WARRIOR'S NOTEBOOK
UH adjusts postseason goal — win NIT title
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
TULSA, Okla. — Shortly after its dream for a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament was shattered by a 66-56 loss to Tulsa, the Hawai'i men's basketball team already had a new goal last night.
"Go in and win the NIT," UH head coach Riley Wallace said.
Of course, the Rainbow Warriors must first be invited. After all, the event is called the National Invitation Tournament.
The 'Bows dropped to 18-11 after last night's loss in the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
The UH athletic department has already submitted a bid to host a first-round game in the NIT next week, but that does not guarantee an invitation.
"If the (WAC) fights for us, we'll have it," Wallace said. "There's four teams (from the WAC) that deserve to go and they should be in there."
The loser of tonight's WAC Tournament championship game between Tulsa and Nevada is almost assured a NIT bid. Rice, which was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Hawai'i, finished 19-10 and is also hoping for an invitation. Southern Methodist (17-13) and the 'Bows would be the others from the WAC seeking NIT selection.
Sixty-five teams get spots in the NCAA Tournament; another 40 go to the NIT.
"Our goal would be to go in and win the NIT," Wallace said. "Just to go to the NIT is not what you want."
The NIT pairings will be announced tomorrow.
The 'Bows have participated in the NIT six times, the last time in 1998.
English final?: Because of UH's chances for a NIT bid, junior guard Carl English did not want to discuss his future after last night's loss.
English said earlier this week that his tentative plan is to declare for early entry into the NBA Draft, but without signing with an agent. That would give him the option of returning to Hawai'i for his senior season if it appears that he might not get drafted.
"We'll talk about it when the season's over," he said.
New champs: No matter who wins tonight's championship game between Tulsa and Nevada, it will be a first-time WAC winner.
The Golden Hurricane, which joined the WAC in 1997, has lost the past three championship games, including the past two to Hawai'i. The Wolf Pack, which joined the conference in 2001, has never advanced past the semifinals.
"I said before the game that I thought this was the best Tulsa team of the last three (years)," Wallace said. "That doesn't mean they have more talent than the previous two. But the way they put themselves together when they had some adversity in the middle of the season, they really came together and started playing tough defense."
Awards banquet: The UH Rainbow Warrior Basketball Awards Banquet will be held April 16 at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel. No-host cocktails start at 6 p.m., with dinner to follow around 7 p.m.
Tickets are $40 per person. For reservations, call the UH basketball office at 956-6501.
