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Rainbows go They may be on top of the Western Athletic Conference standings but they were the low men on the facilities totem pole yesterday.
old school
The WAC leaders prepare
for final road trip in ancient
but friendly Klum GymBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comHawaii unintentionally went back to its roots, holding its final home basketball practice in venerable Klum Gym. Because the Rainbows were originally scheduled to leave yesterday -- instead of this morning -- their practice site was reassigned.
The Stan Sheriff Center was hosting practice for this Sunday's state high school cheerleading championship. Gym II was being used by the women's volleyball team and Gym I had football conditioning.
The only indoor court remaining was aging Klum Gym, where the players were debating which was older, the gym (1957) or head coach Riley Wallace (1941).
"I think it's typical of our team," said reserve junior forward Paul Jesinskis. "Practicing in here was not expected. And, with us, you have to expect the unexpected.
"It has two hoops, we have basketballs. It's not bad."
Or, as Wallace told sophomore guard Carl English: "At least it's better than playing in the highway."
(English's makeshift court when he was a youngster was on the road in front of his Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland, home.)
"All of our practices were in here and it was old back then," said associate head coach Bob Nash, a member of the Fabulous Five that went 47-8 between 1970-72. "We had battles in here. This was where we practiced and it worked out OK."
If nothing else, the humble environs kept Hawaii (23-4, 14-2) grounded and focused as it prepared for what could be a very lengthy road trip. The Rainbows are at Nevada on Thursday and at Fresno State on Saturday to finish the regular season, then on to the WAC tournament in Tulsa ... then likely the NCAA Tournament.
Hawaii, with an RPI of 34, moved up to No. 29 in yesterday's Associated Press Top 25 writer's poll with 70 points. On Sunday, the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll had the Rainbows at No. 26.
"I haven't even thought about Fresno yet, we need to focus on Nevada," said Wallace. "Nevada does the things that causes us problems. They have good shooters and they're tough at home.
"They're playing for postseason hopes, too, probably thinking they can do well enough at the end for an NIT bid. It's a tough place to play, altitude to go along with a good team and a good coach."
Last season, due to flight delays, the jet-lagged Rainbows got to Reno (4,500-foot elevation) some nine hours before tip-off. After falling behind at half, 42-28, Hawaii closed to 51-47 with 10:04 left at the Lawlor Events Center; the Rainbows lost their legs and the game 73-60.
Nevada (15-11, 8-8) had won three straight WAC games before losing two consecutive road games last week. The losses were by a combined six points, including an 86-83 overtime defeat at Louisiana Tech.
The Wolf Pack is 9-3 at home overall, 4-3 in WAC home games.
Wallace likely will substitute more Thursday, to keep fresh legs and defensive intensity on the court. Reserves Jesinskis, at 6-foot-8, and Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan, a 6-8 freshman, could see more playing time than usual.
Both played in Saturday's victory over Rice at the Sheriff Center. Akpan scored his first points as a Rainbow, sinking 3 of 4 free throws and connecting on his first 3-point attempt.
"I made my coach happy that I could score some points," said Akpan, who is from Nigeria. "I hope that I can help the team. I'm ready any time they want me."
Jesinskis is also ready to help in whatever role, from scout team to a backup for Phil Martin or Haim Shimonovich.
"I hope they'll need me this week," said the South Africa native. "Every game is important, but these two really fall into that category. Everyone is saying we need to win one of the two, but if we go out with the right attitude, we should win both.
"Right now, I help get everyone ready. But I've got to be ready at any given time. I'd prefer to be playing but it's fun to watch my teammates play. Senior night encapsulated everything the team is about. What great fans to spend my birthday with."
Jesinskis turned 21 Sunday. After the game, Wallace had the thousands of remaining fans sing "Happy Birthday."
"That was icing on the cake for me," he said. "Hawaii is a very good fit for me."
And Klum Gym was fine in a pinch, although Wallace's last memory of the court wasn't a happy one. Back in 1991, when the Blaisdell Arena was unavailable, the Rainbows played Detroit Mercy, losing 83-81, in Klum Gym.
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