Favorites Fresno State, UH open WAC season tonight

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Equivalent to a heavyweight championship bout taking place before the preliminaries, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will play Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference opener tonight.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Fresno State and Hawai'i were predicted to finish first and second, respectively, by the conference coaches.

"You have to play everybody anyway, why not open with them?" UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "We've got some confidence right now, and our guys will get fired up to play Fresno State no matter when it is."

The 'Bows won three games in four nights last week to earn the championship of the Rainbow Classic. After a 54-44 victory over Georgia in the title game, UH climbed more than 60 spots to No. 78 in the Rating Percentage Index. The 9-2 'Bows even received one vote in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.

Fresno State was ranked as high as No. 21 in the AP Poll, but has lost three of its last four games to drop its record to 8-4. Still, the Bulldogs are No. 52 in the RPI.

Las Vegas casinos are listing the game as a "Pick 'em," meaning the neither team is favored.

Here are some of the intriguing game matchups:

• "Amoeba" defense vs. "Flex" offense: Fresno State's unorthodox defense has limited opponents to a .382 field goal percentage.

"It's basically a good zone that rotates to the ball no matter where it is," Wallace said. "It's designed to contest every shot."

Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian said "it's not a big thing," and does not plan to stay in the "Amoeba" zone for 40 minutes.

Hawai'i's "Flex" motion offense relies on precise cuts and timely passing.

"We have to be patient and attack it," Wallace said. "And we'll have to hit perimeter shots with a hand in your face."

• "Man" defense vs. "High-low post" offense: Hawai'i's defensive philosophy is simple — in-your-face, man-to-man — yet effective.

The 'Bows rank first among WAC teams in points allowed (58.2 per game) and opponents' field-goal percentage (.381).

Fresno State's offense is also basic, with the emphasis on the post players. The Bulldogs basically force defenses to pick a poison — single-cover the post and get beat by athletic big men, or double-cover the post and leave the sharpshooters open.

• Melvin Ely vs. the NCAA: Fresno State officials are scheduled to meet with the NCAA today to appeal Ely's six-game suspension for allegedly receiving improper benefits. If the appeal is approved, the 6-foot-10 Ely — last season's WAC Player of the Year — will start.

• Predrag Savovic vs. Chris Jefferies: Both players were first-team All-WAC selections last season. When the teams play man-to-man defense, they will likely match-up against each other.

"I think Savovic is one of the best wing players in the country," Tarkanian said. "He'll have our attention."

• Haim Shimonovich vs. the big 'Dogs: At 6-10, Shimonovich is the only true center on UH's roster. He practiced at full strength yesterday after sitting out Tuesday's practice with a sore back. Even if Ely doesn't play, the Bulldogs have three 6-9 post players in their rotation.

• Tarkanian vs. Wallace: "Tark the Shark" has 767 career victories, which ranks sixth all-time.

Wallace is 4-11 against Fresno State since Tarkanian took over in 1995. However, UH handed Fresno State two of its seven losses last season.

• Bulldogs vs. the crowd: Fresno State is as close to a rival as UH has in basketball, and the largest crowd of the season is expected tonight.