UH NOTEBOOK
Wallace worried about playing on road
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
In much the same way he's learning about his new SUV, Riley Wallace is still trying to figure out his University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.
Sure, the 2003 Nissan Murano looks impressive inside and out, but Wallace has yet to figure out what some buttons and gadgets are for.
Same way with the Rainbow Warriors.
"I really don't know how to explain this team," he said. "They can look so good one day and then come out totally flat the next."
This about a team that is 11-2 and recently won three home games in five days to move into a tie for first place in the Western Athletic Conference at 4-1.
"Because of the success we've had the last few years, we've set a higher standard," Wallace said. "We can not be satisfied with just winning all the home games."
Wallace's concerns were raised yesterday after what he described as a "poor" practice session — the 'Bows' last home practice before a crucial road trip. They depart Honolulu this morning for a three-game WAC road swing that will last 11 days.
The first game of the trip is scheduled for Saturday at last-place San Jose State (3-10 overall, 0-4 WAC). That will be followed by games at Fresno State on Jan. 23 and then at Nevada on Jan. 25.
While the 'Bows are 10-0 at home this season, they are just 1-2 on the road. What's more, it was an almost identical situation last season when a last-place San Jose State team upset first-place Hawai'i at The Event Center in San Jose, Calif.
"We're 1-2 on the road, and it's like these guys don't care," Wallace said. "If we play like we practiced today, we'll lose to San Jose again."
If the players forgot about last season, Wallace was quick to remind them in a stern post-practice lecture.
"I'll never forget that game," UH junior forward Phil Martin said. "That was our worst loss last year. They're the worst team in the WAC right now, but we know first-hand what can happen if we don't come out fired up. We're not taking this lightly."
Carl English, the WAC's leading scorer at 20.5 points per game, went so far as to call the Spartans "the bottom feeder" of the conference.
"If we want to stay at the top, we can't let those teams beat us," he said. "We had our low point of this season already, that was at Boise."
Hawai'i's last road game resulted in a 65-63 overtime loss at Boise State.
Long road: Rather than returning to Honolulu after Saturday's game at San Jose State, the 'Bows will drive to Fresno State on Sunday and then spend five nights in Fresno, Calif.
"Financially, it wouldn't make sense to come back home for only two nights and then fly back," Wallace said. "And then you'd cause double jet lag if you make it two long flights in one week."
Bracket rumors: A different opponent seems to come up every week for Hawai'i in ESPN's "Bracket Buster Saturday" on Feb. 22.
The latest rumor?
Gonzaga.
"I heard that Tulsa was willing to change games and play Creighton instead of Gonzaga," Wallace said. "That would probably move us to Gonzaga."
Hawai'i is one of 16 teams invited to participate in the event. Previously, the 'Bows were rumored to be playing at UC Santa Barbara and Creighton.
ESPN will announce the pairings on Feb. 3.
