UH basketball becoming road warriors

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

On the airlines called United, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team's unity was clearly in place.

"This really is a different team," senior tri-captain Mike Mcintyre said. Advertiser library photo

Those who chose to sleep were at the mercy of pranks and candid camera shots.

"That's the nature of this team," senior tri-captain Mike McIntyre said. "We're all comfortable with each other and we all get along."

Along with their dirty laundry, the 'Bows came back with two victories and sole possession of first place in the Western Athletic Conference.

"I think a lot of people probably expected us to win two out of three, but not the way we ended up doing it," UH head coach Riley Wallace said.

Indeed, the trip started with a disappointing loss to last-place San Jose State. However, Hawai'i rebounded with victories at Rice and Tulsa last week to improve to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in the WAC.

The win at Tulsa was especially significant when considering that first place was on the line for both teams.

"If we were to win two out of three, you'd probably think it would be the first two and not Tulsa," Wallace said. "But no matter how you look at it, we got two wins, so we're pleased even though we would have liked to have got all three."

Since UH joined the WAC in the 1979-80 season, only one of its teams has finished with a winning road record. And even that team — the 1989-90 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the NIT — was barely over .500 at 9-8, and that included two neutral site victories in Lahaina and two more in Hilo.

Prior to this season, UH teams had a .269 winning percentage (65 wins, 177 losses) in road games since the 1979-80 season. Even worse, the 'Bows were 43-135 in regular-season WAC road games (.242 percentage).

This season's team is already 6-2 away from the Stan Sheriff Center, including 4-1 on the WAC road.

"This really is a different team," said McIntyre, who is in his fourth season at UH.

In McIntyre's previous three seasons, the 'Bows had a 6-25 road record, and that included the three memorable victories in last season's WAC Tournament.

"We've accepted each other's differences and we all like each other," he said. "In the past, you could say that not all the guys were comfortable with each other. That's not so this year and I think it shows on the court and off."

Wallace cited three other reasons for this season's road success:

• Shooting. With a variety of long-range sharpshooters on the roster, UH has proved to be difficult to stop.

"If one guy gets hot, we can go to him," McIntyre said. "If not, there always seems to be somebody else."

As proof, six 'Bows are averaging at least 8.5 points per game.

• Mental toughness. With the help of performance enhancement counselors Dr. Michael D'Andrea and Dr. Judith Daniels, the 'Bows have acquired a winning attitude.

Since the counselors started traveling with the team late last season, Hawai'i is 10-4 in road games.

"We're always thinking positive," sophomore guard Carl English said. "And this team has heart. No matter how much we're down, we never give up."

• Focus. Wallace said there have been no major attitude or academic concerns this season.

On the road, that means the players are actually studying in study hall and in their rooms at curfew.

"They know what it takes to win," Wallace said. "And they're not doing anything to break this thing we got going."