Hawai'i-Hilo favored to capture PacWest crown
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
After five years, Pacific West Conference coaches have finally embraced the Law.
For the first time, coaches voted Jeff Law's Hawai'i-Hilo men's basketball team as the preseason favorite in the six-team Pacific West Conference.
"It's nice to be recognized," said Law, who led the Vulcans to their first NCAA Division II Tournament berth last season and has gone 79-65 since his arrival in 1998. "Walking around with a target around your back is not an easy thing. We try to use it as motivation."
The PacWest season starts tonight with Hawai'i Pacific hosting Montana State-Billings and defending conference champion Brigham Young-Hawai'i hosting Western New Mexico. UH-Hilo hosts Chaminade on Thursday.
Of the four Hawai'i teams, UH-Hilo has one of the best blends of offense and defense. The Vulcans rank second in offense (76.8 ppg) and are tied with Chaminade in scoring defense (69.3 ppg).
"Early in the season, I thought scoring would be a strong point for us, but defense carried us a couple of games," Law said. "When we do shoot the ball well, we are a pretty good team. But we can still win even if we're not doing a lot of things with the ball."
The Vulcans are led by guard Ryan Abrahams, a first-team All-PacWest selection and the preseason conference player of the year.
"He's probably one of the few players in the conference who can do everything: pass, rebound, shoot the three, go to the basket and get in transition," Hawai'i Pacific coach Russell Dung said. "He's definitely a good player for this conference."
Here's a scouting report on the four Hawai'i teams:
Chaminade (2-7)
Coach: Aaron Griess (entering 4th year, 46-44)
Last season: 12-15 overall, 7-8 Pacific West Conference, fourth place
Top players: Roy Stigall III (g, 6-1, sr., 9.4 ppg, 1.89 apg, 1.33 spg, 2.0 rpg), Sam Henning (f, 6-5, jr., .578 fg pct., 4.6 rpg, 7.6 ppg), Bryon Sykes (g, 6-1, sr., .857 ft pct., 5.9 ppg), Nick Frey (c, 6-9, jr., .514 fg pct., 6.8 rpg, 10.4 ppg), Kashif Reyes (g, 5-10, sr., .400 3-pt pct., 1.000 ft pct., 9.1 ppg), Chris Acker (g, 6-1, jr., 2.4 rpg, 7.2 ppg)
Overview: After upsetting Villanova and losing two close games against Hawai'i and San Diego State in the Maui Invitational, the Silverswords have gone 1-5. Griess said his team needs to focus for the entire game and must respond to opponents' rallies. "We've let some leads go, and we made some mistakes," Griess said. "We need to have a more consistent effort."
Coaches skinny: "Aaron always has his guys ready to play at conference time," Law said. "Everybody is 0-0 now. Those guards are tough to chase around. He did a good job in getting Frye and Henning. Chaminade plays hard, but they haven't had a couple of breaks go their way. It's just a matter of them shaking out of it."
Brigham Young-Hawai'i (10-2)
Coach: Ken Wagner (entering 14th year, 260-131)
Last season: 19-4 overall, 13-2 Pacific West Conference, first place
Top players: Jake Chrisman (f/c 6-9, jr., .566 fg pct., 4.7 rpg, 21.2 ppg); Shawn Opunui (g, 6-1, so., .539 fg pct., .508 3-pt pct., .863 ft pct., 2.92 apg, 2.17 spg, 18.6 ppg), Michael Stowell (g, 6-4, jr., .496 fg pct., 4.0 rpg, 14.7 ppg), Austin Smylie (f, 6-7, so., .537 fg pct., 7.3 rpg, 10.2 ppg), Beau Nobmann (g, 6-1, sr., 3.5 rpg, 4.33 apg, 2.3 spg, 3.8 ppg).
Overview: The defending PacWest champs became the second NCAA-II team to win an exempted tournament by beating three NCAA-I teams in the Hawai'i Surf 'N Slam tournament. The Seasiders have replaced all-conference forward Alexus Foyle and center Scott Salisbury with Smylie and Chrisman and haven't missed a beat in the preseason. "I thought our guys played well," Wagner said. "We had such a tough schedule early. I was a little concerned because we had a lot of new players, yet they have really stepped in and done well."
Coaches skinny: "They're going to be tough to play," Griess said. "They have some really tough kids who work really hard. Chrisman and Opunui are playing so well right now. They're a good ball club."
Hawai'i Pacific (3-8)
Coach: Russell Dung (2nd year, 20-18)
Last season: 17-10 overall, 6-9 Pacific West Conference, fifth place
Top players: Marvin Noble (g, 5-11, sr., .507 fg pct., .452 3-pt pct., .886 ft pct., 3.73 apg, 18.5 ppg), Aaron Abrams (g, 6-4, sr., 5.3 rpg, 20.3 ppg), Albert Tecul (g, 6-4, sr., .539 fg pct., .467 3-pt pct., 4.0 rpg, 3.67 apg, 10.3 ppg), Jay Bussey (f, 6-5, sr., 5.0 rpg, 4.8 ppg), Audrius Peciukas (f, 6-9, so., 7.0 rpg, 7.5 ppg), Dante Sykes (g, 6-2, jr., .556 3-pt pct., 3.9 rpg, 2.36 apg, 7.1 ppg)
Overview: The Sea Warriors started 0-7 before winning against Notre Dame de Namur (Calif.) on Dec. 16. HPU lost to Adams State, 74-71, and in double overtime to then-No. 1 Humboldt State, 87-86. "It took us a while to assess personnel and then try to get the chemistry going, and put wins together," Dung said. "We ended the preseason with a couple of wins. We got a little confidence going there."
Coaches skinny: "I think they're still dangerous," Wagner said. "Their guards really shoot the ball well. They're the type of team that could catch fire and really have a good league season."
Hawai'i-Hilo (8-2)
Coach: Jeff Law (entering 6th year, 79-65)
Last season: 18-10 overall, 10-5 Pacific West Conference, second place
Top players: Ryan Abrahams (g, 6-3, sr., 18.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .487 fg pct., .926 ft pct., 2 spg), Joe Travis (f, 6-7, jr., 13.5 ppg, .490 fg pct., 8.4 rpg, 1.7 bpg), Alex Cabagnot (g, 6-1, jr., 9.7 ppg, 4.8 apg), Justin Griffin (g, 6-4, jr., 9.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Ryan Hogue (f, 6-7, sr., 3.5 rpg, 6.8 ppg), Terrance Troupe (f, 6-6, so., .511 fg pct., 5.5 rpg, 5.8 ppg).
Overview: Abrahams has scored 20 or more points in six of 10 games. "I'm very happy with his progression," Law said. "His game, his demeanor and his work ethic have improved. Any accolades he gets is deserved." Cabagnot ranks among the league leaders in assists and Travis is one of the best sixth men in the league.
Coaches skinny: "They have a little bit of everything," Griess said. "They have a new point guard (Cabagnot) who I really think can play. He doesn't make mistakes. You have a scorer on the wing in Abrahams, and Joe Travis who can play inside and out. They're pretty good."
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
