DIVISION II PREVIEW
Vulcans' depth could work in their favor
Third in a series
Tomorrow: Hawai'i Pacific
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
There's no substitute for good players, unless you're Hawai'i-Hilo men's basketball coach Jeff Law.
With his team loaded with depth, Law is bound to keep the scorer's table busy with his substitutions this season.
The Vulcans return nine players, including four starters, and have hopes about having a breakthrough season.
Hawai'i-Hilo went 18-9 last season and finished fourth in the six-team Pacific West Conference with a 8-7 record. The Vulcans were picked to finish fourth this season in a preseason coaches poll.
"We're kind of deep this year," Law said. "We had a taste of success last year. Hopefully we can carry that into this year."
To do that, the Vulcans will have to find a way to fill the shoes left by point guard Scott Prather, an all-conference, first-team honoree from Kula, Maui, who completed his eligibility. Prather finished in the conference's top five in scoring (16.6, second), assists (3.9, fifth) and steals (2.04, first).
"We will miss Scotty," Law said. "But we might be able to replace that position by committee. If we can have a couple of the new guys play up to their potential, and we keep the chemistry we had last year, it should be another exciting season here."
One of Law's biggest challenges this year will be finding playing time for his team that includes returning starting guards David LaQua (Sr., 6-2), Derek Mgbeke (Sr., 6-3) and forwards Kyle Bartholomew (Sr., 6-4) and Ryan Hogue (Jr., 6-6).
"When you have a lot of depth, people have to bite the bullet in certain situations," Law said. "Everybody wants to play. That's where chemistry comes in."
The Vulcans can rely on Bartholomew, an all-conference, second-team honoree from Waiakea High School, who had a conference high nine double-double games of points and rebounds.
Opposing coaches praised Bartholomew's court sense and grit. Bartholomew's father, Jay, was a two-time NAIA All-American for the Vulcans (1976-77, 1977-78).
"Kyle's improved every year," HPU coach Russell Dung said. "He has to guard a lot of players taller than him. He does it with strength and ability. He has good basketball instincts."
The Vulcans will need Bartholomew to make headway in the take-no-prisoners Pacific West Conference.
"I think it's going to be a tough conference," Law said. "Everyone has improved themselves. Western New Mexico is not going to go 0-15 this season. There's no gimme."
Law said he hasn't settled on a starting lineup, and could go with a lineup that changes depending on the opponent and situation.
"We can go a little bigger, go a little smaller, go a little quicker," Law said. "It kind of depends on what we want to try to dictate or what is being dictated to us."
Hawai'i-Hilo
Coach: Jeff Law (entering 5th year, 53-53)
Last season: 18-9 overall, 8-7 Pacific West Conference, fourth place
Top players: David LaQua (g, 6-2, jr., 12.8 ppg, 2.81 apg), Derek Mgbeke (g, 6-3, jr., 13.8 ppg, 1.46 spg), Kyle Bartholomew (f, 6-4, jr., 12.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Ryan Hogue (f, 6-6, so., 7.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
What's expected: With four returning starters, there's no reason the Vulcans can't match or exceed last season's 18-9 record. If Law can juggle playing time for all his players and keep them happy, the Vulcans will be tough to beat. Under Law, UH-Hilo has increased its win total four straight years. The Vulcans were the most balanced team in the conference, ranking third in scoring (77.9) and second in defense (71.4).
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2002-2003 HAWAI'I-HILO SCHEDULE
November
24-Oakland City University at Kane'ohe, 2 p.m. 29-Dec. 1-Hilo Shootout (Friday-Utah State vs. Vermont 5:30 p.m.; Drake vs. Hawai'i-Hilo 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Utah State vs. Drake 5:30 p.m.; Vermont vs. Hawai'i-Hilo 7:30 p.m. Sunday-Vermont vs. Drake 1 p.m.; Utah State vs. Hawai'i-Hilo 3 p.m.)
December
3-Lees-McRae College (N.C.), 7:15 p.m. 5-California State University-Stanislaus, 7:15 p.m. 7-Fort Lewis College (Colo), 2 p.m. 9-University of Hawai'i (exhibition) at Stan Sheriff Center, 7 p.m. 15-16 AmeriSport Coconut Coast Classic (Sunday-Ouachita Baptist University (Ark), 7:30 p.m. Monday-MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan), 7:30 p.m. 28-29-at CSU-San Bernardino Tournament, (Times TBA).
January
4-Drew University (N.J.), 7:15 p.m. 6 and 8-*Montana State University-Billings, 7:15 p.m. 11-*Western New Mexico University, 7:15 p.m. 14 and 16-*Chaminade, 7:15 p.m. 31-*at BYU-Hawai'i, 7:30 p.m.
February
4-*Hawai'i Pacific, 7:15 p.m. 11 and 13-*at Western New Mexico, 7 p.m. 15-*at Montana State University-Billings, 7 or 8 p.m. 21-22-BYU-Hawai'i, 7:15 p.m. 27-at Chaminade, 7:30 p.m.
March
5-6-*at Hawai'i Pacific, 7:30 p.m.
* Pacific West Conference games
All home games at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium except where noted.
