Untimely defeats seem to keep 'Bows out of polls
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
RUSTON, La. — A 20-4 record, a split on the road against two winning teams, and still in first place in the Western Athletic Conference.
The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team still believes that is worthy enough of a top 25 national ranking.
"The problem is, twice now we've been right on the edge, ready to go in (to the top 25) and that's the game we lose," UH head coach Riley Wallace said after a 61-57 loss to Louisiana Tech yesterday.
When the 'Bows were 15-2 and on the verge of breaking into the national rankings, they lost to San Jose State. Last week, UH was 29th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, and 32nd in the Associated Press Top 25.
A split of WAC road games this week — Hawai'i beat SMU, 85-76, in Dallas Thursday — puts the climb into the polls in jeopardy again.
Louisiana Tech head coach Keith Richard, who does not have a vote in the coaches' poll, believes Hawai'i should get in even despite yesterday's loss.
"That's the best team that we've played against in my four years as head coach as far as them playing like an actual team," Richard said. "How they are not a top 25 team, I don't know."
Some of it may have to do with the perceived "down year" for the WAC. Traditional powers Fresno State and Texas-El Paso have struggled. Tulsa, however, is also 20-4 and still in search of breaking into the polls.
"We still feel good about ourselves, and we definitely feel like we're a top 25 team," said UH sophomore forward Phil Martin. "We just have to come out and prove it again next game."
The coaches poll will be released today; the AP poll tomorrow.
• Splitting hairs: Perhaps in any of Wallace's previous 14 seasons as head coach at UH, a split of WAC road games would have been more than acceptable.
Not so this year.
"Every year up to now," Wallace said. "If somebody told me I was going to SMU and Louisiana Tech and get a split, I'd kiss them. But this is a different team. We've shown we can win on the road, and we really wanted the sweep."
The 'Bows are still 5-2 on the WAC road this season and have already tied the school record for most conference road victories in a season.
"We can't come on the road, split, and be happy any more," sophomore Carl English said. "This team has a different mentality. We want to win everything."
• Late start: Yesterday's game started about 30 minutes later than scheduled because it followed a women's game between Louisiana Tech and San Jose State.
On Thursday at SMU, the 'Bows were also delayed by about 40 minutes because of a preceding women's game. Wallace did not blame the late start for yesterday's loss, but said: "That's a league matter that has to be taken care of.
"There are other days in the week," he added. "They need to have better planning so you're not sitting in your locker room an extra half-hour when you're ready to go."
• Out of town: Only 3,643 fans attended yesterday's Louisiana Tech women's-men's basketball doubleheader at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Many students left for the weekend because of the upcoming Mardi Gras celebration. Louisiana Tech will not hold classes tomorrow through Wednesday because of the Mardi Gras, so yesterday was the start of a five-day weekend.
• Coming home: Hawai'i will return to Honolulu tonight after seven days on the road. The 'Bows are next scheduled to play San Jose State Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
