Midnight debuts tonight for UH basketball teams

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

All Riley Wallace is saying about tonight's Midnight Ohana is "you have to be there to see it."

Returning starters Phil Martin, left, and Carl English will be introduced in '70s-themed costumes prior to putting on their real uniforms for tonight's Midnight Ohana. Associated Press

Pre-scrimmage festivities, including a mini-carnival and concert, will begin at the arena around 8 p.m.

It will be the first opportunity for fans to watch new recruits Jason Carter, Dane Dmitrovic, Michael Kuebler and Vaidotas Peciukas.

It will also be a chance to watch returning starters Carl English, Mark Campbell, Haim Shimonovich and Phil Martin in action for the first time since last season's memorable run to the NCAA Tournament.

And it will also be the first big public appearance for head coach Wallace since undergoing brain surgery in Las Vegas last month.

But never mind all that.

Wallace said most of the buzz around the basketball office this week has focused on the costumes the players and coaches are planning to wear for their introductions before the scrimmage tonight.

"I don't mind it," said junior forward Phil Martin. "I think it'll be fun. Everybody's got some crazy costumes, including me."

Martin did not entirely want to give away his identity, although he did hint that he would be dressed as a certain member of UH's "Fabulous Five" basketball team from the 1970s who happens to now be an associate head coach for the 'Bows.

Other costumes include the Dukes of Hazzard, the Village People, Elvis Presley, Sonny and Cher, and characters from the Austin Powers movies.

Players and coaches from the UH women's team will also be introduced in costumes.

Peciukas, who was born and raised in Lithuania, said: "I pretty much don't know anything about the '70s or who these people are."

That might explain why he was not given first choice.

All he would say about his costume was "well, I'll be wearing a long black wig and I don't think I'm supposed to be a male."

In fact, only two of the 17 players on the UH roster were born in the 1970s (Shimonovich and Ryne Holliday were born in 1979).

"The only thing I know about that time is what my mother and father told me," Martin said. "It's out there, I know that."

Wallace was even starting to regret his choice of costume yesterday, and was hoping that photos would not circulate around the national coaching circle.

Wallace agreed to dress up as the "Fat Bastard" character from the Austin Powers series, even though he had never seen the movie. (Women's coach Vince Goo is supposed to be Austin Powers).

"It could be embarrassing," Wallace said. "I didn't know what it was supposed to look like. But it's for fun and it's for the fans."

Once the costumes are removed, the mood is expected to turn a little more serious during the scrimmage.

"It can get serious because we're all competitive and we all want to win," Campbell said. "We know it's just for fun, but it's like when we run (pick-up games) in the practice gym every day. No matter what team you're on, you want to win."

What's more, the winning team gets bragging rights at least for a few days following the scrimmage.

"There's always some smack talk," said Campbell, who was on the winning squad last year. "That's part of the fun."

Added Martin: "I wouldn't say it's real serious the whole (scrimmage). But if the game's on the line at the end, you might see it start to get serious."

Green team: Carl English, Haim Shimonovich, Vaidotas Peciukas, Jason Carter, Nkeruwem Tony Akpan, Ikaika Alama-Francis, Ramsey Williams, Gabe Lombard.

White team: Mark Campbell, Michael Kuebler, Phil Martin, Paul Jesinskis, Milos Zivanovic, Dane Dmitrovic, Lance Takaki, Ryne Holliday, Dan Pickart.