UH looks to avenge loss to San Jose St.
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is looking to keep pace and save face tonight.
The Rainbow Warriors will play host to San Jose State in a Western Athletic Conference game at the Stan Sheriff Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
The 'Bows need a win just to keep pace with Tulsa atop the WAC standings. They also need a win to save face after losing to the lowly Spartans earlier this season.
One month ago, the Spartans upset Hawai'i, 57-53, in San Jose, Calif. Even now, the 'Bows have a hard time explaining it.
"It was like a slap in the face," said UH sophomore forward Phil Martin. "It was one of those losses that was hard to take because of where we are and where they are."
Indeed, the 'Bows were in first place in the WAC prior to the loss to the Spartans; SJSU was in last.
Little has changed in a month. Hawai'i is having one of its best seasons ever at 20-4 overall and 11-2 in the WAC. Entering today's WAC games (every team is scheduled to play today), the 'Bows were a half-game behind first-place Tulsa. San Jose State is 8-17 overall and 3-10 in the WAC. The Spartans are a half-game out of last place.
"I wouldn't say revenge, but we do want to redeem ourselves for that loss," UH center Haim Shimonovich said. "That game taught us that we cannot just show up and win against anybody in this league."
UH head coach Riley Wallace said he has not used revenge as a motivating factor this week. He is more concerned about an athletic SJSU team that has traditionally played the 'Bows tight.
The 'Bows and Spartans have played two overtime games in their past two meetings at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"They do some things that cause us problems," Wallace said. "They play good, tough defense. And then offensively, they know how to create off the dribble with their quickness.
"There are just some teams out there that you don't match up well with. (San Jose State ) seems to be that for us."
The Spartan post players are of particular concern. David Granucci, a 6-foot-9 senior, and Marion Thurmond, a 6-8 senior, combined for 26 points and 18 rebounds in the victory over UH. Granucci was named the WAC Player of the Week that week after recording 17 points and seven rebounds against the 'Bows.
"I just took advantage of my opportunities," said Granucci, who averages just 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. "My role is not to score 20 points. My role is to rebound and play defense."
In an effort to inspire his own post players, Wallace was especially hard on Shimonovich and Martin in practices this week.
"They're going to have to step it up for us to win," Wallace said. "We'll need them to play big on both ends of the floor."
Because they are travel partners in the WAC, the Spartans and 'Bows did not have to play Thursday games this week.
San Jose State arrived in Honolulu on Wednesday night. Head coach Steve Barnes allowed his team to be tourists on Thursday. The Spartans visited Pearl Harbor and then spent a few hours walking around Waikiki.
By yesterday, the fun was over. The Spartans scheduled two practices yesterday — one in the morning, and then one at night — a rarity for teams in the middle of a conference season.
"I explained to our guys that (Thursday) was fun, but after that this trip was all business," Barnes said.
While the 'Bows are seeking redemption, the Spartans are merely seeking a road win. SJSU is 0-6 on the WAC road this season, including an 84-55 loss at Southern Methodist on Saturday.
"There's a sense of urgency," Thurmond said. "We know we're a way better team than our record."
Hawai'i is already aware of that. Still, the 'Bows would like nothing better than to prove that there is a sense of normalcy in the WAC standings.
"When you look back, there's no way we should have lost that game," said UH point guard Mark Campbell, who had a fever this week, but should be ready to start tonight. "We can't get it back, but we'd love to make them pay for beating us."
