[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
RONEN ZILBERMAN / RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Haim Shimonovich and Phil Martin return on the Rainbows' front line as they try to improve on last season's 19 wins.
Rainbows expect
big things from
little thingsHawaii wants to play better
without the ball in
upcoming season
The little things add up.
A solid screen away from the ball. A subtle ball fake. A little jab step just to get the defender leaning the wrong way.
A variety of largely unnoticed details can determine the success of each possession in a basketball game, and Hawaii learned last season that every possession can potentially be the critical blow in a contest.
The Rainbow Warriors went 19-12 last season and earned a spot in the National Invitation Tournament, appearing in the postseason for a school-record third consecutive season.
But four of their losses were by two points or fewer. Reverse a few possessions in those games and UH might have been knocking on the door of the NCAA Tournament instead of sweating out a call from the NIT.
"Everyone's going to go out and play offense and play defense, but it's the little things that make all the difference," senior guard Michael Kuebler said, "whether you box your man out every time, that one time you don't do it he may get the rebound that'll win the game."
As the Rainbows embark on the new season, they're hoping the little things add up to a return to the Big Dance.
"I'm very hungry. Once you get a taste of it you want more," said senior Phil Martin, one of two current UH players who experienced both of the team's Western Athletic Conference titles in 2001 and 2002 and the NCAA Tournament games that followed.
Hawaii opens the season with an exhibition game against Brigham Young-Hawaii tomorrow night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The regular season tips off Friday as the Rainbows host UC Santa Barbara. After that, the team takes off to the Valley Isle to make the program's first appearance in the Maui Invitational.
Over the month that has passed since Midnight Ohana, the Rainbows have busied themselves with mastering the details that make the flex-motion offense purr.
"It comes down to executing plays, setting a proper screen, setting your man up, squaring up, all those kinds of things affect the game," Martin said.
UH coach Riley Wallace is trying to change the big picture on offense by getting the Rainbows to look into the post as their first option instead of setting up for jumpers.
Martin was selected to the preseason All-WAC team and is joined in the front court by highly touted sophomore Julian Sensley.
Senior center Haim Shimonovich sat out the first half of practice with tendinitis in his right Achilles', so senior Paul Jesinskis will get the start in the middle tomorrow night.
"He's a banger and it's his third year, so he's as ready as anybody," Wallace said.
The biggest questions are in the back court, where the team must replace the floor leadership of point guard Mark Campbell and the scoring of sharpshooter Carl English.
Jason Carter and Logan Lee are vying for playing time at the point, while Kuebler, the team's top returning scorer, slides over from small forward to take English's spot.
Defensively, the Rainbows allowed the fewest points in WAC play last year. But they struggled against teams that were quicker off the dribble and have worked to address the issue in the offseason.
"We got burned in a lot of those close games in one-on-one type situations where they spread the floor on us and tried to take us to the basket," Kuebler said. "That's something we've been stressing since last year and I think we've definitely improved in that."
With five talented newcomers joining the squad this season, Wallace said the coaching staff has done more teaching in practice than in previous seasons. By spreading out the work, he hopes to develop depth that will benefit the squad down the road.
"We've been getting everybody reps, so it seems like we've been having to teach more because before you were concentrating on seven or eight, now you're concentrating on 12," Wallace said. "We want them all to stay up with the pace."
But it'll be the ones who pay attention to the little things who will be on the court this season.
"I definitely feel the team is deep this year, but ... Coach isn't going to put anybody in because he's sorry for so-and-so sitting on the bench," Martin said. "If a player's doing well on the floor, he'll stay out there."
Following is a team breakdown by position heading into tomorrow's game against BYUH.
Point Guard
Carter and Lee have battled over the past month for the opportunity to replace Campbell, an efficient floor leader and a member of the WAC's all-defensive team last season.Carter (5-10, 155, Sr.) will start tomorrow night, but both he and Lee (6-2, 170, So.) will likely see significant minutes this season.
Carter provided a spark off the bench last season, wowing fans with his leaping ability and cat-quick drives to the basket. This year, he'll have to prove he can orchestrate the offense and play under control. Lee is a solid ball-handler and outside shooter, and continues to get comfortable within the 'Bows' system.
Shooting Guard
Kuebler (6-4, 190, Sr.) moves into English's spot after playing small forward last season. He averaged 12.2 points last year and remains one of the team's top shooting threats. Consistency will be a key his senior season.Junior college transfer Jake Sottos (6-4, 160, Jr.) is a long-range shooter who struggled with his shot a bit in practice, but has shown he can shred the net when he's locked in.
Leilehua graduate Garland Gantt (6-1, 180, So.) is the lone walk-on for this year's squad after transferring from Chaminade.
Small Forward
Sensley (6-9, 235, So.) is working to fit his skills into the system, but his size and talent make him difficult to keep on the bench. He played in the post as a prep standout at Kalaheo, but developed his ball-handling skills and shooting touch when he moved to the East Coast as a junior. He'll give the Rainbows a boost on the boards and is a skilled passer.Vaidotas Peciukas (6-7, 205, Jr.) began last season as the starter before Kuebler worked his way into the lineup. He moves well without the ball in the Rainbows' motion offense, which frees him for easy buckets.
Bobby Nash (6-6, 190, Fr.) is the team's only freshman, but could battle for playing time. The Iolani graduate has a smooth outside shot and plays hard on defense while continuing to adjust to the college game.
Power Forward
Martin (6-8, 220, Sr.) returns for his fifth year in the program and has started 70 consecutive games. He's one of the team's strongest athletes and has developed a deadly mid-range jumper.Jeff Blackett (6-8, 210, Jr.) is getting comfortable in the offense and can provide scoring punch inside and as a shooter. Sensley and Jesinskis can also fill in at the "4" when needed.
Center
Jesinskis (6-8, 230, Sr.) is back for his third season after redshirting last year due to a wrist injury. He's the shortest of the team's candidates at center, but is a rugged interior player who can help on the boards.Shimonovich (6-10, 275, Sr.) is working his way back into shape following the Achilles' injury, but still needs to improve his conditioning. When he's healthy, he's an imposing presence in the lane and one of the team's top passers.
Milos Zivanovic (6-11, 235, So.) returned with more beef on his slender frame. He'll need to hold his ground on defense to be an effective inside player.
