Basketball 'Bows gladly take to road

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	Game facts WHAT: Men's basketball, National Invitation Tournament WHO: Hawai'i (18-11) at UNLV (21-10) WHEN: 7 p.m. tomorrow WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas TV: ESPN2 RADIO: KKEA 1420 AM VEGAS LINE: UNLV favored by 8

That's why the Rainbow Warriors voted unanimously to participate in tomorrow's first-round game of the National Invitation Tournament against Nevada-Las Vegas. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (Hawai'i time) at the Thomas & Mack Center, and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

The 'Bows arrived in Las Vegas just before midnight last night after a one-day stop in Honolulu. Last week, Hawai'i participated in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Tulsa, Okla.

Thinking it would host a first-round NIT game, the 'Bows returned to Honolulu Sunday, only to find out that they had to fly to Las Vegas less than 24 hours later. UH head coach Riley Wallace said he gave his team the option of backing out of the NIT because of the scrambled logistics, but that discussion ended quickly

"Right away, we all wanted to go," UH senior captain Mark Campbell said of the team vote. "It's another chance to play basketball, so why not do it? It's not the NCAA (Tournament), but it's still like the playoffs."

Hawai'i, which is 18-11, will probably remain on the Mainland as long as it keeps winning.

"It was kind of a bummer to find out we wouldn't get to play at home, especially because that's what we were anticipating," junior forward Phil Martin said. "But we've done so much traveling this year already, we're kind of used to it."

Tomorrow's game will mark the 44th day that UH has spent on the road since Jan. 1. The 'Bows have gone 3-9 in road games in 2003.

During that same span, they spent only 34 days in Honolulu, and went 8-1 in the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We're a better team at home, sure," Campbell said. "But when it comes to playoff games like this, you have to show that you can win on the road anyway."

Given the contrast between the home and away 'Bows, the brief home stopover was a welcome respite.

"It felt so good just to relax in my own room and just chill out, talking on the phone and listening to music," Martin said. "Home is your comfort zone, so even though it was in and out, I think it helped to get home for a little bit."

The 'Bows have been keeping up with their school work through

e-mail correspondence and the help of traveling tutors, but even Martin admitted: "I was actually looking forward to getting back to class. There's some catching up to do."

Today, the 'Bows will try to catch up on the court with their only practice in preparation for UNLV. They have not had a full practice since last Wednesday at Tulsa's Hale High School (the 'Bows played games on Thursday and Friday, then took the next three days off to rest and travel).

"There's going to be some fatigue and this is a tough thing to ask of any team," Campbell said. "But we can't make any excuses. We have to go out and play."

The 'Bows said a three-night stay in Las Vegas had nothing to do with their decision to continue the season.

"I'm sure it helps to be in a fun place," Campbell said. "But if they told us we had to go to Vermont to play this game, I would still want to go."

Rebels recovering, too: UNLV (21-10) practiced yesterday for the first time since a heartbreaking 62-61 loss to Colorado State in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"We're not recovered yet," UNLV head coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "We were very depressed after losing that game, and it was also our third game in three days, so we're beat up physically as well."

The Rebels did not score in the final four minutes against Colorado State, allowing the Rams to overcome a 10-point deficit. The winning basket came with 5.7 seconds remaining.

What's more, the Rebels hoped to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"Reasonable people had given up, but I didn't," Spoonhour said. "I thought we had a good enough RPI and strength of schedule to get in, but I guess I was wrong."

However, Spoonhour was quick to add that the Rebels were not looking at the NIT as a consolation prize.

"We were pleasantly surprised to find out we got another home game," he said. "We're going to try to make the most of it and go out as winners on our home court."