FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii guard Michael Kuebler leads the WAC with a 19.2 points-per-game scoring average after scoring 24 on Monday.
’Bows hope to keep
momentum rollingUH rides its overtime win over
Oregon State into the Adidas Festival,
which begins tomorrow
Momentum will be the motivation for the Hawaii basketball team as the Rainbow Warriors head into the Adidas Festival tomorrow night.
After pulling out a thrilling win over Oregon State on Monday, the 'Bows enter the two-day tournament looking to get on a roll as they approach the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic and the Western Athletic Conference schedule.
Adidas Festival
When: Tomorrow, Idaho State vs. New Orleans, 5 p.m.; Texas Southern vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Idaho State vs. Texas Southern, 5 p.m.; New Orleans vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE-TV
Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.haw-aii.edu
Tickets: Lower Level (single seats only) $15; Upper Level (adult) $11; Upper Level (student, UH) $5; Super Rooter $8.
Parking: $3.
"We have to get some momentum going into the Rainbow (Classic) and you want to keep winning to get into the league," UH coach Riley Wallace said. "If you're getting that winning edge, win out at home and pick up those first two (WAC games), you're off to a helluva start. Then they start believing and it helps a team to feel that way confidence-wise."
The Rainbows (3-2) play Texas Southern of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tomorrow at 7 p.m. Idaho State faces New Orleans in the tournament opener at 5 p.m.
Saturday's action begins with Idaho State taking on Texas Southern at 5 p.m. UH closes out the event by playing New Orleans at 7.
The tournament will give the Rainbows a chance to find their rhythm after a 19-day lull between the Maui Invitational and the Oregon State game.
"It's easier to get in the groove of things when you're consistently playing games rather than being on and off," UH forward Phil Martin said. "We had three games in the Maui (Invitational) and you can see the progression and then it kind of breaks down, especially after that break."
Although the team won't have as much time to prepare for Texas Southern and New Orleans, the shorter turnaround will serve as preparation for the Rainbow Classic and the conference season for the players and coaches.
"It gets to be a routine," Wallace said. "You get their stuff in and you try to refine your stuff and that's about all you can do. If you do something poorly you work on that."
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii's Jeff Blackett put up a shot against Oregon State's Kyle Jeffers on Monday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Texas Southern ended last season as the 65th team in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers went 18-12 in the regular season, but won the SWAC tournament championship to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament's play-in game. They then lost to UNC-Asheville 92-84 in overtime.
This year's Texas Southern squad, the preseason favorite to win the SWAC title, enters tomorrow's game at 3-4 and is coming off a 54-42 win over Bethune Cookman on Monday.
Junior guard Damien Smith scored 15 points and was the only Tigers player to finish in double figures in the win. Junior guard Allan Lovett, a member of the preseason All-SWAC team, leads the team with 12.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game coming off the bench.
After beating Oregon State in a half-court battle, Wallace expects the Rainbows to face a Texas Southern squad that will look to turn up the pace of the game.
"They're athletic, they really play hard and have a lot of quickness," Wallace said. "They all let it fly and gamble on defense."
UH guard Michael Kuebler moved into the scoring lead in the WAC with his 24-point outburst on Monday. The senior is averaging 19.2 points per game and beat Oregon State with a 3-pointer with one second left in overtime.
With back-to-back games, the Rainbows' depth could be one of their advantages. Eight UH players are averaging more than 12 minutes per game.
Following is a look at the other two teams visiting for the tournament.
NEW ORLEANS PRIVATEERS (3-2)
Coach: Monte Towe
Conference: Sun Belt
The Privateers return to the Adidas Festival after beating Cal Poly and losing to UH in last year's tournament. New Orleans began the season 3-0, but lost road games at No. 6 Texas (89-55) and Mississippi State (77-59) this week. Senior guard Kyle Buggs leads the team with 15.8 points per game and is coming off a 22-point outing against Mississippi State on Tuesday. The Privateers have struggled a bit with their shooting, making 37 percent of their attempts from the field this season.
IDAHO STATE BENGALS (3-5)
Coach: Doug Oliver
Conference: Big Sky
The Bengals won't play UH in the tournament, but have already faced two other WAC teams. ISU lost to Rice 76-46 in its season opener and fell to Boise State 87-78 on Dec. 10. Guard Marquis Poole missed the first three games of the season, but averages a team-high 18.2 points and 4.6 assists per game for the Bengals. Two wins this week would give the ISU program 1,000 wins. Idaho State has an all-time record of 998-903 since starting the program in 1926.
