Rainbows announce 2004-05 schedule
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
A nonconference road trip to Saint Louis and a conference game at Nevada on New Year's Day are among the highlights on the 2004-05 University of Hawai'i men's basketball schedule.
The schedule was completed this week when Mississippi Valley State agreed to play the Rainbow Warriors in the regular-season home opener on Nov. 23.
"It's not the best, but it's what we came up with," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "It's hard to get teams over here for one game, so we take what we can get."
Hawai'i is scheduled to play at Saint Louis for the first time on Dec. 4 as part of a home-and-home agreement (the Billikens will play at UH in 2005-06). The 'Bows will also host Southern Illinois on Nov. 29 as a "return" game for playing at Southern Illinois in last season's ESPN Bracket Buster.
Teams participating with UH in this year's Rainbow Classic are Alabama-Birmingham, Clemson, Georgetown, Indiana State, Long Beach State, Oral Roberts and Southern California.
Hawai'i may get to host a Bracket Buster game on Feb. 19.
In the Western Athletic Conference, the 'Bows will play each opponent once at home and once on the road for a total of 18 games. The WAC Tournament will be played at Reno, Nev.
November
19—Hawai'i-Hilo (exhibition), time TBA. 23—Mississippi Valley State, 7:05 p.m. 26—Coastal Carolina, 8:05 p.m. 29—Southern Illinois, 7:05 p.m.
December
4—at Saint Louis. 11—Saint Mary's (Calif.), 7:05 p.m. 15—Western Michigan, 7:05 p.m. 20-23—Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic (20—Georgetown vs. Oral Roberts, 5 p.m.; Hawai'i vs. Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m. 21—Alabama-Birmingham vs. Clemson, 5 p.m.; USC vs. Indiana State, 7:30 p.m. 22—consolation games at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; semifinal games at 5 and 7:30 p.m. 23—seventh place game, 11 a.m.; fifth place game, 1:30 p.m.; third place game, 5 p.m.; championship game, 7:30 p.m.) 30—at Fresno State*.
January
1—at Nevada*. 8—San Jose State*, 7:05 p.m. 13—Southern Methodist*, 7:05 p.m. 15—Louisiana Tech*, 7:05 p.m. 20—at Texas-El Paso*. 22—at Boise State*. 27—Rice*, 7:05 p.m. 29—Tulsa*, 7:05 p.m.
February
5—at San Jose State*. 10—at Louisiana Tech*. 12—at Southern Methodist*. 17—Boise State*, 7:05 p.m. 19—ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday, TBA. 21—Texas-El Paso*, 7:05 p.m. 24—at Tulsa*. 26—at Rice*.
March
3—Nevada*, 7:05 p.m. 5—Fresno State*, 7:05 p.m. 8-12—at WAC Tournament (Reno, Nev.).
*denotes Western Athletic Conference game
All home games at Stan Sheriff Center
Former guard Kuebler plans to finish degree
Former UH guard Michael Kuebler said he plans to enroll in classes at UH this semester to complete his degree in business marketing.
Kuebler was cut by the Portland Trail Blazers last month after spending one week on their summer league team.
"Just to be given the chance to do that was exciting for me," he said. "I thought I played well enough to stick a little while longer, so that was a little disappointing."
Kuebler said he was invited to try out for the Trail Blazers again in October.
"School is the better option right now," he said. "I know the situation I'm in, so I'm not getting caught up in anything unrealistic."
Kuebler, a first-team All-WAC player last season, said he would like to graduate from UH in one year, then try to play international basketball.
"It's still a goal of mine to play pro ball," he said. "But it's also a goal of mine to finish school."
Senior forward Peciukas has surgery
UH senior forward Vaidotas Peciukas underwent surgery last week to repair a broken bone in his left foot. He sustained the injury in a summer league game two weeks ago.
It is expected to take at least two months to heal, but Peciukas said he will be ready to open the season.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
