WAC recognizes UH year
| • | 'Aiea's Lane is WAC co-freshman of year |
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
TULSA, Okla. — Six inches of snowfall greeted the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team last night.
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It wasn't nearly enough to chill the heart-warming season of the Rainbow Warriors, who arrived here last night as the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
Riley Wallace says his award, "means a lot."
Hawai'i's glorious regular season — which ended with a thrilling 82-79 victory at Fresno State on Saturday — was recognized by the WAC yesterday with a Coach of the Year award, and two players earning spots on the All-WAC team.
After guiding the 'Bows to a 24-5 record, including 15-3 with the co-championship of the WAC, UH head coach Riley Wallace was named the Don Haskins Coach of the Year. After preaching the importance of teamwork and patient passing the entire season, Wallace did the same upon receiving news of his award.
"It just says that we have great players and a great coaching staff," he said. "But it means a lot because this is voted by your peers, and if you get it, that means they're recognizing the work you've done."
It is the third time in Wallace's 15-year stint as head coach at UH that he has won the award. He also got it in 1989 and 1997.
"We worked very hard, all of us, this year," Wallace said. "As we kept winning and winning, we knew teams were after us, so we worked probably harder this year than any other."
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Predrag Savovic, Hawai'i's leading scorer, was named to the All-WAC first team for the second consecutive year. The 6 foot 6 senior guard is the first player in UH's 23 seasons in the WAC to make the all-conference first team in consecutive seasons.
Predrag Savovic is a repeat on the All-WAC first team.
"He deserves it; I was even hoping he'd get Player of the Year," Wallace said. "The thing about Savo is he'll get his points game in and game out. If he has a good game, he'll get 25 or 30 (points). If he's having a bad game, he can still get you 10 to 15."
Savovic, who is from Herceg Novi, Yugoslavia, is averaging 19.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. In three seasons at UH, he has scored 1,314 points, which ties him for fourth on the all-time list.
"It's something that's not just recognition for me, but for the team," Savovic said. "I can't get these kinds of things without the help of them."
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He was joined on the first team by Fresno State center Melvin Ely, Southern Methodist guard Damon Hancock, Tulsa point guard Greg Harrington, and Louisiana Tech guard Gerrod Henderson.
Carl English made the All-WAC second team.
Ely, a 6-10 senior, was a repeat choice as the WAC Player of the Year.
"If there was a chance for me to get (Player of the Year), then great," Savovic said. "But Ely is an incredible player. I have no problem with him getting it."
Hawai'i sophomore Carl English, in his first year as a starter with the 'Bows, was named to the All-WAC second team. The 6-5 guard/forward was one of the most versatile players in the conference, averaging 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
"I'm not sure there's five better players in the conference better than him," Wallace said. "He has a case to be on the first team."
English's strongest statement came on Saturday, when he scored a career-high 33 points while playing in the injured Savovic's shooting guard position.
Other players named to the second team were Boise State forward Abe Jackson, SMU guard Quinton Ross, Tulsa forward Kevin Johnson, and Tulsa guard Dante Swanson.
The WAC's 10 coaches voted for the awards.
Wallace's only disappointment came in the WAC All-Newcomer and All-Defensive teams. No 'Bows were picked to either team, although Wallace felt point guard Mark Campbell should have been considered for both, and center Haim Shimonovich and forward Phil Martin should have been considered for the All-Defensive team.
"We were the top defensive team in the league all year and we didn't get anybody," Wallace said.
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• Player of the Week: English was also named the WAC Player of the Week yesterday.
He recorded 49 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in two games last week.
English is the third 'Bow to win the award this season. Savovic and Mike McIntyre won earlier.
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• Savo's back: Savovic was still receiving treatment yesterday on his injured lower back, although he vowed to be ready for UH's WAC Tournament opener on Thursday.
"It's much better," he said. "It still hurts, but I have a couple of days. I'll be ready."
Savovic suffered back spasms in the second half of a 79-69 loss at Nevada on Thursday. He was on the bench, but not in uniform for Saturday's victory over Fresno State.
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