Rainbows confident TULSA, Okla. >> They've gone from underdogs to top dogs in a year's time. Now, while the rest of the basketball world is changing its perception of Hawaii, the Rainbows have believed in themselves for the past 13 months.
but not cocky
Entering the first round, Hawaii's
seed is different, but its attitude isn'tBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comIt began when center Haim Shimonovich became eligible for the SMU game on Feb. 15, 2001. With the addition of another quality big man, Hawaii closed out the regular season with a 4-1 run and swept through the Western Athletic Conference Tournament as the No. 5 seed with three wins before losing to Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Hawaii used that finish as a springboard to this season and, at 24-5, the Rainbows are now one win away from tying the school record for most victories in a season. They open defense of the WAC tournament title tomorrow against San Jose State, one of only three conference teams to hang an "L" on Hawaii.
The Rainbows are ready.
"We're confident," said sophomore guard Carl English, the 2001 tournament MVP. "We beat all of these teams this year and we're hoping to repeat. If we do, it will be because of a team effort.
"It's a different feeling this year. Last year, it came together for us down the stretch. This year, we've been consistent all season. We're road warriors this year. We've got more confidence because we're on top. When you're on top, you play with confidence. But any team can be beat. We can't be cocky. We have to come out and do our job and we'll be fine."
Hawaii's practice yesterday at Nathan Hale High School included a review of Rice, the Rainbows' anticipated opponent. However, San Jose State had other ideas last night, rallying from 13 down with 9:58 left to edge the Owls 58-57 at the Reynolds Center.
It was the Spartans' first win in five WAC tournament games. It didn't surprise UH associate head coach Bob Nash.
"Anything can happen in this tournament," said Nash.
The Rainbows proved it last year. This time, Hawaii won't be able to surprise anyone.
"I don't think like the NCAA selection committee, the AP voters, the sports writers," said Hawaii coach Riley Wallace. "We're not underdogs. We're a very good basketball team. If we come out and play our stuff, really get after it and concentrate, I believe we can play with anybody in the country.
"We've got to feel that way. It's not being cocky. It's having confidence in my kids that they're working hard, executing and doing what they have to do to win games."
Yesterday's practice pleased Wallace, who said the players seemed to have a little more energy than Monday.
"They know that it's tournament time," he said. "They know what they've got to do and they want to do it. When they're like that, I'm not nervous at all. They're practicing the same way as they were last year at this time. They're ready to go, they're ready to win."
Junior point guard Mark Campbell is the only starter who didn't experience last year's excitement. His teammates have made sure he knows what to expect.
"I know it will be a little tiring, with three games in a row," said Campbell. "We've got to have a little luck as well as play good. We can't let down. This is the ticket to the NCAAs and we have to be ready and play with intensity every game.
"We've played in tournaments this year (Big Island Invitational and Rainbow Classic). We're a deep team. Our legs will be good."
Also expected to be good to go is senior guard Predrag Savovic. The team's leading scorer worked out yesterday and was moving better than he has since going down with a back spasm at Nevada last Thursday.
When: 8 a.m. tomorrow GAMEDAY
Where: Reynolds Center (8,355), Tulsa, Okla.
TV: Live, KFVE-TV (WAC feed)
Radio: Live, KCCN 1420-AM
Internet: kccn1420am.com
"He looked good today and he should be even better tomorrow," said Wallace. "If he's ready, he'll be back in the starting lineup. We want him to start. He's made rapid improvement from (Monday) to today and, if he does the same thing tomorrow, he'll be back to normal."
Hawaii closed its practice today, only the second time that has happened this season. The first time was the day before the Tulsa game on Feb. 21.
Wallace wanted to cut down on the distractions. Yesterday, USA Today hired a photographer to shoot the Rainbows, including their lucky ritual of eating at the Golden Corral restaurant.
Today's practice revolved around San Jose State, the team that handed Hawaii its first WAC loss, 57-53.
"San Jose is a penetrating team, much like Nevada, and they have good quickness," said Wallace. "They've got nothing to lose so they'll be loose.
"We're going to have to work hard every game. There is nobody here that we can just show up and beat."
Another honor for Savo: Savovic was named to the third team of the Verizon Academic All-America team yesterday. Matt Bonner of Florida, Belmont's Wes Burtner, New Mexico State's Eric Channing, Gonzaga's Dan Dickau and Ball State's Patrick Jackson made up the first team.
PROBABLE STARTERS
RAINBOWS (24-5) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Predrag Savovic (Sr.) 6-6 19.4 4.5 2.5 G Carl English (So.) 6-5 16.0 5.0 3.1 G Mark Campbell (Jr.) 6-4 3.3 2.7 4.8 F Phil Martin (So.) 6-7 9.1 4.7 0.8 C H. Shimonovich (So.) 6-10 7.6 6.7 2.6 SPARTANS (10-21) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Brandon Hawkins (Jr.) 6-3 15.6 3.9 4.3 G Gary Black (Jr.) 6-3 6.6 3.1 0.8 F Andre Valentine (Jr.) 6-4 6.4 4.6 0.7 F David Granucci (Sr.) 6-9 4.6 4.5 1.2 C Marion Thurmond (Sr.) 6-8 6.4 4.5 0.8 Notes: Hawaii leads the series 10-6. The teams split during the regular season, with the Spartans winning 57-53 in San Jose and the Rainbows winning 71-46 in Honolulu. ... Hawaii coach Riley Wallace is in his 15th year (240-203). He was named WAC Coach of the Year on Sunday. ... The Rainbows are coming off an 82-79 victory at Fresno State on Saturday that gave them a share of the WAC regular season title and the top seed in this week's tournament. Sophomore guard Carl English scored a career-high 33 points, 27 in the first half, and senior guard Mike McIntyre came off the bench for a career-high 27 points, which included seven 3-pointers. ... Hawaii received votes in both national polls this week and is 26th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and 29th in the Associated Press writers' Top 25. ... San Jose State coach Steve Barnes is in his third season (39-50). ... The Spartans are coming off a 58-57 win over Rice yesterday in the first round of the WAC Tournament. It was San Jose State's first tournament win in five games. The Spartans have won two games in a row for only the second time this season. SJSU won 76-72 at Nevada Saturday.
UH Athletics
