UH all ears as Wallace makes unique promise

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

FRESNO, Calif. — Motivation went up to ear level for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team yesterday.

That's how much he wants this one.

"If that's what it takes to get them up, then I'll do it," Wallace said. "I've always been a man of my word, so if we win, I'll do it. Of course, it would be nice if somebody donated (the diamond)."

It should be a gem of a game.

Fresno State is 13-3 overall and in first place in the WAC at 6-1 under first-year head coach Ray Lopes. The Bulldogs are 10-0 this season at Selland Arena, where tonight's game will tip-off at 5 p.m. (Hawai'i time).

Hawai'i, coming off a devastating 79-67 loss at San Jose State last Saturday, is 11-3 overall and in second place in the WAC at 4-2. The 'Bows are 1-3 on the road this season, and Wallace said they somehow "lack energy" away from the Stan Sheriff Center, where they have won 22 consecutive games.

"We gotta find a way to win on the road," Wallace said. "It's a very enjoyable position to have people recognize that this team is doing a good job. But if we keep losing the road games, that's what people will focus on."

In order to maintain focus, the 'Bows have been in Fresno since Sunday. In between practices and study hall, they have visited the shopping mall, watched movies and gone sightseeing together.

"The extra days definitely help," senior captain Mark Campbell said. "We're not tired from traveling and we got to do a lot of things together to get our minds off the (San Jose State) loss."

If they weren't bonding before, they are now. Yesterday's practice ended with a group hug — the players and coaches interlocked arms and made one tight circle before heading off to dinner together.

"We're still one team and nobody's giving up," Campbell said. "We know it's going to take each of us to win this game (today)."

Depending on one's perspective, each team appears to have some sort of momentum going into tonight's game.

Prior to the loss at San Jose State, the 'Bows beat Fresno State, 88-77, last Monday. It was UH's fourth consecutive victory over the Bulldogs. Included in that streak is an 82-79 Hawai'i win at Selland Arena last season.

"We always seem to play hard and tough against Fresno," Wallace said. "This is not an easy place to play. That crowd they got gets wild and crazy, but if you let that fire you up in the right way, it can work to your advantage."

The crowd will definitely be there tonight — all 10,220 seats were sold out by yesterday afternoon.

"I'm sure it makes a difference for our players," Lopes said. "It's a big game, obviously, and the crowd will only add to it. There's going to be a lot of energy in that arena (tonight)."

The Bulldogs already generated a buzz with two road victories last week — at Southern Methodist and then at Louisiana Tech. The last-second 61-60 win over Louisiana Tech was especially exciting — the Bulldogs got a steal, an assist from half-court, a tying layup, and then a winning free throw, all in the final four seconds.

"We're feeling good about ourselves," said Fresno State leading scorer Damon Jackson. "But Hawai'i brings us back down real quick. We know we have to be ready for them."

The 88 points by Hawai'i last week looks almost like a fluke on the Fresno State schedule. The Bulldogs, who lead the WAC in scoring defense by allowing just 64.6 points per game, have not surrendered more than 73 points this season to any other opponent.

"All week long, we've been working on defense," Jackson said. "They cut us up the last time with the stuff they ran. The only good thing is it happened (last week) so we're familiar with it."

Since the 2000-01 season, the 'Bows have won five of six games with the Bulldogs, although Fresno State still leads the all-time series, 16-9.

"We've beaten Hawai'i only one time since I've been here," Jackson said. "As a senior, I want to beat them real bad."

However, the Bulldogs insist that revenge is not a motivating factor. As Lopes put it: "It's immature to talk about any game as revenge. The only reason this is our most important game is because this is our next game on the schedule. After this one's over, the next one will the most important."

One Hawai'i player — junior guard Carl English — is putting added importance on this game, and not because of what's at stake for his coach.

"We can talk about the (San Jose State) game being over and all that, but it's still bitter in my mouth," said English, who scored a season-low six points against the Spartans. "I feel like we have to come out and show a little bit more because of that game."

The sellout crowd will undoubtedly target English as the villain tonight. He's been just that to the Bulldogs, averaging 28.3 points against them in the last three meetings, including 30 last week and 33 in last season's win at Selland Arena.

"I feed off that kind of crowd," English said. "We'll be ready for this one, I can tell you that."

NOTES: UH starting guard Michael Kuebler has been battling a cold the past few days. He participated in practice yesterday, and is still expected to start tonight. ... Tonight will be Hawai'i's last game against Fresno State in Selland Arena. The Bulldogs move into the new Save Mart Center next season. ... Riley Wallace had dinner with legendary former Fresno State head coach Jerry Tarkanian the past two nights.