Rainbow Warriors starting over
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
TULSA, Okla. — "Snow day" means nothing to the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.
All schools were closed here because of heavy snowfall and icy roads yesterday morning.
But as the head of the class for this week's Western Athletic Conference Tournament, the Rainbow Warriors were in full practice session.
"We can't afford to take another day off," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "We're not a lock for anything. If we don't come here ready to work, we'll get sent home."
The 'Bows are the No. 1 seed for the WAC Tournament, which begins today at the Donald W. Reynolds Center with play-in games for the conference's bottom four teams. The 'Bows completed one of the greatest regular seasons in school history with records of 24-5 overall and 15-3 in the WAC.
Hawai'i is scheduled to play a quarterfinal game at 8 a.m. (Hawai'i time) Thursday. The 'Bows will play the winner of today's game between eighth-seeded Rice and ninth-seeded San Jose State.
"We're even with everybody right now," UH senior tri-captain Mike McIntyre said. "All the wins and losses we had earlier this season don't mean anything. It's the same situation for everybody — you lose one game and you're out."
Although Hale High School in Tulsa was officially closed yesterday, the 'Bows opened their WAC Tournament week with a two-hour practice in the Rangers' gym. Brent Mackey, the boys varsity basketball coach at Hale, played for Wallace at Seminole College (Okla.) from 1986-87.
If not for that connection, Hawai'i would have been able to practice for only one hour at a practice gym on the Tulsa campus. No visiting teams are being allowed to practice in the Reynolds Center this week.
"We get this place to ourselves and we can get our work done," Wallace said. "It's perfect for us."
The 'Bows will also practice at Hale High today and tomorrow. It is the same schedule they followed last year on the way to winning the WAC Tournament.
"We're doing pretty much everything the same as last year," McIntyre said. "We're practicing at the same place, eating at the same places. I'm like (Wallace) because I feel like if it brings us luck, then I'm all for it."
The biggest difference might be the expectations. Last year, Hawai'i was a No. 5 seed and upset three higher-seeded teams in as many nights to earn the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This year, the 'Bows will likely be favored in every game it plays.
"I don't look at it that way," Wallace said. "We still have to take the mentality that we have something to prove."
Indeed, Hawai'i is a No. 1 seed for the first time in the 19-year history of the WAC Tournament. The top seed has won the tournament just five times in the previous 18 years.
"There's pressure on every team here, not just the top seed," UH sophomore guard Carl English said. "Everybody wants to win this."
A capsule look at the 10 teams in the field, with unofficial odds to win the tournament:
1, Hawai'i
Record: 24-5 overall, 15-3 WAC
Outlook: The 'Bows are the only team in the conference to beat each of the other nine WAC teams at least once this season. They have won four consecutive games in the Reynolds Center, including last season's WAC Tournament. However, Hawai'i may be without leading scorer Predrag Savovic, who is still suffering from muscle spasms in his lower back.
Player to watch: Carl English — 6-5 sophomore guard/forward was last year's WAC Tournament MVP, and is averaging 24.2 points in his last five games.
Odds: 4 to 1.
2, Tulsa
Record: 24-5 overall, 15-3 WAC
Outlook: The Golden Hurricane has the home-court advantage in the Reynolds Center, where it is 10-2 this season. Tulsa has won 14 of its last 16 games, with the only two losses to Hawai'i. Tulsa is the WAC's top offensive team with 81.4 points per game and a .486 field goal percentage.
Player to watch: Dante Swanson — 5-10 junior guard is second in the WAC with 70 3-pointers, and leads the NCAA with an amazing .551 percentage from 3-point range.
Odds: 3 to 1.
3, Louisiana Tech
Record: 20-8 overall, 14-4 WAC
Outlook: The Bulldogs were the surprise of the regular season. This is their first year in the WAC. Lost in the first round of last season's Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Louisiana Tech has won eight of its last nine games, with the only loss during that span coming in the Reynolds Center to Tulsa (72-63).
Player to watch: Gerrod Henderson — 6-4 senior guard was selected to both the All-WAC first team and the WAC All-Defensive Team. Averaging 16.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
Odds: 7 to 1.
4, Southern Methodist
Record: 15-13 overall, 10-8 WAC
Outlook: The Mustangs opened the WAC season 4-0, but then went 6-8 the rest of the way. SMU possesses the best one-two scoring punch in the conference in guards Damon Hancock (21.8) and Quinton Ross (17.5). In five previous seasons in the WAC, SMU has never played for the tournament championship.
Player to watch: Damon Hancock — 6-4 senior point guard leads the Mustangs with 21.8 points per game and 3.7 assists per game, and was a first-team All-WAC selection.
Odds: 10 to 1.
5, Nevada
Record: 16-12 overall, 9-9 WAC
Outlook: The Wolf Pack ended a typical up-and-down season last week by beating first-place Hawai'i, then losing to ninth-place San Jose State. Nevada has not won or lost more than three consecutive games at any time this season.
Player to watch: Corey Jackson — 6-7 senior forward leads the WAC with 11.2 rebounds, and was selected to the WAC All-Defensive Team.
Odds: 12 to 1
6, Fresno State
Record: 18-13 overall, 9-9 WAC
Outlook: The Bulldogs were arguably the WAC's biggest disappointment of the regular season. Overwhelming preseason pick to win the WAC, but various injuries and player suspensions led to inconsistent performance. Won the WAC Tournament in 2000, at Fresno, Calif.
Player to watch: Melvin Ely — 6-10 senior center is the two-time WAC Player of the Year. Averaging 23.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocked shots per game. He alone gives the Bulldogs a chance.
Odds: 8 to 1.
7, Boise State
Record: 12-16 overall, 6-12 WAC
Outlook: The Broncos suffered a six-game losing streak in middle of WAC season, but closed by winning four of last six. First season in the WAC; lost in semifinals of last season's Big West Conference Tournament.
Player to watch: Abe Jackson — 6-7 senior forward is the WAC's best long-range shooter. Led conference with 90 3-pointers.
Odds: 20 to 1.
8, Rice
Record: 10-18 overall, 5-13 WAC
Outlook: In five previous seasons, the Owls have never advanced past the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament. Needs to win four consecutive games to win the tournament; has not won more than two consecutive games all season.
Player to watch: Michael Harris — 6-6 freshman forward was named WAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Odds: 30 to 1.
9, San Jose State
Record: 9-21 overall, 4-14 WAC
Outlook: The Spartans have never won a WAC Tournament game (0-4) since joining the conference in 1997. Closed the regular season by losing six of last seven, although they did beat Nevada in season finale, 76-72.
Player to watch: Brandon Hawkins — 6-3 junior point guard averaged 14.4 points and 4.1 assists per game during WAC season, and was named to WAC All-Newcomer Team.
Odds: 35 to 1.
10, Texas-El Paso
Record: 10-21 overall, 3-15 WAC
Outlook: Along with Fresno State, the Miners fell well below preseason predictions. Went 0-9 on the WAC road this season, and closed the regular season with nine consecutive WAC losses.
Player to watch: Roy Smallwood — 6-6 junior forward averaged 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Odds: 40 to 1.
