[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Michael Kuebler scored a team-high 18 points on 6-for-12 shooting for Hawaii in Monday's 63-56 win over BYUH.
UH unveils
‘2-headed
point guard’Wallace says Jason Carter
and Logan Lee will continue
to split time for the Rainbows
Among the lessons the Hawaii basketball team learned in Monday's exhibition win over Brigham Young-Hawaii was the value of having two capable point guards.
Senior Jason Carter started the game, but played only eight minutes due to foul trouble. Logan Lee, a sophomore transfer, was on the floor more than 30 minutes , scored nine points and hit a 3-pointer in the final minute that sealed the Rainbows' 63-56 win over the upset-minded Seasiders.
UH coach Riley Wallace said Carter will probably start again on Friday, when the Rainbow Warriors play host to UC Santa Barbara to open the regular season, and both guards will continue to split time.
"(Carter will) get better," Wallace said after the game. "That doesn't put him down any or Logan up any; it's a two-headed point guard this year."
Carter made his first career start on Monday, but picked up two fouls in the first four minutes of the game and was whistled for his third early in the second half. Lee played the rest of the game and had no turnovers while helping the Rainbows rally past BYUH in the second half.
"I thought I'd be pretty equal with JC, but he got in that foul trouble early so coach couldn't put him back in in the first half," Lee said. "I wasn't expecting it, but I was ready for it."
Carter and Lee battled for the starting spot during practice with Carter's experience giving him the edge going into the game. He finished the game with two points and four turnovers, but Wallace is confident Carter will benefit from the learning experience.
"JC wasn't near as good tonight as he's been in practice," Wallace said. "He has to carry that practice right into the game and he will. It's just a matter of looking at film and he'll know."
Senior shooting guard Michael Kuebler provided stability in the backcourt and helped keep the Rainbows in the game with a team-high 18 points against their NCAA Division II neighbors from the North Shore. Sophomore Julian Sensley displayed his ability to spark the team with his athleticism en route to a 10-point, nine-rebound performance.
Despite the win, the players said the game showed them the areas they need to work on heading into Friday's game.
"Execution is one thing we have to get right, we have to get firing," said center Paul Jesinskis. "We know everybody can play at each position, it's just executing."
UH won the game despite getting limited production out of two returning starters. Center Haim Shimonovich is still working on his conditioning following an Achilles injury and played six minutes off the bench. Forward Phil Martin struggled offensively, finishing with two points. But Wallace said he's counting more on Martin's defense than his point production.
"He's trying too hard to score and I told him this year if he doesn't score a point we don't care as long as he's playing good defense and rebounding," Wallace said.
After a day off yesterday, the Rainbows turn their attention to UC Santa Barbara in practice today. The Gauchos are favored to win the Big West championship this year, but will be without two projected starters in the backcourt.
Guard Nick Jones was suspended for eight games by the NCAA for playing in an uncertified summer league in Mexico in the offseason. Then Branduinn Fullove, the reigning Big West Player of the Year, injured his left ankle in an exhibition game. He is not expected to be with the Gauchos when they arrive in Honolulu this afternoon.
Sophomores Cecil Brown and Josh Davis are slated to start in the Gauchos' three-guard attack. Brown had 15 points in an exhibition win over the EA Sports All Stars on Nov. 5.
"Both of those guys are very athletic and they'll give us a different look," UCSB assistant coach Mark Amaral said. "Basically, it's our back court of the future."
