Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Broncos hope Before the season even started, Rod Jensen had one major concern about his new conference.
to warm up
Cold-shooting Boise State
makes its first visit to HawaiiBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comThe travel.
"My gosh, it's amazing the miles you put on," said the Boise State basketball coach, competing in his third league in seven years.
The Broncos (8-11, 2-7) are in their first year of Western Athletic Conference play and are making their first trip to Honolulu.
"We've done one rotation of the conference and I think Hawaii is the best team right now," said Jensen. "They beat Tulsa at Tulsa and I don't know how you do that. When we were there, they shot the ball so well.
"It's a long trip for us and the only prediction I'm going to make is that it will be warmer in Honolulu at tip-off (tomorrow) than in Boise."
The weather's not the only thing that's been cold in Boise. The Broncos, losers of their last seven, are averaging just 57.7 points in WAC contests, the lowest output in the league.
In last Saturday's 71-52 loss at UTEP, Boise State shot a season-low .327 from the field, and hit just 3 of 18 3-point attempts.
"We're a better offensive team than we were at the beginning of the year, but we're just not making very many baskets," said Jensen. "We're not completing the play and the dog-gone ball is not going in.
"The law of averages will catch up with us and we'll have a good shooting night one of these nights."
The Broncos shot .447 from the field in the 64-62 loss to visiting Hawaii (17-3, 8-1) on Jan. 5. All-American candidate Abe Jackson, the team's scoring leader, had 27 points against the Rainbows.
"We're going to make some adjustments, just like he (Jensen) will make some adjustments," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "Jackson got 27 the last time and any time a player can do that, it means they'll stay right with you.
"He's a big-time offensive player. We have to do a better job on him and contain the other guys."
The Broncos will have the same sort of containment problem. But first they have to decide who to key on. Hawaii had five players in double figures in the 90-82 victory at Tulsa, led by senior guard Mike McIntyre, who came off the bench to tie his career high of 22 points.
McIntyre, senior guard Predrag Savovic and sophomore guard Carl English are among the top 10 3-point shooters in WAC play. In their nine conference games, Hawaii has made 78 3-pointers, hitting at a .417 clip.
Boise State is last in 3-point percentage (.287). In WAC games, Jackson is the 3-point leader, hitting 29 in nine contests (3.22 per game).
"It was a close game there, and it's going to be tough on the road, no matter who it is," Rainbow junior guard Mark Campbell said. "The big advantage for us is that we're home this time, had some rest, and are ready to go.
"If we want to build on the respect, we have to keep winning. That's motivation right there."
"We squeaked one out at their place so they're going to come in expecting they can play with us," added McIntyre. "We've got to put it together mentally and come ready to play."
Around the WAC: Predrag Savovic will be featured this Saturday during halftime of ABC's College Game of the Week. In this week's poll at www.WAC.org, Savovic leads the voting for Player of the Year. ... WAC newcomer Louisiana Tech went into Selland Arena last Saturday night and defeated Fresno State 71-64. It broke Fresno State's 25-game home winning streak, the fourth longest in the nation. ... The WAC has three players that have scored 20 or more points in at least 11 games this year. Fresno State's Melvin Ely and Boise State's Abe Jackson have reached that mark in 12 games. SMU's Damon Hancock has scored 20 or more in 11 contests this season.
When: 7 p.m. tomorrow Gameday
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE-TV (Channel 5)
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: kccn1420am.com
Tickets: Lower level $14 Adults (upper) $10 UH students $7 Super Rooter $8 Parking $3
WAC standings
Conference Overall W L Pct. GB W L Hawaii 8 1 .889 -- 17 3 Tulsa 7 2 .778 1 16 4 Fresno St 6 3 .667 2 14 7 La. Tech 6 3 .667 2 12 6 SMU 6 3 .667 2 11 8 Nevada 4 5 .444 4 11 8 UTEP 3 6 .333 4 9 12 Boise St 2 7 .222 6 8 11 Rice 2 7 .222 6 7 12 San Jose St 1 8 .111 7 6 15 Tonight
Louisiana Tech at Centenary
Tomorrow
Boise State at Hawaii, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center
Nevada at Rice
Fresno State at Tulsa
UTEP at San Jose StateSaturday
UTEP at Hawaii, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center
Boise State at San Jose State
Fresno State at Rice
Louisiana Tech at SMU
Nevada at Tulsa
Probable starters
Hawaii (17-3, 8-1) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Predrag Savovic (Sr.) 6-6 18.9 4.2 2.3 G Carl English (So. ) 6-5 14.1 4.8 3.9 G Mark Campbell (Jr.) 6-4 3.8 3.1 4.5 F Phil Martin (So.) 6-8 9.3 5.1 0.8 C H.Shimonovich(So.) 6-10 8.5 6.7 2.8 BOISE STATE (8-11, 2-7) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Bryan Defares (So.) 6-3 8.7 3.0 2.1 G C.J. Williams (Jr.) 6-0 2.9 1.4 2.7 F Abe Jackson (Sr.) 6-7 19.3 4.9 1.3 F Jason Ellis (Fr.) 6-7 4.8 6.1 0.8 C Richard Morgan (Sr.) 6-8 7.2 2.7 1.2 Notes: Hawaii leads the series, 1-0. The only meeting was on Jan. 5 in Boise where Predrag Savovic hit two free throws with 10.4 seconds left to clinch the 64-62 win. ... Hawaii coach Riley Wallace is in his 15th season (233-201). ... Hawaii is coming off one of its biggest road wins in history, defeating host Tulsa, 90-82, last Saturday to claim sole possession first place in the WAC. The 90 points are a season high. ... The Rainbows are 4-1 in WAC road games and need one more to tie for the most in school history. The 8-1 start in WAC play is UH's best ever. The 17-3 start is the Rainbows' best since 1971-72 when they opened 18-2 and finished 24-3. The 1970-71 team also opened 17-3, finishing 23-5. ... Hawaii's three losses are by a combined nine points. ...
The Rainbows have won seven straight home games and 18 of their last 19. ... Hawaii leads the WAC and is 21st nationally in scoring defense (61.8 ppg) Senior guards Savovic and Mike McIntyre rank 2-3 on UH's career 3-point list. Alika Smith leads with 161 3-pointers, followed by Savovic (139) and McIntyre (131). Savovic needs eight free throws to tie Reggie Cross for fourth all-time. ... Boise State coach Rod Jensen is in his seventh year (104-87). The Broncos have lost four in a row, including last Saturday's 72-51 loss at UTEP. They haven't lost five in a row since the 1980-81 season when they lost seven in a row. ...
BSU has lost seven of its last nine games. ... Senior forward Abe Jackson is first in the WAC in 3-point field goals made with 3.16 per game and is second in the conference in scoring with 19.3 points per game. ... Jackson has scored 25 or more points in three straight games and has reached the 20-point mark in five of his last six contests. Boise State is 7-5 when Jackson hits the mark. ... Sophomore guard Bryan Defares has scored in double figures in his last seven games and is averaging 12.6 points in those contests. ... BSU is second in the WAC in scoring defense (63.2 ppg).
UH Athletics
