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Coach Riley Wallace begins his 18th
campaign with the same fire he had
when he took over in 1987
TONIGHT'S TIPOFF
UH vs. Miss. Valley State
When: 7:05 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5) Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM Internet: HawaiiAthletics.com Tickets: $17 (lower level-single seats only); $13 (upper level-adult); $5 (upper level-students); $3 (upper level-UH students); $5 (Super Rooter/Manoa Maniacs). Parking: $3.
For the record
Coach Riley Wallace's record as head basketball coach at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii Basketball Preview |
The Star-Bulletin's Kalani Simpson and Jason Kaneshiro sat down with Wallace to discuss his career, expectations for the program, recruiting and winning on the road.
Question: How are you feeling, being in the same place for 18 years now? Do you ever stop to reflect on that?
Answer: You think about how hard it was when you look at this up here (points to the picture of the 1987-88 team, his first as head coach) when they couldn't even stand up straight and we won four games, to where now if you have a 10-win year it's really a disaster. Your expectations get high for yourself, not just the fans.
Q: Do other coaches from around the country talk to you and say, "Do you like being in one place? How do you stay that long?"
A: The thing they talk more about is they understand how amazing what we've done in Hawaii is, because we're so far away from everything and to have to recruit your base from the mainland. We probably get more credit there than we do here for what we've done. The big thing with that is the stability of the staff, (Jackson) Wheeler 15 years, (Bob) Nash 18 years. It makes a big difference.
Q: Are you recruiting as many international guys?
A: They changed that rule so now it's going to be a lot different. We've got an international kid coming, but he's through the junior college system, just like (current UH player Vaidotas Peciukas) was. (Predrag Savovic) was a transfer.
The international kid, the mental part is very good because they're into academics and their game is different. And it fits what we're doing where they move well without the ball, they all can shoot the ball and they've got a good feel for basketball. It was a good run with them and the more we can keep that going, we will. But it's not a priority that we're going to recruit that way.
I'd say more of a priority would be to look to the Northwest, a highly under-recruited area. We got Michael Kuebler, first-team academic All-American and all-conference, and nobody really recruited him. And Chris Botez looks like he's going to be a steal. I like what I see early from him, the size and effort he gives you and he does things you want big men to do.
Every year you worry about (recruiting), right now I'm worrying about how I want to keep this thing going. You'd love to have a 20-plus win season again, you'd love to win the WAC and WAC tournament, get to the NCAA and advance, that's what your goal is. ... Because we've got the majority of them back next year, a good recruiting class to add to them could be building to a great year next year. Good's not bad. Great's good.
Q: After 17 years, is the motivation and fire the same as it was when you came here?
A: If that cough's there you don't have to ask that question. I started coughing last week, that's as early as it's been in a while. It usually waits until the Rainbow (Classic), but I started hacking last week, which tells me there's some unknowns out there and you're having to pound them and get after it.
Everybody thinks you've mellowed. I don't think mellow is a good word for me. I think by having Wheeler and Nash here for as long as they've been, they now have responsibilities that I can turn over to them. I did everything in the beginning ... because it was my show and I was going to do it that way. Now they're more involved, they have experiences, and they all teach.
Q: You had five new players last year, five more new guys this year. Is it taking you longer to get a feel for this team?
A: Yeah it has. I was pleased with the intensity and the way they fired up, especially in the second half against Hilo. They played us hard in that first half, but our guys stayed in there and worked. I saw a lot of good stuff there.
These first two games we need to win because they're going to be learning experiences for these guys. Because (Mississippi Valley State and Coastal Carolina) won't be bad by any means. But they're teams that, if we're going to be where we're talking about, we need to beat at home. Then you've got Southern Illinois, they're the No. 2-ranked mid-major in the country.
Then you've got Saint Louis and see where you are on the road. ... Then you come back and you've got St. Mary's, who's very good. That'll be a real test before the Rainbow Classic. I think the schedule's right for us to build to. I just hope we win enough games early on to where when you get in the league it can carry you.
Riley Wallace's team, which includes five new players, opens its season tonight against Mississippi Valley State.
A: That Savo team (2001-02) was one of the best teams we've had on the road. You look at the talent that was on that team, they really played hard, they executed, they played well together and they had a mental attitude that they were better, and they were cocky. ... The road can bring you down mentally, and you let the negative creep in. Those guys thought they were as good or better than anybody out there and they were talented.
Q: When you look at yourself now as opposed to '87 when you got here from Seminole (Junior College), do you see yourself as a much different coach?
A: I don't even know how I made it. The green coach with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and ideas.
Back then I felt like I had a lot to prove and a lot inside that was never allowed to get out because you were an assistant all those years. So I jumped on, it was my show and that's the way it's going to be. At that time I think the program needed that. It needed the toughness and the discipline. You talk to guys (from back) then and they see it now, that's why they say you're mellow because we did some crazy things in those days.
It's gotten to where you get players that fit your system, your system has grown from basic stuff to much more expanded stuff and obviously your knowledge has grown because of the experiences you get.
Q: And now you're looking at a two-year extension on your contract.
A: I think it'll get taken care of, but if it doesn't I still have something left. I could move on or I could retire, but I'm not planning on either one. I plan on having a good season and them (the administration) working it out. I have an agent, let them do it and try to get it done by January.
Q: Assuming you get the two years, do you look beyond that?
A: Five years ago, five years seemed like a long time. Now three of it's gone and you're looking at two and it looks like a short time, because you have energy right now.
The tough part's over, all the practices, now you start playing games. That's the fun time. ... It starts moving pretty fast now.
There's no feeling I've ever had in sports better in my life than to walk into the Stan Sheriff Center and there's 10,000 people in there screaming. ... Because if I feel it, think what those kids are feeling. That's what they came here for.
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