[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
UH faces another
up-tempo challengeHawaii takes on IUPUI
in the semifinals of
the Rainbow Classic
After getting past one team that views the shot clock as a largely inconsequential piece of equipment, the Hawaii basketball team will face another up-tempo team tonight.
The Rainbow Warriors are hoping to reach the championship game of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic for the fifth consecutive year and to do so they'll have to defeat an IUPUI squad that thrives on pushing the action.
Tip-off for the second semifinal game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
UH reached tonight's semifinal round by rallying past a Lamar team that ran the ball up court and wasn't shy about flinging up shots from anywhere on its side of the court. The Cardinals blitzed the Rainbows early and built a double-digit lead before UH rallied to a 94-88 win Saturday night.
UH coach Riley Wallace hopes the experience served as a wake-up call for his team.
"You can't take people lightly like we did," Wallace said after the team's practice yesterday afternoon. "They didn't respect the scouting report of how good Lamar was in their transition and their quick-shot offense. ... You can't do that with IUPUI either because they're the same kind of team -- they'll fire it up quick and they've got guys who can do it."
The winners of tonight's semifinal games meet for the tournament championship tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. The losers play for third place at 5.
The 'Bows spent much of last week preparing for Lamar's run-and-gun scheme and the lessons should carry over to tonight's game as they face a similar team in IUPUI.
"Lamar was really quick and we're anticipating this team to be really quick and just real athletic," UH guard Jason Carter said. "All of them are the same size and they have a lot of interchangeable players, so we practice moving our feet and playing good defense."
Carter is a native of Gary, Ind., the hometown of IUPUI guard Akeem Clark and forward James Booyer. Carter said he recalls playing against Clark in high school and on the playground.
"He can shoot," Carter said. "He was a shooter and he had a couple of moves on him and could get to the basket."
Clark showed off his shooting range by hitting nine 3-pointers in the Jaguars' 85-81 first-round win over East Tennessee State on Saturday.
Clark finished with 33 points, while forward Odell Bradley was effective inside and outside in scoring 27 points.
"We have to contest the outside shots, but if you do it too early they'll take you off the dribble," Wallace said.
The Rainbows will be the bigger team tonight as IUPUI's tallest starter is 6-foot-6 forward Brandon Cole. Bradley (6-4) played in the middle of IUPUI's zone defense for much of the win over ETSU.
"We had the height advantage over Lamar, but they let their quickness neutralize that," Wallace said. "The same thing can happen (tonight) if we allow it."
UH brings a four-game winning streak into the semifinal round. Guard Michael Kuebler saw his scoring average jump to 20.1 after putting up 28 against Lamar. Kuebler made just one of seven 3-point attempts in the game, but did most of his damage driving to the basket.
"That's where he's turned his game around, he's not a one-dimensional guy," Wallace said. "He's carrying the load, where he'll take his jump shots, but if he doesn't get them he puts it on the floor. He worked hard on that and he's got that middle jumper now where he penetrates, pulls (up) and hits it."