Hawai'i in ship shape for season
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is taking a weights and see approach this season.
Advertiser library photo • March 13, 2001
According to head coach Riley Wallace, weightlifting will become a mandatory phase of weekly practices this season, both here and on the road.
"You don't have to worry about conditioning because you expect these guys to be in running shape already," head coach Riley Wallace said.
"We talked in the offseason about ways to improve and one of the big things was getting more time in the weight room," Wallace said. "The feeling the players had last year was that they felt good and strong at the start of the season, but as it went along, we got further away from the weight room and so they started to feel sluggish."
The training started two months ago during the team's fall conditioning program. Every scholarship player had to participate in daily weightlifting and running sessions under the supervision of UH strength coach Tommy Heffernan.
Senior forward Phil Martin was the standout of the final conditioning tests administered two weeks ago. He finished among the team leaders in nearly every category for running, jumping and lifting.
Most notable, Martin set a team record of 265 pounds in the power clean lift (hoisting the barbell from the ground to above the shoulders in one motion). Before Martin, the team record in the power clean lift was 243 by Mike Robinson in 1998.
• Power clean lift 1. Phil Martin, 265 pounds • Bench press 1. Haim Shimonovich, 295 pounds • Vertical jump 1. Jason Carter, 41 inches • Standing jump 1 (tie). Phil Martin and Julian Sensley, can touch 11 feet, 5 inches • 1-mile run 1 (tie). Phil Martin and Vaidotas Peciukas, 5 minutes, 18 seconds • 60-yard shuttle run 1. Logan Lee, 11.47 seconds
"I'm motivated this year to put up good numbers and have a good senior year," Martin said. "And it all starts with the work you do before the season."
UH men's basketball strength and conditioning tests
2. Haim Shimonovich, 243
3 (tie). Jeff Blackett and Michael Kuebler, 242
2. Phil Martin, 265
3 (tie). Jeff Blackett and Michael Kuebler, 260
2. Phil Martin, 39
3 (tie). Logan Lee and Paul Jesinskis, 37
3. Jeff Blackett, 11-1
3. Bobby Nash, 5:19
2. Michael Kuebler, 11.97
3. Phil Martin, 11.99
Martin, who is from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, stayed in Honolulu over the summer specifically to work on his conditioning.
It paid off in the running and jumping drills. Martin, who is 6 feet 8 and 225 pounds, had a vertical jump of 39 inches, second only to guard Jason Carter's 41 inches.
He also tied forward Vaidotas Peciukas for the fastest time in the 1-mile run (5 minutes, 18 seconds), and completed the 60-yard shuttle run in 11.99 seconds, the best time by far among the UH "big men."
"My strength has improved a lot, but I'm really happy that I improved with my legs and endurance," he said. "All of that stuff is going to help me during the season. The strength, the speed, the footwork, that's everything you need, especially on defense."
Newcomer Logan Lee proved to be the quickest player on the team. He recorded the fastest times in both the 40-yard and 60-yard shuttle runs.
The intense preseason training allowed the coaches to focus strictly on basketball once practices officially started Oct. 18.
"You don't have to worry about conditioning because you expect these guys to be in running shape already," Wallace said. "You also don't have to worry as much about guys getting hurt or pulling (muscles)."
• Ticket sales: Season-ticket sales for UH men's basketball are scheduled to start today.
Only upper level seats are available for the season package, which features 16 regular-season home games. Prices are $185 for adults, $79 for students ages 4 to 18, and $49 for UH students.
Super Rooter season tickets are $105 for UH students, and $175 (plus a $40 premium seat donation) for guests. The Super Rooter package does not include Rainbow Classic tickets.
Tickets can be purchased at the Stan Sheriff Center box office during normal business hours (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), or by phone at 944-2697, or on the Internet at www.etickethawaii.com.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
