Rainbows eager to take on Oregon State
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
It's not Arizona or Stanford or UCLA, but it will still be the Pac-10 Conference up against the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team next week.
After a 19-day break, the Rainbow Warriors will return to regular-season action Monday against Oregon State. The 'Bows won an exhibition game against the EA Sports All-Stars Sunday, but that did not count toward their season record.
UH, which is 2-2, last played on Nov. 26 in an 82-72 loss to Dayton in the championship game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Flyers are now ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press Top 25.
"Even though (Oregon State) has been down at the bottom of the conference the last couple years, it would still be a big win for us if we can get it," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "Just playing a team from that conference can help with our RPI (Rating Percentage Index)."
The 'Bows are 5-7 against Pac-10 teams in Wallace's 17 seasons as head coach. However, Monday's game will be UH's first meeting with the Beavers since 1984.
Oregon State, which is predicted to finish last in the Pac-10, is 3-2 after a triple overtime victory over Kansas State last Saturday. The Beavers host NCAA Division III Willamette Friday before arriving in Hawai'i.
Oregon State's leading scorer is 6-foot-7 junior forward David Lucas, who is the son of former NBA player Maurice Lucas. He is averaging 16.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Hawai'i's leading scorer, senior guard Michael Kuebler, is averaging 18.0 points per game. He is from Salem, Ore., and was recruited by Oregon State.
"I'm looking at it as a big game, personally," Kuebler said. "I don't want to be going back home later and not have bragging rights."
Sottos hurting: Hawai'i reserve shooting guard Jake Sottos missed a day of practice this week because of an injury to his right foot. He returned yesterday, but said it was still hurting.
"It's a minor injury," he said. "It feels a lot better than it did a couple days ago. I'm getting treatment for it, so I can play with it."
Red's return: Former UH basketball coach Red Rocha is expected to attend Monday's game.
Rocha had a 112-136 record in 10 seasons as head coach at UH. He is most known for coaching the "Fabulous Five" teams of 1970-71 and 1971-72. UH associate coach Bob Nash was a member of those teams.
Rocha, who now resides in Oregon, was an All-American at Oregon State from 1945-47. He is a member of both the Oregon State Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Hawai'i Sports Circle of Honor.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
