Vulcans view basketball game against Rainbows as an opportunity

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tonight's basketball game between Hawai'i and Hawai'i-Hilo will be considered an exhibition by everybody but the participants.

"Any chance to play the 'Bows is more than an exhibition game to us," said UHH junior Ryan Hogue. "If we can beat them, the whole state will notice that we have a team, too."

Indeed, this is a showcase between big brother and little brother.

Technically, both teams are part of the University of Hawai'i system. But based on athletic budgets, physical size of the players and media exposure, the programs are, indeed, islands apart.

The Rainbow Warriors have participated in the last two NCAA Championship Tournaments, and normally play before more than 6,000 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We get all the publicity and all the money," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "That alone should fire (UHH) up. We know they're going to come in here and treat this like a big game. We just have to be ready for it."

The Vulcans are a financially challenged NCAA Division II program and have not participated in the postseason since 1994. They play their home games in Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, where a crowd of 1,000 is considered a success.

"Even a lot of people on the Big Island cheer for the 'Bows as their team," Hogue said. "We want people to claim the Vulcans as their team and have pride in UH-Hilo as well."

Hogue, a Kalaheo High graduate, is one of five players from Hawai'i high schools on the UHH roster.

Kyle Bartholomew, a senior forward out of Waiakea High, said: "I grew up my whole life watching (UH) play on TV. I think most of the local kids who grow up playing basketball dream of playing over there, but not everybody can. This is just a chance for some of us to show that local kids can play, too, even if it's on the D-II level."

In truth, the odds of a UHH upset tonight are small, mainly because the Vulcans are smaller than the 'Bows.

Hogue, at 6 feet 6 and 225 pounds, is the Vulcans' starting center. Tonight, he will go up against UH's Haim Shimonovich, who is 6-10 and 265 pounds.

"You don't have to be tall to be a good post player" Shimonovich said. "We respect them and we're taking the game serious. We know if we lose, it'll be embarrassing."

Bartholomew, at 6-4 and 200 pounds, is UHH's power forward. Hawai'i's shortest starter is 6-4 point guard Mark Campbell.

"We try to make up gaps in the size difference with our speed," UHH head coach Jeff Law said. "And we have to shoot well to even be competitive."

Law was an assistant coach for Wallace at UH for eight seasons before accepting the UHH job in 1998. He said he still recognizes many of the UH plays, but added "stopping it is another thing."

What's more, tonight will be UHH's seventh game in 11 days.

"We're a little ragged and tired," Law said. "But I guarantee when the lights go on and the crowd shows up, we won't be tired anymore."

• Lineup shakeup: Hawai'i junior forward Phil Martin is being suspended by Wallace for tonight's game because of a "violation of team study hall policy."

Martin is a third-year starter at power forward. He averaged 11.5 points per game in UH's first two victories this season.

Sophomore Tony Akpan will make the first start of his UH career tonight in Martin's place.

Also, junior guard Carl English has a bruised left knee, but he said it should not affect his play. He is still projected to start, although Wallace said he may limit English's minutes as a precaution.

For the Vulcans, junior forward Osadonor Esene is expected to make his first start as a Vulcan tonight. He will take the place of senior Derek Mgbeke, who stayed in Hilo to take care of academic deficiencies, according to Law.

Mgbeke started UHH's first seven games, averaging 10.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.

• Late adjustment: There is a reason why the 'Bows and Vulcans are playing an exhibition game tonight even though the regular season has already started for both teams.

The original date for the game was Nov. 11, but it was pushed back at the request of Wallace. Under the original schedule, UH would have had 20 days between games on Nov. 24 and Dec. 14.

"We needed this game at this time just to get back in game shape," Wallace said. "I didn't like the situation of going on the road (at San Diego State Saturday) without getting in any game time for three weeks."

The 'Bows are 2-0 this season. The Vulcans are 5-2, and have won their last three games.

• More UH ties: Alika Smith, a star shooting guard for Hawai'i from 1994-97, is in his second season as an assistant coach for the Vulcans.

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