Predrag Savovic's personality is irreplaceable. Savo not missed yet
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comBut perhaps his production on the Hawaii basketball team isn't.
The first real game of the post-Savo era was a resounding success for the Rainbows last night as UH pounded Arkansas-Little Rock 81-65 in its season opener. One of the big reasons was the play of newcomer Michael Kuebler.
The baby-faced junior college transfer will never be mistaken for the demonstrative Savovic. But his numbers last night, particularly in the first half, resembled the kind of game the current Denver Nugget used to have on a regular basis in three seasons with the Rainbows.
Kuebler, a 6-foot-5 junior swingman, came off the bench to score 17 points, grab four rebounds and deal three assists in 30 minutes.
He sparked UH with 14 first-half points, including 3-of-3 shooting from behind the 3-point line.
UH coach Riley Wallace said he felt Kuebler was somewhat tentative in the first half and wanted him to shoot more.
"I told him, 'I brought you here to shoot the basketball. Now relax and don't quit shooting because I told you that. Keep shooting.' "
In the second half, Kuebler picked up two quick assists during UH's knockout run.
He fed his old JC teammate Mark Campbell and Phil Martin for consecutive hoops. Then Campbell threaded a sweet no-look to Nkeruwem Akpan for a layup on the break; at that point Hawaii led 63-45 with 11:27 left. If it wasn't already over, now it was.
"I didn't expect to contribute like I did right away," Kuebler said. "But by no means did I think that it wasn't possible."
Said Campbell: "He's a great shooter, as you can tell. Never tries to do too much. He fits right into our style of play."
Carter's little thrills: Carter's a tough name to live up to if you play guard for the Rainbows; former UH standouts Reggie Carter and Anthony Carter both ended up in the NBA.
JC transfer Jason Carter's debut last night wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't bad, either.
His quickness and ballhandling skills can be a big asset, but it can also get him in trouble if he plays out of control -- which he did a couple of times last night.
Carter scored eight points with two assists and three turnovers in 15 minutes off the bench.
"He'll find his way, and as he does he'll get more minutes," Wallace said. "He's very coachable."
Does spelling count?: The jerseys of Kuebler and junior center Haim Shimonovich have their names spelled incorrectly "Shimonovic" and "Keubler."
But the rest of the Rainbows might want to alter their uniforms after last night.
Shimonovich scored a team-high 18 points, combining with Kuebler for 35.
"It didn't really bother me the first time on my jersey for the exhibition game," Kuebler said. "They got that one wrong, too. But I thought my name is easy compared to these guys with 10 letters in their names."
Throwin' it up there: Arkansas-Little Rock didn't have much of a shooting night, but a couple of the Trojans can't say they were unlucky.
In the second half, junior forward Jake Yancey heaved up an awkward, closely guarded shot from about 16 feet as the shot clock went off. It went in.
Later, freshman forward Kimmo Murrinen launched a wild 3-point try that banked in. It was Murrinen's first shot in a college game.
Three spree: UH hit 8 of 18 3-pointers, including six of nine in the first half.
Nice pass: The Rainbows dealt each other 21 assists. One of the most crowd-pleasing came late in the game when Akpan, under the basket but guarded, found fellow big man Shimonovich gliding into the low post for an open layup.
Layups: Starting junior forward Phil Martin played only two minutes of the first half after getting two quick fouls. But he bounced back nicely after the break with eight points. ... Coaching legend Pete Newell, in Hawaii for the Chaminade-Virginia 20-years-later rematch, attended the game.
UH Athletics
