English's status key to UH's offseason
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
MINNEAPOLIS — A season of what ifs will now turn to an offseason of what now for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.
The Rainbow Warriors' 2002-03 season concluded with an 84-70 loss at Minnesota in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament Monday.
The 'Bows finished with a 19-12 record — one victory short of becoming just the seventh team in school history to post 20 or more wins in a season.
That's not exactly shabby, but this was a team that was supposed to contend for the Western Athletic Conference championship (Hawai'i tied for sixth in the WAC at 9-9).
"We lost five games by three or four points early on," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "Playing the way we do now, we would have won those games. And it would be a big difference."
Like an elevator, this was a team constantly in up-and-down motion.
There was the improbable 21-point comeback victory against Butler in the championship of the Rainbow Classic. The Bulldogs, by the way, are in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
There was also the "White-Out" overtime victory over Tulsa, and the nationally televised win at Kent State.
But there was also the two agonizing losses to lowly San Jose State, and frustrating defeats by two points at Boise State, and one point at Fresno State.
"It was too many ups and downs," leading scorer Carl English said. "We could have had a great season. We were on the verge of it.
"We were three, four, five games away from being probably the best team ever at UH. But you lose those games and you're back to mediocre again."
It didn't help that this was probably the most well-traveled team in UH history. The 'Bows played games in every time zone in the United States this season, spent a total of 57 days on the road, and logged more than 60,000 miles along the way.
"This team was resilient," Wallace said. "We competed in every game we played, except the two when we were sick and hurt (at Tulsa and at Rice)."
It wasn't too long ago that a 19-12 record with a victory in the first round of the NIT was considered a success for UH basketball. Apparently, those days are gone.
"As a team, I know we're not happy with this season," sophomore Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan said.
But counting NCAA Tournament appearances in 2001 and 2002, the 'Bows have now participated in the postseason for three consecutive seasons. It is the best three-season stretch in UH history.
This is also a team that loses only one senior starter — point guard Mark Campbell — to graduation.
"It's one of those things where it's going to be motivation to work hard in the offseason," junior Michael Kuebler said. "Try to get a chance to make it to The Dance. That's one of my goals, for sure. And I want to try to fire up the rest of the guys coming back to make that a team goal."
Which leads to the question, which guys are coming back?
English provides the biggest question. He has already stated that he wants to declare for early entry into the NBA Draft. His status will be the focus of the summer.
Junior center Haim Shimonovich has also discussed returning home to Israel for personal reasons, but Wallace expects him to play his senior season.
In any case, the 'Bows still have a solid nucleus returning. Kuebler is capable of filling English's scoring role; junior forward Phil Martin and Akpan were a formidable low-post tandem at the end of this season; guard Jason Carter and forward Vaidotas Peciukas have displayed flashes of brilliance in their limited roles.
Paul Jesinskis, a forward who redshirted this season, is also expected to contribute next season along with forwards Milos Zivanovic and Ikaika Alama-Francis.
What's more, recruits Logan Lee (point guard) and Jeff Blackett (forward) are expected to compete for starting roles immediately. Iolani senior Bobby Nash has also signed with UH, and the 'Bows have one more scholarship to give this summer.
As far as Wallace is concerned, if next year's team has the same attitude as this year's, the winning may become secondary.
"This was an absolutely fantastic bunch; best I've probably ever been around in my almost 40 years of coaching," Wallace said. "They're all good students. They study on the road, study on airplanes. It's like I've died and gone to heaven. They're just great kids."
• Banquet on April 16: The team banquet is scheduled for April 16 at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel.
Tickets are $40 per person. For information, call the UH basketball office at 956-6501.
