[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
Martin headed
for record
Phil Martin's Hawaii basketball career could be defined by the numbers he's posted over the past four seasons.
There's the 1,190 points and 591 rebounds he's amassed as a Rainbow Warrior and the 80 UH wins he's contributed to during his career.
Rice at Hawaii
When: Today, 3:05 p.m.Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE-TV
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Tickets: Lower Level, $15 (single seats only); Upper Level (adult) $11; Upper Level (student, UH) $5; Super Rooter $8. First 100 UH students with a valid ID through the turnstiles, Free. Parking: $3.
But Martin's lasting legacy may simply be his ability to take the floor every night for the Rainbows.
Martin has started Hawaii's last 96 games and can break the school record for most games played when Hawaii faces Rice in a WAC matchup today at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I never really thought about it," Martin said. "It's what I came here to do. I came here to play and fortunately I was able to start (his freshman year) and keep going."
Martin is wrapping up a five-year run with the Rainbows (18-8, 10-5), making him the senior member of an eclectic senior class that will make its final regular-season appearance at home in this afternoon's game with the Owls (20-7, 11-4).
UH's five-member class represents four countries and will be honored after the game. Joining Martin (Canada) in the festivities will be centers Haim Shimonovich (Israel) and Paul Jesinskis (South Africa) and guards Jason Carter and Michael Kuebler.
Martin said playing with teammates from diverse backgrounds has enriched his experience in the islands.
"That helps you grow a lot as a person," he said. "You have no choice but to accept and respect your teammates and their beliefs. ... It makes you more open-minded to experience different things and see life in a different way."
Martin redshirted his first year at UH. Since then he's started all but five games in his career and sat out just one. He is the first UH player to start all four years during Riley Wallace's 17-year tenure as head coach.
"He's probably the winningest player in Hawaii history," Wallace said. "Plus he's just a pleasant kid to be around and he's been steady for us."
Martin actually wasn't aware he was on the verge of breaking Phil Lott's mark of 120 games played until a friend pointed out the fact to him last week.
But the day before the Tulsa game, Martin had a premonition that something might derail his streak.
"I said to him, 'This is great and all, but with my luck I won't be able to play in this game,' " Martin said. "The next day came and I woke up and I just felt like it was a really bad day. It was raining and I was running kind of late, and lo and behold I twisted my ankle."
It looked like Martin's streak might be halted by the left ankle sprain, but he suited up and played the first five minutes of UH's 92-62 win over Tulsa on Friday.
He scored three points before going to the bench and did not return when the ankle stiffened up. He was back at practice yesterday and said the injury has improved greatly over the past two days.
"I woke up (yesterday) morning and it was feeling great. I was doing some jumping jacks in my room," Martin said. "I don't know if I'll be doing a crazy dunk for senior night, but maybe I can do a smooth layup."
Standing between Hawaii and a successful senior celebration is a Rice team that defeated San Jose State 61-55 on Friday to break the 20-win mark for the first time since the 1991-92 season.
The Owls defeated UH 76-73 on Jan. 28 and enter the game a full game ahead of Hawaii for second place in the conference and are riding a five-game winning streak.
Hawaii had its best shooting night of the season against the Owls, hitting 62.5 percent of its shots from the field. But Rice also made 16 steals in edging the Rainbows.
Junior forward Michael Harris leads the Owls in scoring (18 points per game) and rebounding (9.3 rpg) and is shooting 60 percent from the field. Guard Jason McKreith (16.4 ppg) complements Harris and hits 54 percent of his shots from the field.
They combined for 37 points on 15-of-21 shooting in the first meeting between the teams.
"Those guys have really been key for us, but I think the biggest key to our success has been everybody else," Rice coach Willis Wilson said. "We've had a lot of guys step up on different nights to give us some real quality play."
Probable starters
Notes: The first 3,000 fans through the gates receive a free team photo courtesy of UH Federal Credit Union. An autograph session at Gate B will follow the senior night ceremonies . ... Kuebler has scored in double figures in 20 consecutive games. ... Hawaii leads the series 12-4 and has won the last five meetings in Honolulu. ... McKreith is the top free-throw shooter in the WAC at 86 percent (114-for-132). ... Rice coach Willis Wilson (167-171) is in his 12th season. Hawaii's Riley Wallace is 280-224 is 17 seasons.
Rice (20-7, 11-4) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Rashid Smith (Sr.) 6-3 5.7 2.7 5.0 G Brock Gillespie (Jr.) 6-0 9.9 1.2 1.7 G Jason McKrieth (Jr.) 6-4 16.4 5.0 3.0 F Michael Harris (Jr.) 6-6 18.0 9.3 1.3 C Yamar Diene (Sr.) 6-9 8.2 5.1 0.8 Hawaii (18-8, 10-5) Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Logan Lee (So.) 6-1 4.0 1.8 3.6 G Michael Kuebler (Sr.) 6-4 18.7 3.4 1.6 F Julian Sensley (So.) 6-9 11.5 7.5 3.3 F Phil Martin (Sr.) 6-8 10.5 4.7 0.9 C Haim Shimonovich (Sr.) 6-11 7.1 6.8 1.9
