Posted on: Thursday, March 15, 2001
UH practices simulate late game time
| • | 'Bows carry superstitions to the dining table |
| • | How these Rainbows blended into one |
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
|
| UH coach Riley Wallace makes a point to Predrag Savovic, far left, and other during last night's workout.
Krissanne Johnson • Special to The Honolulu Advertiser |
DAYTON, Ohio — The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is holding a postseason version of Midnight Ohana this week.
In preparation for tomorrow's NCAA Tournament game against Syracuse, the Rainbows have been practicing late at night at the Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University. Hawai'i and Syracuse are scheduled to play a first-round game in the Midwest Regional around 10 p.m. at the University of Dayton Arena.
In an effort to simulate game-time conditions, the Rainbows have been scheduling their practices from 9-11 p.m. (Ohio is in the Eastern time zone, five hours ahead of Hawai'i).
"I don't like it because I usually don't like to go to bed no later than 10:30," coach Riley Wallace said. "But you gotta do what you gotta do."
The Rainbows will practice at 8 tonight, but only because that was the only time available at the University of Dayton Arena.
"We gotta get ready to play that night game, so it's a good strategy," senior co-captain Troy Ostler said. "We won't be in shock when we actually play at 10 o'clock Friday."
To be sure, the team appears to have adjusted to the time zone and Ohio climate, and Wallace called last night's practice the best of the week so far.
"I think they're over the excitement stuff and ready to go to work," Wallace said. "It was a very aggressive practice and everybody was into it, so I think that's a good sign."
Starting forward Nerijus Puida suffered a bruised shin during last night's practice. It was not expected to have any effect on his playing status, although trainer Jayson Goo iced and wrapped it as a precaution.
"It's minor," Puida said. "Jayson just taped it up for show."
For the last three nights, the Rainbows have worked primarily on solving Syracuse's vaunted two-three zone defense. Wallace is especially concerned with the Orangemen's overall quickness.
"They get out on you pretty quick, and I don't know if we can really show that in practice with our scout team," he said. "But it's just like any other game. When it's game time, you have to step it up."
The only problem with such late-night practices has been getting the players to sleep at a decent hour. Last night, for example, the team did not arrive back at the hotel until 11:30. They had a light snack ready for them in the dining room, and then they were expected to head to their rooms for lights out.
"It's hard to sleep because we just came back from practice," Puida said. "I'm not sleeping until 1 or 1:30 in the morning because it takes me a while to relax after practice."
But late practices also means late mornings, and Wallace is allowing the players to sleep in this week with wake-up calls at 9 a.m.
"I actually like the schedule," Ostler said. "We're getting enough sleep, we're doing stuff during the day, and we're having good practices at night. All we have to do now is carry it into the game."
