Sunday, November 18, 2001

[ COLLEGE BASKETBALL ]

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Duke's Dahntay Jones goes up for a shot against Nike Elite's
Rob Dryden in their exhibition game. The top-ranked Blue
Devils start the regular season next week on Maui.

Silverswords hope to slay
another giant

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By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

It is appropriate that the basketball team still considered a giant killer hosts a monstrous tournament.

Want the original Monsters, Inc.? Look no further than the Lahaina Civic Center and the Maui Invitational, hosted by Chaminade.

The 18th annual version opening tomorrow features three former NCAA champions -- including the current title holder -- who have combined for 16 banners. The marquee trio spells basketball: Duke ... Kansas ... UCLA.

"I tell our players that no other Division II team has this kind of opportunity," said Chaminade coach Aaron Griess. "We know we're up against teams who are bigger, stronger, athletically more gifted than we are, but we're excited. I feel pretty lucky to have this opportunity.''

The Silverswords open the eight-team event against South Carolina in a 9 a.m. contest televised live by ESPN. It is one of six games to be telecast by the network, concluding with Wednesday's 4 p.m. championship.

Chaminade's legend began in 1982 when the Silverswords stunned then-No. 1 Virginia 77-72. The Honolulu school has since had some pretty big wins, including victories over Louisville in consecutive years (1983-84) and SMU in 1984.

18th Maui Invitational Where: Lahaina Civic Center When: Tomorrow through Wednesday Who: No. 1 Duke, No. 5 UCLA, No. 7 Kansas, South Carolina, Ball State, Seton Hall, Houston, Chaminade. SCHEDULE Tomorrow: Chaminade vs. South Carolina, 9 a.m. (ESPN); Ball State vs. Kansas, 11:30 p.m.; Duke vs. Seton Hall, 4 p.m. (ESPN); UCLA vs. Houston, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN). Tuesday: Losers bracket semifinals, 9 & 11 a.m.; winners bracket semifinals, 2 and 4:30 p.m. (ESPN). Wednesday: Seventh place, 8:30 a.m.; Fifth place, 10:30 a.m.; Third place, 1 p.m.; Championship, 4 p.m. (ESPN).

In the Maui Invitational, the 'Swords have played very gracious hosts. Chaminade is 3-49 in the past 17 years.

The wins have been against Davidson (in the inaugural four-team event in 1984); Providence in 1991 and Stanford in 1992.

Is there another miracle this week?

"I hope so,'' said Griess.

It may be difficult. Chaminade faces a South Carolina team expected to jump from the NIT to the NCAA Tournament come postseason time.

The Gamecocks, with five returnees back who average between 8.5 and 11.5 points per game, are eager to please new coach Dave Odom. Odom, late of Wake Forest, replaced Eddie Fogler.

The Silverswords last met the Gamecocks in this event in 1996. South Carolina won 64-55 to even the series at 1-1.

Chaminade figures to start four returnees in guards John Kirk, Albert Powell and Jaborri Thomas. Also back is center Igor Beljanski, who should get some inside help from California junior college transfer 6-5 forward Leon Ballard.

"We've come together in a short amount of time,'' said Griess. "We'll find out quickly how far we've come."

The top-ranked Blue Devils, who lost Shane Battier but still have All-American guard Jason Williams, meet the Pirates at 4 p.m. Louis Orr debuts as coach of The Hall, replacing Tommy Amaker. The former Syracuse star, who was Siena's coach last season, becomes the first former Big East player to be a head coach in the league.

Duke is again loaded under Mike Krzyzewski, with Mike Dunleavy, Chris Duhon and Carlos Boozer all back from last year's title squad. The Blue Devils are trying to become the first team to repeat as NCAA champs since the Duke teams of 1991-92.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 7 Kansas takes on Ball State at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. The Jayhawks have three key starters back from their Sweet 16 team -- all of whom averaged between 11 and 15.8 points a game -- as well as a Top 10 recruiting class.

However, KU lost 6-foot-9 freshman Wayne Simien to knee surgery Thursday, and he is expected out for 2-4 weeks. He averaged 16.5 points and six rebounds in the Jayhawks' two exhibition wins.

Ball State features the versatile 6-8 Theron Smith, who averaged 16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range. The Cardinals return four starters, including Smith, and their top three scorers. Point guard Billy Lunch averaged just 2.6 points but dished out 101 assists.

At 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, No. 5 UCLA faces Houston.

The Bruins lost floor leader Earl Watson to the NBA, but Jason Kapono and Dan Gadzuric are back after deciding against going pro early. UCLA would very much like to meet up with Duke in a rematch of the Sweet 16 game last year won easily by the Blue Devils, 76-63.

The Cougars return five starters but will be sorely missing Alton Ford, who left for the NBA after his freshman season. Back is senior point guard Dominic Smith, who led Conference USA with 65 steals and finished with 111 assists.

Tourney tidbits: Every NCAA champion since 1983 has played in the Maui Invitational. The streak would have dated back to 1964 but two champions (North Carolina State and Georgetown) withdrew due to scheduling conflicts ... UCLA has won 11 national titles, Duke three and Kansas two ... Four times the Maui champion has gone on to win the NCAA title: Kansas (1987 MIT winner), Michigan (1988 MIT winner), Arizona (1993 MIT winner) and Kentucky (1998 MIT winner). Twice the NCAA champs have opened their title defense in the MIT: Duke in 1992 and UCLA in 1995.