Friday, November 9, 2001
What you see is what you get? Investigation obstructs
Rainbows’ floor plan3 basketball players don't know
their early season fates, affecting
lineups for the exhibition gameBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comThat's a problem for the Hawaii men's basketball team. With three players still under investigation by the NCAA, the Rainbows and their fans don't know yet who they will be seeing in Sunday's exhibition against EA Sports West.
"If the answers aren't here by (today), they aren't going to play," said Hawaii coach Riley Wallace. "We just have to hear from them and then we can go on."
Seniors Predrag Savovic and Mindaugas Burneika and junior Luc-Arthur Vebobe are still having their paperwork processed by the NCAA to determine their eligibility. Even if they are assessed with a sit-out penalty, they would still be eligible to play Sunday.
The Rainbows expect to hear today from the NCAA.
Wallace said the NCAA requested more information on Vebobe on Wednesday, and it was sent in yesterday. Vebobe competed in 11 games in a European professional league and is expected to be hit with a 2.2-game penalty.
Wallace said he still contends that neither Burneika nor Savovic should miss any games.
If all players are eligible, Wallace said he would start Savovic and Mike McIntyre at guards, Haim Shimonovich at center and Carl English at the small forward position and either Burneika or Vebobe at power forward.
If Savovic isn't cleared, junior transfer Mark Campbell will move in at point and McIntyre to 2-guard. If Burneika and Vebobe aren't cleared, Paul Jesinskis will be the power forward.
The Rainbows chose their team captains after yesterday's practice. The tri-captains are the seniors: Savovic, Burneika and McIntyre.
WAC power: The lack of national recognition and respect plaguing Western Athletic Conference football apparently doesn't apply to WAC men's basketball. At least not according to conference commissioner Karl Benson.
"We approach this basketball season with optimism, feeling that the WAC has re-established itself as a premiere basketball conference," Benson said. "Last year, we achieved more than anyone expected us to. We ended up ranked among the top eight conferences in the NCAA.
"It was a tremendous season for us and I feel WAC basketball has again risen to the top."
Benson began his four-year stint on the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee on Sept. 1. It is one of four NCAA committees on which he serves, the others being the management council, football issues and women's athletics.
Although it is a prestigious position, Benson said it won't necessarily mean that the WAC will have an added edge when it comes time for NCAA Tournament bids.
"I think it's a sign of respect for the WAC," Benson said of his appointment. "But that doesn't mean we'll get another team in.
"What it does mean is that I can learn what goes on, be able to bring back that information to our schools as to what the committee looks for. I would be very surprised if we don't have 6-7 postseason teams in the NCAA and NIT."
The conference had four teams involved in postseason play last season: Hawaii, Fresno State, Texas-El Paso and Tulsa. The Rainbows lost their first-round game in the NCAA Tournament, while the Bulldogs were ousted in the second round; the Miners lost in the NIT and the Golden Hurricane went on to win the NIT title.
"I think we've established that our conference warrants a minimum of three teams in the NCAA, possibly a fourth," said Benson. "It's a reasonable goal for us.
"I am disappointed, however, that only Fresno State is getting national recognition right now. Tulsa and Hawaii should be getting good play as well."
Benson admits he has made one change since being named to the basketball committee.
"I've got my DirecTV package," he said. "I plan on watching much more basketball than in the past."
Around the league: ESPN.com has posted its WAC preview by Ed Graney, a sports writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Team previews are also posted as well as the NCAA Tournament picks by conference (the WAC has one: Fresno State). ... The knock on Hawaii, according to ESPN.com's Jimmy Dykes: The Rainbows have to defend the 3-point shot better; opponents shot 38 percent against them last year. Hawaii also had more turnovers than assists last year. They need to learn to value the basketball. ... Fresno State senior guard Chris Sandy was declared academically ineligible for the first semester and won't be eligible to play for the Bulldogs until the WAC season opener Dec. 27 at Hawaii. FSU coach Jerry Tarkanian had penciled in Sandy as a starter. ... Tulsa has won a combined 58 games the past two seasons, third behind Duke and Michigan State.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
