Reserves close gap in scrimmage
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Don't pencil in that starting lineup just yet for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.
The difference between starters and reserves got a lot closer for the Rainbow Warriors yesterday.
Just one week after beating the second team by 37 points, the UH projected starting lineup held on for a 65-59 victory over the reserves in an intrasquad scrimmage yesterday.
The level of competition was so close — the score was tied, 29-29, at halftime — that UH head coach Riley Wallace declared the starting lineup "up in the air" after the scrimmage.
"It worked out all right," Wallace said. "Because (the starters) got the feeling of not playing well and having to play hard for 40 minutes. For the (reserves), this was like a win for them compared to what they've been doing before.
"Based on what I saw today, we may have to start moving some guys around."
The first unit consisted of four returning starters — Mark Campbell at point guard, Carl English at shooting guard, Phil Martin at power forward and Haim Shimonovich at center — and newcomer Vaidotas Peciukas at small forward. Last week, that same group beat the reserves, 87-50.
"It was just a bad day for us this time," said English, who led his team with 20 points. "We didn't come ready to play."
The second unit consisted of Jason Carter at point guard, Michael Kuebler at shooting guard, Paul Jesinskis at small forward, Milos Zivanovic at power forward and Tony Akpan at center. Zivanovic has a sore shoulder, so freshman Ikaika Alama-Francis played most of the scrimmage in his place.
Wallace was particularly impressed with the backcourt play of Carter and Kuebler — both newcomers to UH.
Carter had 11 points, seven assists and five steals. He also helped limit Campbell to one point and three assists. Kuebler scored 20 on 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
"It's another week that we got to learn the offense, and that's a big factor," Kuebler said. "And we want to show what we can do, also. We're all working to get on that (first) team."
Added Carter: "We just let loose and play. We all knew that if we didn't step up our game, we wouldn't be seeing much playing time once the season starts."
Alama-Francis, who was a senior at Kalaheo High this time last year, was also impressive with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and six rebounds.
Peciukas added 15 points for the first unit, Martin had 14, and Shimonovich contributed 13 points and eight rebounds.
Yesterday's intrasquad scrimmage was probably the last one for this season.The 'Bows will play together as one unit for the first time next Sunday in an exhibition game against the EA Sports West All-Stars.
"We're sick of beating up on each other to tell you the truth," English said. "You go up against the same guys every day for two months, it gets hard. We're ready for somebody new."
Kuebler added: "We've been getting into each other pretty hard the last few weeks. I think we're all looking forward to sticking it to someone else."
• Injury update: Junior walk-on Ramsey Williams sat out yesterday's scrimmage with an injured left knee.
Zivanovic (shoulder) and Martin (ankle) played, although they are both still recovering from previous injuries.
• English hype: The UH media relations department is promoting Carl English as an All-America candidate for this season.
A Web site has been created by the university for English at: www.uhathletics.hawaii.edu.
English, a 6-5 junior guard from Newfoundland, Canada, averaged 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season. He has already been picked as the Preseason Player of the Year by coaches in the Western Athletic Conference, and was one of 50 players named to the John Wooden Preseason All-America list.
• Ticket sales: Individual game tickets for the upcoming UH men's basketball season will go on sale at the Stan Sheriff Center box office beginning Tuesday.
For the first time, individual game ticket prices will be separated into two tiers.
Tier I includes games in the Hawaiian Airlines Tip-Off Tournament and the adidas Festival, as well as Western Athletic Conference games against Southern Methodist, Rice, San Jose State, Boise State and Texas-El Paso.
Tier I prices per game are $15 for lower level seats, $11 for upper level adult seats, and $7 for upper level student seats.
Tier II includes WAC games against Fresno State, Tulsa, Nevada and Louisiana Tech. Tier II prices per game are $16 for lower level seats, $12 for upper level adult seats, and $7 for upper level student seats.
Tickets for the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic will be sold only as a package. Prices for the four-day tournament are $68 for lower level, and $52 for upper level. Any remaining Classic tickets will be sold individually from Dec. 27-30.
Tickets for next week's exhibition game against the EA Sports West All-Stars will also be available beginning Tuesday at $8 for lower level, $6 for upper level adult seats, and $4 for upper level student seats.
The Stan Sheriff Center box office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
