By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The twists and turns of the University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball team have spread to its ankles.
Four Rainbows — all starters at one time or another — were on the sidelines with ankle injuries yesterday as the team prepared for tonight’s home finale against Texas Christian. Tip-off for the Western Athletic Conference game is scheduled for 7:05 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Freshman forward Phil Martin (strained left ankle) and senior center Troy Ostler (slightly sprained left ankle) did not even practice. Junior guard Predrag Savovic "tweaked" his left ankle late in the practice, but was walking on it shortly after. Freshman point guard David Hilton practiced for a short spurt, but was clearly not yet recovered from the sprained right ankle he suffered two weeks ago.
Still, coach Riley Wallace did not appear concerned, saying: "I don’t think we’re injured right now. I think we’ll be all right."
Ostler and Savovic — the team’s leading scorers — are expected to start tonight. Martin is listed as doubtful, and Hilton will probably sit out his third consecutive game.
"We just have to keep positive," said junior guard Mike McIntyre, who will start in Hilton’s spot. "The one thing we know because of all the injuries we’ve had previously this year is that we have other guys who can step up."
The Rainbows will need all the reinforcements they can get against a TCU team that leads NCAA Division I with an average of 94.7 points per game. Last month, the Horned Frogs defeated Hawai‘i, 103-64, at Fort Worth, Texas.
"They kind of rubbed it in a little bit," McIntyre said. "They kept the (full-court) press on the whole game. I’ve never seen anything like that before in my life. I would hate to lose like that ever again."
Hawai‘i was also not at full strength then, as Ostler and McIntyre were nursing sprained ankles, and freshman center Haim Shimonovich was not yet eligible.
However, TCU is also a different team now. Two starters, guard Greedy Daniels and forward Myron Anthony, were dismissed from the team last week for violating team rules.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported yesterday that both players failed drug tests, though coach Billy Tubbs and other TCU officials have refused to comment on the situation.
In any case, the Horned Frogs won both games since the two players were dismissed, including a 102-88 victory over WAC leader Fresno State. TCU is 18-8 overall and in a tie for fourth place in the conference at 7-5.
"We’re a different team," said sophomore Bingo Merriex, who has averaged 26 points and 8.5 rebounds since replacing Anthony. "We lost a couple people, so we’ve come together more."
Added Tubbs: "They’re a different team and so are we. We’ve adjusted as well as we can. (The player dismissals) won’t be an excuse."
Despite a diminished rotation of eight scholarship players, Tubbs has continued to utilize the full-court pressure defense that wreaked havoc against the Rainbows a month ago.
"This time of year, you can’t change offenses and defenses," he said.
To be sure, the Rainbows have worked extensively on attacking trapping defenses this week. Although McIntyre and his back-up, freshman Carl English, are not true point guards, Wallace said his team is "better now than we were then" at handling defensive pressure.
The Rainbows are also better at home than they are on the road. Hawai‘i has won its last six games in the Stan Sheriff Center, and is 6-1 in WAC home games. In contrast, the Rainbows are 0-7 on the road, including 0-6 in the WAC. Hawai‘i, which is 12-12 overall, is in sixth place in the conference at 6-7.
"We’ve seen what a different team Hawai‘i is here, and what they did to some other teams here," Merriex said. "We had a good game against them at our home, but we know they’ll be different in their home."
NOTES: Hawai‘i seniors Todd Fields, Lane O’Connor, Troy Ostler and Nerijus Puida will play their final home game tonight. They will each take a final shot during a ceremony after the game. ... The entire team will stay on the court to sign autographs after the game. ... The University Avenue on-ramp to the eastbound H-1 Freeway will be closed after 9 tonight. Cars leaving the UH campus after tonight’s game should seek an alternative route to get on the freeway.
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