’Bows eye opener
vs. Michigan State

The Nov. 19 game against the Spartans
gives UH players motivation
to prepare for the season

When Julian Sensley needs a little motivation for his summer workouts, the Hawaii forward looks at the top line of the Rainbow Warrior basketball team's schedule for next season.

UH officially announced its 11-game nonconference schedule and the brackets for the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic yesterday, with the season opener against Michigan State on Nov. 19 highlighting the slate.

"We talk about that every day," Sensley said of the matchup with the Spartans. "That's something we're looking forward to."

Michigan State ended last season with a loss to eventual national champion North Carolina in the Final Four and opens the new campaign in Honolulu before playing in the EA Sports Maui Invitational the following week. Tip-off at the Stan Sheriff Center is set for 1:05 p.m.

"They're a Final Four team that possibly could have won the national championship, so it's a challenge," said UH associate coach Bob Nash, who is in charge of assembling the team's schedule.

"It's a test for our guys to get ready. ... We've got teams that have been in the tournament, so now we've got to prove at the end of the year that we're worthy of being one of the 65 teams."

The Spartans are one of three teams on UH's nonconference schedule that played in the NCAA Tournament last season. UH has a road game with Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Sweet 16 team, on Dec. 10, and hosts Ivy League champion Penn on Dec. 29.

"It's a balanced schedule. There's no down time," Nash said. "Once we start playing, every seven days we'll be playing a game. A couple of those times we're going to have to go on the road, but I think it helps us in the end."

The schedule also features a rare home-and-home series with UNLV. The schools have agreed to play a series for the next two seasons.

Nash said Oregon State and San Diego State expressed interest in a similar arrangement, but Las Vegas' allure to Hawaii residents and its large number of local transplants made UNLV a more attractive partner.

UH plays in Las Vegas on Nov. 22 and hosts the Runnin' Rebels at the Sheriff Center on Dec. 6.

"Vegas was just a natural for us," Nash said.

UH, winner of the last four Rainbow Classic championships, opens defense of its title against Loyola Marymount on Dec. 20. Colorado State and Western Michigan are also on UH's side of the bracket.

The other first-round games on Dec. 21 feature Northwestern State against Oregon State and Iowa State playing South Florida.

The Western Athletic Conference schedule has yet to be finalized. The WAC officially welcomed Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State to the nine-school league yesterday.

Summer plans: A part-time job, two summer school classes, and regular visits to the gym and weight room haven't left UH guard Bobby Nash with much down time this summer.

"It already has been busy, too busy," Nash said.

And things are about to pick up.

Nash was set to leave this week for Georgia, where he and Sensley will participate in a camp sponsored by adidas.

The camp, which opens Monday, will give the UH duo a chance to play with some of the nation's best returning players. Sensley said North Carolina's Raymond Felton, the fifth pick in Tuesday's NBA Draft, and Kansas' Aaron Miles were among the players who attended last year's camp.

Nash will spend a full month on the mainland, making stops in Florida and California following next week's camp.

Sensley and Nash are also playing in the College Summer League at Manoa District Park.

Nash said he's working on his passing and ballhandling entering his junior season.

This summer is also a critical time for Sensley, as he prepares for his final year of college ball.

"This is probably the hardest I've ever worked as far as trying to stay in shape and be ready for next season," Sensley said.

"I want to be a more consistent player and shooter. Last year I just had either the three or the post, so I've been working on my mid-range game."

Job hunting: Former UH guard Carl English was among 19 players who participated in a free-agent camp with the Milwaukee Bucks last weekend.

English has played in the National Basketball Development League the last two years after tryouts with the Indiana Pacers and Seattle SuperSonics didn't result in an NBA roster spot.

He earned All-NBDL honorable-mention honors last season when he averaged 14.2 points for the Florida Flame.

Bob Nash said guard Michael Kuebler left for Italy earlier this week to play in a tournament in hopes of landing a spot with a team in Europe.