Posted on: Thursday, February 28, 2002
Rainbows Wahine turn attention to turnovers
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Their 20th basketball victory could come tonight, but what the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine really want this week is to find their offense for next week.
UH (19-6, 12-4 Western Athletic Conference) closes its regular season tonight (UTEP) and Saturday (Boise State) at Stan Sheriff Center. Its priority is to rediscover a rhythm, cut turnovers and sink free throws. As the WAC Tournament closes in, Rainbow practices have been dedicated to offense.
"We have to work on our weaknesses," coach Vince Goo says. "No. 1 is turnovers. We need to make better decisions on when to go to what option. Throughout our offensive set there are options and sometimes they're not available so we shouldn't be forcing the pass.
"What it really comes down to is decision making and passing and catching the ball."
The Rainbow Wahine are among the country's top 10 defensively, but near the WAC's worst in turnovers at 18 a game. Only UTEP, Boise and Fresno State average more; they are a combined 21-56.
The emphasis is so serious in practice that Goo has players raising hands to count turnovers. In a victory at Nevada Sunday, UH had eight turnovers in the first seven minutes, and struggled to score 25 points in the half despite a huge rebounding advantage.
"We weren't five people in the flow on offense," Goo said. "We were Janka (Gabrielova) with the ball and the other four wondering what the others were going to do."
Adds senior Karena Greeny: "At times we make it look effortless. Other times, we're struggling to get two points."
Against Nevada, the Rainbows still led at the half. In the postseason, it doesn't work that way.
Four of Hawai'i's losses have come against Top 10 teams. The other two came against Rice, which has upset two Top 10 teams. In those losses, the Rainbow Wahine turned the ball over 18 times, hit just a third of their shots and scored 55 points — 10 below their average.
"What we really need to do is clean up our game," sophomore Christa Brossman says. "We're a better team than that. We need to relax and get into our offense, then it will go more smoothly. We're trying to force things that aren't there."
That is never a problem on defense, where Hawai'i is holding opponents below 58 points and 35-percent shooting. The difference, according to Christen Roper, is that opponents are forced to react to defense. On offense, it's the opposite, and the Rainbows have not reacted well recently, nor have they been in sync.
"It takes us a while to warm up, for everybody to get to the same point," Roper says. "To get everyone to do the same thing at the same pace and be on the same page ... it's difficult, but that's what basketball is."
After four months together, it sounds like a serious problem. It is, but it is not impossible to overcome. Hawai'i has done it more than once this season.
Same for its problems shooting free throws, where it has been hot and cold all year. Goo's impatience in that area received an unexpected boost last week when sixth-ranked Louisiana Tech went 13-for-30 from the line as it was upset by Rice.
"Down to the bitter end, we've got to be concerned with our weaknesses," Goo says. "Now, it's just turnovers and free-throw shooting."
