UH opens with veteran lineup

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

It might be just an exhibition game, but at least three newcomers on the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will be on exhibit tonight.

The Rainbow Warriors are scheduled to play the EA Sports West All-Stars at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

UH head coach Riley Wallace said he will start five returnees: Mike McIntyre and Predrag Savovic at guard, Carl English and Mindaugas Burneika at forward, and Haim Shimonovich at center.

"But that doesn't mean that's the starting lineup for the whole year," Wallace noted. "Those guys will start because they know what to do. The new guys are picking up the basics, and so they're going to be pushing for playing time."

In particular, newcomers Mark Campbell, Paul Jesinskis and Milos Zivanovic are expected to receive considerable minutes tonight.

Campbell, a 6-foot-4 junior transfer from Clackamas College (Ore.), will be the first guard off the bench. He averaged 14.5 points and 10.2 assists at Clackamas last season, and according to Wallace, has made the most progress so far among the recruits.

"There are a lot of glitches I still have to pick up on, but overall, I have a pretty good feel for this offense," Campbell said. "It'll be a total different atmosphere (tonight). You have to be able to perform in a real game setting, so I think this is a big game for us new guys."

Jesinskis and Zivanovic will provide relief at the low-post positions.

"I didn't quite know what to expect in Division I basketball," said Jesinskis, a 6-8 junior transfer from Skyline College (Calif.). "It's kind of hit me in the face these first few weeks of practice, but I like the challenge. This is a chance to show how much we've put together so far."

Zivanovic, a 6-11 true freshman out of Yugoslavia, said he has never played in front of a crowd larger than 2,000. He expects to break that personal record tonight.

"I won't be nervous, I'll be excited," he said.

Two other newcomers, Tony Akpan and Luc-Arthur Vebobe, will not be in uniform tonight. Akpan is recovering from a deep bruise on his left quadriceps. Vebobe is sitting out as a precautionary measure for an ongoing NCAA investigation into his past participation with professionals in France.

EA Sports, which is comprised of former college players, has played nine games in 11 days, including last night at UNLV. Earlier this week, Fresno State defeated EA Sports, 104-54.