Posted on: Saturday, December 18, 2004
'Bows' Wallace back in form after surgery
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i men's basketball head coach Riley Wallace has never believed in taking things easy.
So he was his usual coaching self yesterday in his first day back at practice with the Rainbow Warriors since undergoing a successful angioplasty Wednesday to improve blood flow to his heart.
For people who don't know Wallace, his usual coaching self consists of constant shouting of instructions at his players. Not exactly the kind of prescription for recovery you'd expect.
"That's what comes natural to me," said Wallace, 63. "It would be harder for me not to yell."
Sophomore guards Bobby Nash and Matt Gibson took their share of shouts from Wallace yesterday, and they both said they were somewhat glad to hear it. Wallace missed two days of practice because of his condition.
"He brings something to this team that no one else can," Gibson said. "He's the guy that fires everybody up. It was totally different without him here."
Nash added: "Coach is never going to change. I like that consistency about him."
Wallace said the blockage of his coronary artery was probably stress-related. And he was quick to point out that coaching this 5-0 Hawai'i team is more stressful than others from his previous 17 seasons at UH.
"There's more pressure when you're winning," he said. "If we were 3-2, you get used to the losses and so it's not so bad. When you're undefeated, you don't want that loss to come and you're constantly thinking about it."
If anything, Wallace has learned from his past. He missed two games during the 1997-98 season when he underwent a similar procedure on another coronary artery.
Perhaps not coincidentally, that was the last time a Hawai'i team started the season 5-0.
"I knew the feeling because I had it before," he said. "It's a good thing I went in because once I did, the doctors told me I had to stay otherwise I could have a heart attack."
Wallace said he will maintain his demeanor on the court, but is vowing to change his lifestyle away from basketball.
He said he will buy a treadmill for Christmas for him and his wife, Joan, to use at home.
"I have to change some things," he said. "My diet has always been OK, but some of this is inherited so I just need to watch out."
He said all three of his brothers have heart problems also.
Because he missed practice earlier in the week, Wallace said he has yet to review film on Long Beach State, which is Hawai'i's opening opponent Monday for the 41st annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.
"I know that they've played a tough schedule, so they're probably better than their record," Wallace said of the 1-5 49ers.
Wallace said the Rainbow Classic has taken a different feel in recent years because the 'Bows have become the team to beat.
Hawai'i has won four of the last five Rainbow Classics, including the last three. From 1974 through '96, Hawai'i won only one championship.
"I expect to win it now," Wallace said. "It wasn't always that way because we had so many good teams here. Now, it's harder to get them to come because they know how good we are at home."
Other teams in this year's field are Alabama at Birmingham, Clemson, Georgetown, Indiana State, Oral Roberts and Southern California. The tournament begins Monday and runs through Thursday.
Starting forward Jeff Blackett returned to practice yesterday for the first time since sustaining a concussion and a sore neck in last Saturday's 84-77 victory over Saint Mary's.
"The neck's still a little stiff, but once I get going, it's fine," he said.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
'Bows still preparing for Classic opener
Blackett cleared to play in Rainbow Classic
