'Bows, Bulldogs will get physical

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	Rainbow Warrior basketball WHAT: Western Athletic Conference men's basketball WHO: Hawai'i (9-2 overall, 2-1 WAC) vs. Louisiana Tech (5-4, 2-0) WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center WHEN: Today, 7:05 p.m. TV/RADIO: Live on K5 television (channel 5)/KKEA radio (1420 AM)

Tip-off for the Western Athletic Conference game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Louisiana Tech (2-0) is one of only two remaining undefeated WAC teams. The Rainbow Warriors are 2-1 in WAC play, but undefeated at home this season. UH's 20-game home winning streak is the seventh longest current streak in NCAA Division I.

"We've got this thing rolling at home," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "But this game is going to be a real challenge for us. Louisiana Tech might be one of the only teams in the WAC that matches up with us, size-wise."

Indeed, tonight's game will feature two of the WAC's most physical teams.

The Bulldogs are led by Antonio Meeking, a 6-foot-8, 265-pound senior forward. He is the only player ranked among the top five in the WAC in scoring (16.1 points per game) and rebounding (8.1).

"He's probably the best big man in the league, athletically anyway," Wallace said.

UH starting forward Phil Martin described Meeking as "huge, like a half-Shaq."

And Meeking's bringing some big friends with him.

Zach Johnson is 6-9 and 288 pounds; Wayne Powell is 6-9 and 253; Jeremy Johnston is 6-8 and 233; Darrian Brown is 6-6 and 229. The Bulldogs have used several different starting lineups this season, but all of those players normally see action.

"It'll be tough because we know they like to go inside a lot," Martin said. "We just have to play a smart game and stay out of foul trouble."

And it's not like the 'Bows are small.

Haim Shimonovich, a 6-10, 265-pound junior, and Martin, a 6-8, 235-pound junior, will likely take turns defending Meeking. Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan, a 6-8, 240-pound sophomore, will relieve them off the bench.

"We have to try and not let them get position near the basket," Shimonovich said. "And if we can get them in foul trouble, that's even better."

The 'Bows lead the WAC in rebounding margin (they out-rebound opponents by almost nine per game), a category Louisiana Tech dominated last season.

However, Wallace said the Bulldogs' record and statistics this season are deceiving because they have played road games at Florida, Texas, Mississippi State and Arkansas.

"That'll make anybody's numbers look bad," Wallace said.

As LTU head coach Keith Richard put it: "When you get beat by 40 at Mississippi State and 20 at Florida, I don't know how much it helps you."

The Bulldogs won their first road game of the season on Thursday, 80-67, at San Jose State.

"You don't want something like that mounting on you," Richard said. "So we kind of got the monkey off our back."

Richard said he would prefer a slow-paced, physical game tonight.

Meeking, who had 15 points and 14 rebounds in two games against UH last season, said: "I feel like we match up (with Hawai'i). We've been going against big guys all year. We feel like we have the size and depth to play with anybody inside."

An 81-61 UH victory last season at the Stan Sheriff Center was victory No. 6 in the 'Bows' current home winning streak. Louisiana Tech was a rookie member with the WAC last season, and made its first ever trip to Hawai'i.

"We got all excited just to be in Hawai'i last year and forgot about the game," Meeking said. "We remember what happened. We're more focused this time."