Friday, January 18, 2002
[ DIVISION II SPORTS ]
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HPU’s Subotic Meet Nash Subotic, also known as ... Sweaty Man.
drips and rips
The senior is known as
'Sweaty Man,' but that doesn't
mean he's afraid to take --
and make -- clutch shotsBy Brandon Lee
blee@starbulletin.comThe sobriquet was given to the Hawaii Pacific basketball team's Serbian sharpshooter when Subotic and the Sea Warriors played earlier this season at St. Martin's (Wash.).
It was minus-5 degrees outside the gym, still very cold inside, and Subotic was the only player visibly perspiring. When the fans noticed, they tried to heckle him with the name calling.
It didn't work. Subotic found it amusing.
The 6-foot-5 senior shooting guard scored 14 points with three steals and HPU won the game.
"I do sweat a lot," said Subotic, 22, from Belgrade, Yugoslavia. "I change jerseys three times every practice. ... I believe if you're not better than other people, you can at least outwork them."
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But Subotic is better than a lot of players, particularly in Division II. Though he was recruited by several Division I programs, he joined the Sea Warriors last season after spending the previous one at Gulf Coast (Fla.) Community College.Subotic chose the NCAA's second tier because he wanted a lot of playing time right away and the chance to make more of an impact. He also hoped to post statistics that would eventually attract attention from professional teams in Europe.
Subotic decided on HPU because he liked Hawaii's warm climate and beaches and the state's small but tight-knit Yugoslavian community. He and the University of Hawaii's Predrag Savovic are close friends.
So far, Subotic's decision has worked out well for himself and the Sea Warriors. Subotic averaged 17.0 points per game and hit 69 of his 201 (34 percent) 3-point attempts last year. This year, he's the team leader with 17.9 ppg (second best in the Pacific West Conference) and 42 treys (131 attempts, 32 percent).
He established team season-highs by dropping 31 points and seven 3-pointers in a win over Division I Liberty in HPU's Thanksgiving Classic tournament two months ago. And Subotic has improved from his mostly offensive-minded game a season ago; he also leads the Sea Warriors with 21 steals.
"He's a great mover on offense and a constant threat all the time," HPU coach Tony Sellitto said. "He never stops, he's relentless.
"(But) his defense has been the biggest improvement (from last season). He's an extremely tough guy, the hardest worker and one of my closest friends."
Subotic has helped the Sea Warriors to a 10-4 record, 1-1 in the PacWest. HPU's first conference win came Saturday night against Chaminade, with Subotic nailing all three of his free throws on a single visit to the line with 12 seconds remaining to seal a one-point Sea Warriors' victory.
"How many guys can make all three free throws in that situation?" Sellitto said. "Not many. Those were the toughest free throws I've seen a guy make."
HPU begins a three-game road trip tonight at Western New Mexico (1-8, 0-3). The Sea Warriors play the Mustangs again tomorrow, before tangling with Montana State-Billings (10-3, 1-2) on Monday.
Subotic acknowledges that winning PacWest road games is difficult, but like he did last Saturday against the Silverswords, he welcomes tough challenges.
"I like those pressure situations," Subotic said. "I always try to get myself in those situations because I'm a senior.
"We got to tighten up our belts and get down and dirty (on the road trip). This year we've got a really good team and we can't afford to lose. I think that when the season is over, we have a a good chance of being in first place."
HPU has seven other seniors this season, leads the conference in rebounding and is second in field-goal percentage defense. Still, its success the rest of the way is dependent on Subotic's offensive ability.
Subotic's overall shooting percentage is under 40 percent (76 for 207) because opposing coaches usually try to stop him first. But, Subotic also has the unflappable attitude necessary to continue to get and take his shots -- and to laugh off hecklers.
"I don't have a problem if I missed five (shots) in a row," Subotic said. "Because I know I can make seven in a row right after. That's just the mentality you have to have. I don't care only about affecting my percentages, I just want to win the game."
Hawaii Pacific
BYU-Hawaii
Chaminade
U.H. Hilo