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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 28, 2002

'Bows hope to hit jackpot

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

RENO, Nev. — Even while surrounded by legal gambling, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team isn't about to take any chances this week.

WAC basketball: Hawai'i at Nevada

• When: 4:45 p.m.

• Station: 1420-AM

"I don't want to catch any of you in the casinos," UH head coach Riley Wallace instructed his team yesterday.

That's not exactly an easy task considering the Rainbow Warriors are staying at a Harrah's Casino Hotel. But while the Megabucks slot machines are offering $15 million, the Rainbow Warriors are focused on their own jackpot — the Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship.

The 'Bows will play Nevada today at the Lawlor Events Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Hawai'i time.

Hawai'i is 23-4 overall and 14-2 in the WAC. A victory tonight would clinch the No. 1 seed for the 'Bows in next week's WAC Tournament at Tulsa, Okla. Hawai'i has never earned the top seed in 18 years of the WAC Tournament.

The No. 1 WAC seed has advanced to the NCAA Tournament, either by winning the tournament or by receiving an at-large bid, in 17 of those 18 years.

"We all understand how important this game is," said senior tri-captain Mindaugas Burneika. "We just have to treat this like any other city on the road."

Indeed, the 'Bows are already 5-2 on the WAC road this season.

"We've had a great season to this point and I don't think these guys are going to let up now," Wallace said. "We've already shown we can win on the road, and these are not the kind of guys who get distracted."

Burneika, who is from Lithuania, perhaps epitomized that best by saying: "I never gambled in my life. I don't know how so many people can do that. There's a bigger chance to lose money than make money."

Still, in somewhat of a gambling theme, Wallace installed his version of a no-pass, no-play rule during yesterday's practice.

In an effort to make the 'Bows more patient on offense, Wallace eliminated one-on-one drives to the basket. Each offensive possession required at least three or four passes before a shot could be considered.

"It's because we've been getting away from our offense lately," Wallace said. "We're shooting off the first pass, which is not what we want to do. We can't afford to get into that kind of game with Nevada."

Wallace is particularly concerned with two factors — Nevada's quickness and the effects of altitude.

The Wolf Pack backcourt of Terrance Green and Garry Hill-Thomas is particularly adept at driving past defenders. They lead the team with 16.3 and 16.2 points per game, respectively.

"Quick guards have always given us problems," Wallace said. "We have to somehow contain them."

Freshman forward Kirk Snyder has also blossomed into a capable scorer with 13.7 points per game, and senior forward Corey Jackson leads the WAC and ranks sixth in the nation with 11.0 rebounds per game.

Nevada ranks second in the WAC in scoring with 73.8 points per game. Hawai'i ranks first in the conference in defense, allowing 61.9 points per game.

Two months ago, the 'Bows won that battle with a 58-40 victory over the Wolf Pack in the Stan Sheriff Center. It was the lowest point total scored by a Nevada team in 25 years, and the lowest total allowed by a UH team in 20 years.

"We're not going to hold them to 40 again, but if we can hold them to around our (defensive) average, we have a chance to win," Wallace said. "If it's a higher scoring game, I think Nevada has the advantage."

Wallace does not want to get caught in a run-and-gun game because the 'Bows primarily use just seven players. With an altitude of more than 4,000 feet, Reno's thin air could cause problems.

"Your mouth gets dry really fast," Burneika said. "You just have to make sure to drink a lot of water."

Nevada head coach Trent Johnson has even more concerns. When asked which UH players could cause the Wolf Pack problems, he practically went down the entire roster.

"There's a reason why Hawai'i is 23-4 and in first place," Johnson said. "They cause so many problems. People overlook their toughness, especially on defense. And on offense, they have seven guys who can all pass it and shoot it."

Despite its dismal performance in Honolulu, Nevada is not seeking revenge. At least that's what the Wolf Pack players were saying yesterday.

"They kind of handed it to us; it was an awkward game," Green said. "But we're looking forward to this game as much as any of our other games."

Nevada is also playing for one of the top WAC Tournament seeds. The Wolf Pack is 15-11 overall and 8-8 in the WAC. Two victories this week could place Nevada as high as fourth; two losses could drop it as low as sixth.

• • •

Probable Starters

Hawai'i (23-4 overall, 14-2 WAC)

Pos.—Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pts. Reb. Ast.

G—Mark Campbell 6-4 180 Jr. 3.4 2.7 4.5
G—Predrag Savovic 6-6 225 Sr. 20.1 4.5 2.5
F—Carl English 6-5 205 So. 15.4 4.8 3.5
F—Phil Martin 6-8 230 So. 8.7 4.7 0.7
C—Haim Shimonovich 6-10 250 So. 7.6 6.7 2.9

Notes: The Rainbow Warriors are 7-3 away from home this season, including 5-2 in WAC road games. Hawai'i has never completed a season with more than five WAC road victories. ... The 'Bows have already established a school record with 14 WAC victories. ... Savovic has scored in double figures in 29 of his last 30 games, including all 20 games he has played this season. He also leads the team with 59 3-pointers, and has made at least one in 30 consecutive games. Savovic scored a team-high 19 points in a 58-40 victory over Nevada earlier this season. ... English has scored more than 20 points in three consecutive games, and is averaging 22.2 points per game in his last five games. ... Senior guard Mike McIntyre is averaging 9.6 points per game off the bench, and is third on the team with 47 3-pointers. ... In 16 WAC games, the 'Bows are averaging 9.0 3-pointers per game at a .420 percentage. ... Hawai'i leads the WAC in scoring defense, allowing just 61.9 points per game. ... Campbell ranks second in the WAC in assists and steals (47).

Nevada (15-11 overall, 8-8 WAC)

Pos.—Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pts. Reb. Ast.

G—Terrance Green 6-2 180 Jr. 16.3 4.0 2.5
G—Garry Hill-Thomas 6-3 195 So. 16.2 4.0 1.5
F—Kirk Snyder 6-6 205 Fr. 13.7 4.8 1.4
F—Corey Jackson 6-7 230 Sr. 9.5 11.0 0.5
C—Sean Paul 6-9 240 So. 7.3 4.8 0.6

Notes: The Wolf Pack is coming off two consecutive losses, including an 86-83 overtime loss at Louisiana Tech last Saturday. ... Nevada has not lost three consecutive games all season. ... Five players scored in double figures for Nevada in the loss at Louisiana Tech, led by Terrance Green's 21. ... Green is averaging 22.5 points per game in his last six games. ... Nevada went just 3-13 in the WAC last season, its first year in the conference. ... Snyder has scored in double figures in 12 of the 14 games he has played this season. He was held to a season-low two points in a 58-40 loss at Hawai'i. ... Jackson leads all WAC players in rebounding, and is also ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA. He has already recorded nine statistical double-doubles (points-rebounds) this season. ... Andre Hazel is averaging 7.1 points and a team-leading 2.8 assists per game off the bench. ... Hawai'i leads the series with Nevada, 5-4. However, the Wolf Pack is 3-0 against the 'Bows in games played in Reno, including a 73-60 victory last season.