DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Natasja Allen tossed a few free throws at the end of practice yesterday before Hawaii left for its NIT game against Arizona State.
It's hard to make Natasja Allen lose her smile. But it irritates the Hawaii forward that another college basketball player, Manhattanville's Toni Smith, decided to turn her back to the American flag this season while the country prepares for war. Allen ready
to go to battleBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com
Still, the future Army officer said she would put her life on the line for Smith's right to protest.
When: Tomorrow, 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time Hawaii at
Arizona State
TV: None
Radio: 1420-AM, live
"The government and military, that's what we stand for," Allen said after yesterday morning's Wahine practice and before her military science class. "We fight for her freedom to do that. I think it's wrong for her to do, but I have to respect her right to do it."
Allen was born in Germany, but she's as American as it gets. The Hawaii basketball player is so patriotic she joined the UH Army ROTC unit this year. She's known for her upbeat personality, but Allen said current world affairs have her concerned.
"I do watch CNN a lot more than I used to. I keep on top of things and it's always in the back of my mind," said Allen, who is scheduled to be commissioned a second lieutenant in 2004.
While the Wahine (16-13), especially Allen, can't help but be aware of the nation's heightened state of alert, they also have some more basketball to play. They left Hawaii last night and were scheduled to arrive in Tempe, Ariz., today for their WNIT game at Arizona State (15-13) tomorrow.
The game will take their minds off the outside world, but there was a six-hour flight and a whole day before that.
"Some things you can't control and you have to go along with it," said forward Kim Willoughby, the volleyball All-American who left last night's exhibition match with USC to make it to the airport on time. "I'm looking at my teammate, Natasja Allen, and realizing she could be in that, that someone like me could be in that."
This is UH's fourth consecutive year in the WNIT, but the first in which the "s" word -- snub -- hasn't emanated from the Wahine camp even once.
"We didn't merit the NCAA Tournament this time," UH coach Vince Goo said. "I think we're going into the NIT with a different attitude. They want to play and don't have any disappointment with the NCAA."
The Wahine were pounded by Louisiana Tech 85-58 in their Western Athletic Conference semifinal last Friday, but you couldn't tell by watching UH's early morning practice yesterday. They scrimmaged with the enthusiasm of a team that has won three of its last four -- all on the road -- and had its season extended.
"I'm kind of surprised how much energy they had today," Goo said. "They were shooting free throws before (the coaches) got in. There was a lot of chatter, a lot of laughter."
The young Sun Devils hope to take the joy out of things for the Wahine and use the NIT as a springboard for next year. Coach Charli Turner Thorne starts three freshmen and two sophomores. Guard Carrie Buckner averages 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds, and forward Amy Denson checks in with 10.2 points and 6.0 boards.
"They're young and got some quickness at the post and some pretty good guards. I think it will be a good matchup," Goo said. "It's their first game in 13 days. They may be rusty, but they'll be well rested and we have to travel. Things will even out."
ASU is tough at the Wells Fargo Arena, having won 19 of its last 23 home games.
"It's a big homecourt advantage, huge, probably like the Wahine," Turner Thorne said. "We're two different teams, at home and on the road."
So was UH, until winning at Boise State and Texas-El Paso to close out their WAC schedule. The Wahine -- especially Cadet Allen -- are full of confidence.
"We're gonna kick their butts," Allen said. "I haven't even seen them, but I know we're going to kick their butts because we want this."
Layups: Former ASU associate athletic director and All-American trackster and current UH athletic director Herman Frazier will be at the game. "I'll make sure he's wearing green," Goo said. "I don't know what kind of wager he made with his old friends in Tempe, but I have strict orders from him that we'd better win this ballgame." ... Hawaii's balanced scoring is led by Willoughby (11.5 points per game), April Atuaia (10.7), Christen Roper (9.8), Jade Abele (9.7) and Allen (9.7). ... Roper averages 3.55 blocks per game, third best in the nation. ... The Sun Devils return 13 of their 14 players next season. ... The game will be on KKEA-1420 starting at 4:30 HST.
UH Athletics
