Rainbows becoming road savvy
| • | Coaches' Top 25 |
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Make no mistake, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team loves to stay — and play — in Honolulu.
Associated Press
But in an effort to make no mistakes, the Rainbow Warriors would like to spend as much time as possible on the road this week.
UH coach Riley Wallace said he believes leaving a day earlier on road trips will help his team.
"It seems like the longer we're on the road, the better we play," UH head coach Riley Wallace said.
The theory will be put to the test when the 'Bows leave today for games at Southern Methodist on Thursday and then at Louisiana Tech on Saturday.
After a 75-60 home victory over Texas-El Paso on Saturday, Hawai'i is 19-3 overall and alone in first place in the Western Athletic Conference at 10-1. It is UH's best start ever in WAC play.
The historic start includes a 4-1 record on the WAC road this season, including a crucial 90-82 victory at Tulsa on Jan. 26.
"We have to go into SMU like we did against Tulsa," sophomore Carl English said. "We got the confidence going, we got the scorers, we just have to step it up and play like we're at home."
The 'Bows are 13-1 in the Stan Sheriff Center this season. But unlike previous UH teams, this season's 'Bows have learned how to pack confidence on their road trips.
"We don't fear the road anymore," said UH sophomore forward Phil Martin. "It's definitely different from last year. We were close last year, but we're even closer this year, and that's making all the difference."
 |
Still, Wallace has been dreading this week's trip since the start of the season.
In addition to being lengthy — the 'Bows are scheduled to leave Honolulu at 8 a.m. this morning, and arrive in Dallas at 11:35 p.m. (central time) tonight — the trip features two of the WAC's most talented teams.
Louisiana Tech is in third place in the conference at 7-3 (13-7 overall). SMU is a game behind that at 6-4 (11-9 overall). The Bulldogs are coming off a 70-66 victory at SMU on Saturday.
Hawai'i already owns home victories over both teams.
By leaving today, the 'Bows are hoping to become accustomed to the weather and time-zone change before Thursday.
"We miss some school, but that's the only part that hurts us," Martin said. "We get our rest and get on the right schedule as far as adjusting to wherever it is we're going."
In past years, the 'Bows would leave on Tuesday afternoon for a Thursday road game.
"I like the extra day to recover and get ready," Wallace said of a Monday departure instead of Tuesday. "It gives us two full days of practice before (Thursday's) game, and we get a little more used to the gym."
Similar itineraries have already been successful this season. Still, Wallace describes this week's trip as "the toughest test in the WAC."
"You don't ever want to leave home because we haven't lost a WAC game at home," Wallace said. "But to prove you're the real deal, you have to go to places like Louisiana Tech and SMU."
• Hawaii 5-0: Hawai'i is No. 50 in the latest Rating Percentage Index. The RPI has been used by the NCAA since 1981 to supplement the selection of at-large teams and the seeding of all teams for the 65-team NCAA basketball tournament. The index takes into account a team's Division I winning percentage, schedule strength and opponent's schedule strength.
The Rainbow Warriors continued to move up the USA Today/ESPN men's top 25 coaches poll, which was released yesterday.
Hawai'i is No. 29 with 41 votes. Last week, UH was No. 30 with 35 votes. The AP media poll will be released today.
