahine picked second in WAC basketball poll
To no one's surprise, Louisiana Tech is favored to win the Western Athletic Conference women's basketball title in its first year in the league.The Lady Techsters, with all five starters back from a team that reached the NCAA Regional final, received nine first-place votes and 81 points in the coaches preseason poll.
Coaches could not vote for their own team, so Tech coach Leon Barmore cast his first-place vote for Hawaii. The Wahine are picked to finish second and had 69 points.
Southern Methodist was third (63 points) followed by Nevada (56), Rice (53), Fresno State (39), Tulsa (38), Boise State (19) and San Jose State and Texas-El Paso tied with 17 points.
