[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
Hawaii looks to extend
Rainbow Classic streakThe 'Bows have won the
tournament title each of the past
two years and four of the past six
The expectations have changed.
After winning the Rainbow Classic just once in a span of 23 years, the Hawaii basketball team has claimed the tournament title four times in the last six years and this season is shooting for a record third straight championship.
So as the Rainbow Warriors enter the 40th annual event tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center, simply making it to the evening rounds is no longer the measure of success it was early in UH coach Riley Wallace's tenure.
"It was a tough tournament always, and still is," Wallace said. "You'd get that first win and play at night and go from there. But now we've won two in a row and you want to get that third one.
Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic
Who: Lamar at HawaiiWhen: Today, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE-TV
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Tickets: Lower Level, $16 (single seats only); Upper Level (adult) $12. Parking: $3.
* * *Probable starters
Lamar (6-3) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Teddy Davis (Jr.) 6-3 13.9 4.9 2.0 G Gil Goodrich (Jr.) 5-10 14.4 2.8 5.7 G Raymond Anthony (Jr.) 5-10 19.1 3.4 3.1 F Terrell Petteway (Sr.) 6-7 15.2 8.9 0.3 C Jason Grant (So.) 6-9 9.6 8.0 0.1 Notes: Tonight's game will be the second of the Rainbow Classic's opening-day doubleheader. IUPUI and East Tennessee State meet in the first game at 5 p.m. Tomorrow's schedule features Bowling Green playing Fairfield at 5 p.m. and American facing Pepperdine at 7:30. ... The winners of tonight's games meet in a semifinal game on Monday at 7:30 p.m. The losers play in a consolation game at 11 a.m. ... This will be the first meeting between the schools since Lamar defeated UH 62-58 on Nov. 27, 1981. Lamar leads the series 2-1. ... Due to heightened security, bag checks will be enforced for those entering the Sheriff Center. Fans are encouraged to leave bags at home. ... The tournament will use the NCAA's experimental rules with the extended 3-point line (20 feet, 8 inches) and the trapezoidal free throw lanes. ... UH walk-on Garland Gantt will suit up for the first time this season.
Hawaii (5-2) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Logan Lee (So.) 6-1 2.4 1.7 5.0 G Michael Kuebler (Sr.) 6-4 19.0 3.1 1.3 F Julian Sensley (So.) 6-9 9.1 6.7 3.4 F Phil Martin (Sr.) 6-8 12.9 5.9 1.0 C Haim Shimonovich (Sr.) 6-11 9.3 7.3 2.0
"It's a goal, and as long as you set goals it helps fire your team up. I think the goal has to be to not overlook anybody and play hard, but the long-term goal is to win it."
Hawaii has lost just three tournament games in the last six years. Included in that run are UH's landmark win over Kansas in the 1997 championship game and title victories against Oregon in 1999 and Georgia in 2001. The 'Bows claimed last year's title by erasing a 21-point deficit en route to a breathtaking overtime win over Butler, which went on to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
Adding to the expectations surrounding the Rainbows heading into this year's tournament is the lack of high-profile programs entered in the field. Joining Hawaii in the event are American, Bowling Green, East Tennessee State, Fairfield, IUPUI, Lamar and Pepperdine.
None of the elite conferences -- ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, etc. -- are represented in this year's field, but the teams in the tournament aren't without their highlights.
IUPUI and East Tennessee State went to the NCAA Tournament last season. IUPUI was routed by Kentucky in the opening round, while ETSU gave second-seeded Wake Forest all it could handle before falling 76-73. Fairfield, like Hawaii, played in the National Invitation Tournament last year and Pepperdine has gone to the postseason four of the last five years.
Although the big names are missing, the Classic remains a highlight of the Rainbows' schedule and an important test heading into the Western Athletic Conference. UH will try to ride the momentum of a three-game winning streak heading into the tournament.
"It's our tournament -- we want to protect our house," UH forward Phil Martin said. "It's important just to continue our momentum throughout our season. We've been taking off with these last three games. Everybody's been coming together and contributing."
If fans aren't familiar with the names of the teams coming to town, the names of some of their coaches might ring a bell.
UH opens the tournament against a Lamar squad led by former Oklahoma and Texas Christian coach Billy Tubbs. Tubbs, also the athletic director at Lamar, is 6-4 against the Rainbows and implemented his up-tempo style of play with a Cardinals team that is averaging 87.1 points per game and has broken the 100-point mark twice this season.
"It's a challenge -- he's one of the top coaches in the country," Wallace said. "He'll make them very, very competitive. You know you have to cover everything before you play them."
Jeff Jones is in his fourth year at American after coaching at ACC power Virginia for eight seasons. He guided the Cavaliers to the Elite Eight in 1995.
