[ WARRIOR BASKETBALL ]
Disciplined Kuebler
has expanded comfort
zoneThe sharp-shooting Hawaii senior
is now efficient far from the basket
and home
Michael Kuebler's circle continues to expand.
As a fourth-grader growing up in Salem, Ore., Kuebler began putting up jump shots with his father at the local YMCA. Initially, the elder Kuebler drew a circle around the basket that marked the boundary of his shooting range.
Gradually, as his shooting skills developed, the circle would move farther away from the hoop until Kuebler was tossing in shots beyond the 3-point line with the ease of a layup.
Rainbow basketball
Who: Tulsa at HawaiiWhen: Today, 7:05 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; Upper Level (student, UH) $5; Super Rooter $8. First 100 UH students with a valid ID get in free.
Parking: $3
"When he was in the fourth grade, we might have had a 10-foot circle and he could hit 'em all over that 10," the elder Michael Kuebler recalled. "If you watch him today he's very focused on when he's in his target zone. ... He's very disciplined about it."
The discipline and repetition have led to Kuebler's emergence as the Hawaii basketball team's leading scorer this season and one of the top 3-point shooters in the Western Athletic Conference.
Kuebler is among five Hawaii seniors making their farewell appearances at the Stan Sheriff Center in this week's final regular-season homestand. The Rainbow Warriors face Tulsa tonight and celebrate Senior Night on Sunday afternoon against Rice.
Also playing their final regular-season games at home will be guard Jason Carter, forward Phil Martin and centers Haim Shimonovich and Paul Jesinskis.
Up to the point when he decided to enroll at UH, Kuebler's circle of influence did not extend much beyond his home in the Northwest. He was a standout at South Salem High School and played two seasons at Clackamas Community College in Oregon.
When he began looking to transfer to a four-year school, Hawaii initially didn't have a scholarship for Kuebler. But his friendship with former Hawaii guard Mark Campbell, a teammate at Clackamas, helped lure him to the islands, far from the familiarity of life in Salem.
"It's given me a different perspective on my life," Kuebler said. "When I was growing up I was thinking I was going to stay in Oregon. That's the place I was born and raised and where I was always going to be. Coming out here has really been such a great experience, it's opened my mind to possibilities."
Just as Kuebler's horizons have expanded in his two years at UH, so has his role with the Rainbows.
He was awarded a scholarship before last season but began the year on the bench. He worked his way into the starting five just three games into the season and finished second on the team in scoring with 12.2 points per game.
But his season was marked by distinct peaks and valleys. A 27-point outing against Louisiana Tech was followed by a zero vs. SMU. After hitting for 26 against Rice, he scored seven points in the next two games combined.
His quest for consistency as a senior included an offseason strength program and development of his all-around game.
Kuebler also moved from small forward to shooting guard this season and the result has been double-figure scoring in all but two games and an average of 18.6 points per game.
"He worked on his game in the offseason where he doesn't live and die with his jump shots," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "He can take it to the hole and create some things, too."
Still, Kuebler's ability to hit shots beyond the 3-point arc remains his trademark.
He tied a school record by hitting at least one 3-pointer in 19 consecutive games and has made a WAC-high 72 this season.
Kuebler's production helped fill the void left after Carl English decided to take his game to the professional ranks last year.
As Kuebler emerged as the Rainbows' top scorer, he also received greater attention from opposing defenses. As defenses keyed on him, Kuebler found it more difficult to find open shots in recent games.
"It's tough day in and day out," Kuebler said. "I have a lot more respect for the guys who do it. Being the guy who everyone keys on is definitely tough. You're not just going against your defender anymore, it's like you're going against the whole team."
Along with carrying the trend of sharp-shooting guards at UH, Kuebler is also maintaining another back-court tradition. Like Predrag Savovic and English before him, Kuebler has also received accolades for his work in the classroom.
Last week he was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII first-team, making him eligible for All-America consideration. Savovic and English were both Verizon Academic All-America third-team selections.
"We could have three in a row at the same position," Wallace said. "It's unbelievable."
Kuebler's ascent among the WAC's scoring leaders comes just a couple of years after not being highly sought after at Clackamas. But his father already knew better than to doubt his son's ability to master whatever circle he's in.
"I haven't been surprised about what he has done ever since his junior year of high school," Kuebler's father said. "He told me he was going to be the starting 2 guard for South Salem. There was no doubt in his mind and lo and behold if that's what didn't happen. ... I'm not surprised about anything anymore. The only thing that surprises me is when he doesn't hit his jump shots."
Durable Martin might miss
Hawaii forward Phil Martin suffered a sprained left ankle during the Rainbow Warriors' practice yesterday at Gym II. As of last night, his status for tonight's Western Athletic Conference game with Tulsa was in doubt.
tonight's gameMartin, a 6-foot-8 senior, has been among the most durable players in the history of the program. He has started Hawaii's last 95 games, the longest active streak in the WAC, and is one game away from tying the school record for games played. The next time he takes the floor he will match Phil Lott's mark of 120.
He hasn't missed a game since sitting out vs. TCU on Feb. 22, 2001, due to a sprained ankle.
Martin is among only three UH players to amass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career. He is averaging 10.8 points and 4.9 rebounds this season.
Star-Bulletin staff
