Rainbows are trying to resolve problems in post

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Maybe the saying is true: the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Haim Shimonovich and Jeff Blackett, two key post players for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team, are sitting out of practice this week with injuries that might be more serious than anticipated.

Shimonovich, a 6-foot-10 senior center and co-captain, has already missed the first two weeks of practice with tendinitis in his right Achilles.

Blackett, a 6-8 recruit out of Salt Lake Community College, has foot and ankle injuries.

Shimonovich has started the past two seasons; Blackett is expected to be a key reserve at both the center and power forward spots.

"The way it's looking right now, I'm not counting on them to be ready (for the season opener on Nov. 21)," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "Even if they come back in a week or two, they would have missed a lot of practice time."

Wallace said he is concerned because the rest of the team has been working on new offensive plays while "mixing and matching" lineups without Shimonovich and Blackett.

"This is key practice time that these guys are missing," Wallace said. "When they come back, they'll be behind everybody else."

Shimonovich and Blackett are scheduled to have their injuries examined again this week.

Sophomore Milos Zivanovic, senior Paul Jesinskis and senior co-captain Phil Martin have been rotating into the center and power forward positions in practice.

"I went through it last year and it sucks to just sit there on the sideline," said Jesinskis, who redshirted last season with a fractured wrist. "The good thing is that everybody else is getting a lot of playing time and showing what they can do. It's a good test for us and it shows that anything can happen at any time during the season."

Sophomore recruit Julian Sensley is slated to start at small forward, but he has also been practicing at power forward to fill the void.

"If guys are hurt and not here, you can't wait," Wallace said. "You just have to get the next guy ready and go from there."

Only one: Leilehua graduate Garland Gantt is the only walk-on remaining with the team.

Tui Avaava, a former football player at Washington State, cannot practice until he clears his transfer paperwork. Kamehameha graduate Chris Akana is no longer on the roster.

Happy 62nd: Riley Wallace celebrated his 62nd birthday Tuesday.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.