Tulsa-Hawai'i game has big WAC title implications

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Let the hype begin.

Mindaugas Burneika is one of three Hawai'i seniors who will play his final home game this week. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

But this is also a championship week of sorts, as the Rainbow Warriors will play host to Tulsa in what could be considered the most significant game in the regular season of the Western Athletic Conference.

With only two weeks remaining in the WAC regular season, Hawai'i and Tulsa have clearly emerged as the top two teams in the conference.

After an emphatic 71-46 victory over San Jose State on Saturday, the 'Bows are 21-4 overall and 12-2 in the WAC. Tulsa, which beat Louisiana Tech, 72-63, on Saturday, is 22-4 overall and a half-game ahead of Hawai'i in first place in the WAC at 13-2.

Barring a late-season collapse, the winner of Thursday's game becomes the odds-on favorite to win the WAC regular-season championship. Each WAC team will play 18 regular-season conference games.

"It's a big one, no question," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "They were saying on the radio that the last home game we had equivalent to this was the Fresno State game (in the 1998 NIT) to go to Madison Square Garden."

Before a sellout crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center four years ago, the Anthony Carter-led 'Bows lost to Fresno State, 85-83, in the quarterfinals of the NIT. The Bulldogs went on to the NIT final four at New York. It was the last time the 'Bows played in front of a capacity crowd.

"That one meant a lot because we could have gone to Madison Square Garden," Wallace said. "But this one means a lot because we can be back in first place."

Wallace was quick to caution that the 'Bows have three WAC games remaining after Thursday.

On Saturday, Hawai'i will play host to Rice in the final home game of the season. Next week, the 'Bows will play road games at Nevada and Fresno State.

"There's a long way to go and there's a lot of scenarios," Wallace said. "But things will start falling into place for us if we can keep it going."

Indeed, the 'Bows already own a victory over Tulsa this season, and another one on Thursday would give UH the tie-breaking advantage should the two teams finish with identical records at the end of the regular season.

On Jan. 26, Hawai'i defeated the Golden Hurricane, 90-82, before a sellout crowd at the Donald W. Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. Since then, Tulsa has won seven consecutive games.

"They'll be ready for us, we'll be ready for them," said UH sophomore Carl English, who scored a season-high 23 points in Saturday's victory over San Jose State.

• Poll watch: Hawai'i lost one point, but climbed one spot in the latest USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll released yesterday.

The 'Bows received 31 points — one fewer than last week — but still moved up one place to 29th. It is the closest UH has been to breaking into the top 25 of the coaches poll this season.

Tulsa received 14 points, and is three spots behind Hawai'i in the "others receiving votes" list.

The Associated Press Top 25 will be released today.

In the latest Rating Percentage Index (RPI) released yesterday, Hawai'i remained at No. 44, same as it was before its victory over San Jose State. Tulsa is No. 28.

• Chasing 3s: After making nine 3-pointers in the victory over San Jose State, Hawai'i is just seven away from establishing a school record.

The 'Bows have made 170 3-pointers this season, an average of 6.8 per game. Last season's UH team holds the record with 177 3-pointers.

Predrag Savovic has 53 of the team's 3-pointers this season, and is five away from becoming the all-time leader in that category. In three seasons, Savovic has 156. Alika Smith (1995-98) holds the UH record with 161.

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