Posted on: Friday, October 17, 2003
Veteran Goo relying on youth
| • | Midnight is Sensley's time |
| • | UH still has outside shot at hoops title |
| • | FERD LEWIS WAC's future talk of town |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
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VINCE GOO
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Indeed, Goo kicked the idea around for several months during the off season, but never one to walk away from a challenge, the dean of WAC basketball coaches returns for what is his 17th season and one of his tallest orders on the court.
For the first time in eight years of WAC play, the Rainbow Wahine are picked as low as fourth place, a recognition of the youth of this year's team, which has seven freshmen and just one senior on its 14-player squad and acquires seven freshmen.
That the Rainbow Wahine weren't picked much lower in the 10-team conference, coaches say, was also testament to Goo, who has a 326-146 (69 percent) career record. "It just shows you the respect for that man right over there," said Kurt Budke, coach of defending champion and preseason favorite Louisiana Tech, pointing to Goo.
| Women's coaches 1. La.Tech (9) 81 2. Rice (1) 70 3. SMU 60 4. Hawai'i 51 5. Fresno State 45 6. San Jose St. 40 7. Tulsa 39 8. UTEP 30 9. Boise State 21 10. Nevada 13 Preseason All-WAC: Andrea Cossey (SMU), Trina Frierson (Louisiana Tech), Johnetta Hayes (Rice), Amber Obaze (Louisiana Tech), Cricket Williams (San Jose State). Player of the Year: Frierson. |
Said Goo: "Ah, they just want to pump us up so they can get rid of me."
Goo said he agreed to return on "a year-to-year basis" and is scheduled to meet with athletic director Herman Frazier shortly to talk about the future. "I made some commitments to the seven freshmen and their parents," Goo said. "I want to get them started in the right direction, not just basketball-wise, but academically and community-wise and then we'll be all right."
Goo said the recruiting class "is as good as we've had. All they lack is experience but they're going to have to grow in a hurry this year."
In the meantime, Goo said he plans to dip into the past and will probably platoon his players this year for the first time since 1991-'92, when the Rainbow Wahine won 25 games.
"We have a lot of players who, right now, are about even, so we'll take a look at it," Goo said.
Foremost among them is forward Jade Abele, who was selected to the preseason all-WAC second team, the only UH player honored, by a vote of the coaches.
The Rainbow Wahine debut at tonight's Midnight 'Ohana festivities at the Stan Sheriff Center and then open drills with a double session tomorrow.
"After that, we'll see if the players still really want me back," Goo said.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
