[ WARRIOR BASKETBALL ]
Wallace hopes
kin witness a
UH winBut UH will have its hands
full with a team that has won
37 of its last 38 home games
When Hawaii's matchup with Southern Illinois for ESPN Bracket Busters Saturday was announced earlier this month, Jake Sottos was among the few Rainbow Warrior players who had any idea how to get to Carbondale, Ill.
"I was excited because it's not that far from my house and a bunch of friends are there and it's an easy drive for a bunch of people to come down," said Sottos, who grew up in Monmouth, Ill.
UH at No. 20 S. Illinois
When: Today, 7 p.m.Where: SIU Arena
TV: Live, ESPN
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.hawaii.edu
The "easy drive" by Midwest standards amounts to a five-hour trek for the 30-40 friends and family members who will be in the crowd for tonight's game with the Salukis. Hawaii coach Riley Wallace, who hails from Jerseyville, Ill., figures to have 40 to 50 family members in attendance.
But catching up with kin will have to wait as Hawaii faces No. 20 Southern Illinois in the nationally televised finale to ESPN's second Bracket Buster Saturday at SIU Arena.
"It's nice to see family, but we have a mission to do," Wallace said.
Hawaii will try to pick up its second win in the event highlighting "mid-major" programs. The Rainbows (17-6) won at Kent State in last year's inaugural Bracket Buster Saturday.
After losing a Western Athletic Conference game at Boise State on Wednesday, the Rainbows flew from Idaho to San Francisco before going on to St. Louis. A three-hour bus ride later, the team arrived in Carbondale at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
To avoid losing consecutive games for the first time this season, the Rainbows will have to beat a Southern Illinois team that is 37-1 at SIU Arena dating back to the 2001-02 season. A 64-59 loss to Charlotte on Jan. 2 snapped SIU's 31-game home winning streak.
Tonight's game has been dubbed "Saluki Maroon Out" night in which fans are encouraged to wear maroon tops. While the green-clad UH supporters figure to be vastly outnumbered, Wallace said the big-game atmosphere could benefit his team.
"I think it helps. Everybody gets ready when you have a crowd," Wallace said. "Last year at Kent State they were ready for us when we got there and it made for a good game. You don't have to worry about getting your team up."
Southern Illinois has been to the NCAA Tournament the last two years and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2002. Even so, this season ranks among the program's best.
The Salukis (21-2) have already clinched their third straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title at 15-0. They enter the game with a 13-game winning streak, SIU's longest since the 1966-67 season. When SIU broke into the Associated Press Top 25 on Feb. 9, it was the school's first appearance since 1976.
SIU is ranked 20th in this week's AP poll and 21st in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll.
Southern Illinois junior Darren Brooks, the MVC's top scorer with 16.6 points per game, leads the Salukis' three-guard attack. Brooks also tops the Salukis in rebounding (6.3 rpg), assists (66) and steals (50). Guard Stetson Hairston is second on the team with 9.7 ppg.
The game is a break from the conference grind for both teams and represents a chance to earn points with the NCAA Tournament's selection committee. While SIU's RPI is 24th in the country, Hawaii has slipped to 54 after splitting its last four games to fall into a tie for second place in the WAC.
"Their RPI's good, their ranking's good and there will be national TV. So if you win, you can put yourself back in the hunt," Wallace said.
Hawaii will again be without center Haim Shimonovich, who will miss his second game with a sprained knee. Without Shimonovich's defensive presence in the post, Boise State scored 40 points in the paint in its 74-57 win on Wednesday.
Forward Jeff Blackett had 10 points and seven rebounds in his first start of the season.
"It makes a big difference defensively, especially, and it makes a big difference that you're not bringing in the lift off the bench," Wallace said. "Blackett always comes in and gives you some scoring when you need it."
A fast start could be the key to Hawaii's upset hopes. The Rainbows have had trouble from the field in the first half of their last five games, shooting 33 percent.
Wallace said defenses have clamped down on guard Michael Kuebler (18.6 ppg) and the Rainbows will need a big game from forward Julian Sensley to help open up Kuebler. He'll also give reserve guard Vaidotas Peciukas a look after the junior scored a career-high 14 points against Boise State.
"We have to shoot the ball, there's no question, we've been struggling with that," Wallace said. "When they shut Kuebler down then it's been a big problem for us."
Notes: Shimonovich will meet the team in El Paso on Sunday and is set to be back on the court for Monday's game with WAC leader UTEP. ... Hawaii is 2-0 against SIU. The teams last met in Honolulu in 1997 with UH winning 80-66. ... UH is 15-92 against nationally ranked teams. ... Kuebler was named to the Academic All-District VIII basketball team yesterday. The UH guard has a 3.67 grade-point average in business administration. Joining him on the team are seniors Blake Stepp of Gonzaga and Amit Tamir of California, junior Lance Allred of Weber State and sophomore Kelly Golob of Northern Arizona.
