'Bows in condition for important trip
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
UH coach Riley Wallace, with center Haim Shimonovich, put his team through a tough practice at Klum Gym yesterday.
Advertiser library photo March 15, 2001 |
The Rainbow Warriors depart today for what they hope becomes a history-making trip.
"If these guys were thinking too high of themselves, this will ground them real quick," UH head coach Riley Wallace said of practicing in dilapidated Klum.
Due to a scheduling conflict, the 'Bows were forced to practice in Klum for the first time in more than two years. A high school cheerleading contest was scheduled for the Stan Sheriff Center, and the UH volleyball teams were in the practice gyms.
"It doesn't matter to me," said UH senior tri-captain Mike McIntyre. "A basketball court is a basketball court."
That same kind of thinking has helped the 'Bows to a 7-3 record away from the Stan Sheriff Center this season, including 5-2 on the Western Athletic Conference road.
They will need similar success this week at either Nevada Thursday, or at Fresno State Saturday, if not both.
Hawai'i is 23-4 overall, and alone atop the WAC at 14-2. Two victories this week will give the 'Bows their first outright WAC regular-season championship. One victory will clinch at least a share of the WAC regular-season championship (which they also did in 1997).
Two losses will likely drop UH to second, although it would depend on Tulsa's outcome this week.
"It's not over," said Mindaugas Burneika, another senior tri-captain. "People talk about how big our last two wins at home were, but I think these two games are even more important."
Hawai'i has already defeated both Fresno State and Nevada in the Stan Sheriff Center this season, although those victories came two months ago.
On Dec. 27, UH beat Fresno State, 83-73; two nights later, the 'Bows routed Nevada, 58-40.
"I'm not worried about the pressure because these guys have shown they can handle it already," Wallace said. "If there's anything I'm concerned about, it's the conditioning because of the altitude."
Reno, Nev., is approximately 4,100 feet above sea level. "It is a factor," Wallace insists.
To be sure, Wallace put the 'Bows through a grueling practice yesterday, including several wind sprints at the end of the session. In addition to preparing his team for the altitude, Wallace said he also wanted to make up for today a travel day with no practice scheduled.
"We had to get a good, hard practice in because after this, we'll have just (tomorrow) to prepare for Nevada," Wallace said.
Regardless of the outcomes of this week's games, the 'Bows will stay on the Mainland for the WAC Tournament, which will be held March 6-9 at Tulsa, Okla.
If Hawai'i gets a spot in the NCAA Tournament the field will be announced March 10 the team will fly straight to its designated site from Tulsa. In effect, the 'Bows are planning for this trip to last at least one month.
"We believe in ourselves," Burneika said. "We feel like we can beat anybody right now. Even if we play Duke or Kansas, we feel like we can win ... or at least make it close."
Leading scorer Predrag Savovic added: "As much as I love the people of Hawai'i, I hope I don't see them again until April."
Poll watch: Hawai'i received 70 points, which was good for 29th in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll released yesterday.
It was the most points UH has received in the AP Poll all season. Last week, the 'Bows had just 13 points.