Former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal is in his third season at Pepperdine. He posted a record of 294-181 with the Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics and led the Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993.
Following is a look at this year's Rainbow Classic field.
* * *American Eagles (3-6)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Coach (record at school): Jeff Jones (44-52, fourth season)
Conference: Patriot
The Eagles came up one win short of advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history last season when they lost to Holy Cross in the Patriot League championship game. This year's squad opened the year with a loss to Maryland and enters the tournament coming off a 78-74 loss to Notre Dame on Sunday. Freshman guard Andre Ingram leads the Eagles with 12.2 points per game. Senior Andres Rodriguez averages 11.7 points and 6.7 assists per contest.Bowling Green Falcons (3-5)
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio
Coach (record at school): Dan Dakich (105-78, seventh season)
Conference: Mid-American
BGSU is looking for its second tournament title in Hawaii in the last five years, as the Falcons defeated UH in the final of the 1999 Nextel Challenge. The Falcons will have been off for 10 days when they face Fairfield tomorrow. They snapped a five-game losing streak with a 56-52 win over Detroit on Dec. 18. Ball security has been a problem for the Falcons, who average 18.8 turnovers per game. Sophomore forward Ron Lewis is the team's top scorer at 16.4 ppg.E. Tennessee ST. Buccaneers (7-2)
Location: Johnson City, Tenn.
Coach (record at school): Murry Bartow (first season)
Conference: Southern
The Buccaneers enter the Classic as the highest-ranked team in the Sagarin ratings at No. 68 and are off to their best start since the 1991-92 season. ETSU has won three straight Southern Conference North Division titles and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament six times. The Bucs return all five starters this season, led by senior forward Zakee Wadood who averages 16.4 ppg and 8.9 rebounds per game. The Bucs are also pesky defensively as they swipe 12.7 steals per game as a team.Fairfield Stags (5-1)
Location: Fairfield, Conn.
Coach (record at school): Tim O'Toole (74-76, sixth season)
Conference: Metro Atlantic
Stags forward Deng Gai is one of the players to watch this week. The junior from Sudan is averaging 14.5 points and 9.8 rebounds. He's also swatting away more than five shots per game. He had 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks as the Stags overcame a 14-point deficit to edge George Washington 75-67 in overtime on Tuesday. Terrence Todd's 15.2 points per game leads four Fairfield players in double-figure scoring.Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (5-2)
Coach: Riley Wallace (267-217, 17th season)
Conference: Western Athletic
The 'Bows tore through the Adidas Festival last week, winning two games by a combined 58 points. The UH offense came alive in the tournament and the 'Bows are now shooting 47 percent from the field. Guard Michael Kuebler is the WAC's leading scorer with 19 points per game, while Phil Martin averages 12.9 ppg. Center Haim Shimonovich is the team's top rebounder (7.3 rpg) and the 'Bows feed off his play when he's in the flow. Forward Julian Sensley is second on the team in rebounding (6.7 rpg) and assists (3.4 apg).IUPUI Jaguars (5-3)
Location: Indianapolis
Coach (record at school): Ron Hunter (141-127, 10th season)
Conference: Mid-ContinentHunter led the Jaguars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance last season and their hopes of returning to the dance rest largely on the play of forward Odell Bradley. Bradley has already been named the Mid-Con Player of the Week twice this season, having led the Jaguars in scoring in all but one game this season. He is the top scorer in the tournament with 22.8 points per game and grabs more than 10 rebounds per game. He's also second on the team in assists. The Jaguars don't go very deep on their bench, as four starters play more than 30 minutes per game.
Lamar Cardinals (6-3)
Location: Beaumont, Texas
Coach (record at school): Billy Tubbs (81-49, fifth season)
Conference: Southland
Tubbs took Lamar to the NCAA Tournament twice (1979, 80) before embarking on highly successful runs at Oklahoma and TCU. He owns a career winning percentage of .667 and reached 600 wins in his career with a victory over Texas Southern on Dec. 8. He brings the highest-scoring team in the Classic to town (87.1 ppg). Senior forward Terrell Petteway is second on the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) and is shooting 51 percent from the field. Guard Gil Goodrich dishes out 5.7 assists per game while scoring 14.4 points.Pepperdine Waves (4-6)
Location: Malibu, Calif.
Coach (record at school): Paul Westphal (41-28, third season)
Conference: West Coast
The Waves have had four games decided by three points or fewer this season and are 1-3 in those contests. Pepperdine enters the tournament on a high note after edging Bradley 81-80 on Sunday. Forward Glen McGowan, the team's leading scorer (19.3 ppg), won the game with a dunk with two seconds left. He had a career-high 36 points in a loss to Maryland on Dec. 14. Guard Alex Acker, the WCC's freshman of the year last season, is averaging 14.8 points.
