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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Rainbows add history lesson to road work

 •  WAC standings

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

RILEY WALLACE

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is getting a little historical perspective in Dallas this week.

Yesterday, the Rainbow Warriors visited the Sixth Floor Museum, which is dedicated to former president John F. Kennedy. The 40th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas was two months ago.

"It was very interesting," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "It's good to get some educational experience in."

Last night, it was back to business as the 'Bows practiced in Moody Coliseum, which has served as the home arena for Southern Methodist since 1956.

Hawai'i will play SMU tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. (Hawai'i time). It is the second of three Western Athletic Conference games on an 11-day road trip for the 'Bows. Hawai'i will conclude the trip with a game at Louisiana Tech Saturday.

Hawai'i has won eight of its last nine games, and is 10-3 overall and 2-1 in the WAC. SMU has lost three of its last four, and is 7-6 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

"Every year, they seem to have the same kind of team," Wallace said of the Mustangs. "Very quick, very athletic."

The Mustangs are also very experienced, at least in their starting lineup.

Quinton Ross, last season's WAC Player of the Year, is now playing professional basketball, but four other starters from last season's 17-13 team return: point guard Bryan Hopkins, wing Justin Isham, forward Patrick Simpson and center Eric Castro.

This season's fifth starter, forward Kris Lowe, was last season's sixth man.

"That's a good crew they can put out," Wallace said. "But they don't go deep. They really rely on those starters."

According to SMU head coach Mike Dement, the Mustangs have not had a consistent stretch yet this season, even though they beat Purdue and Texas Tech in December.

"We've had problems with our consistency from game to game, even half to half," he said. "So that's our biggest challenge this week — trying to respond to a very good Hawai'i team."

• Rare Moody: Only four of SMU's previous 13 games have been played in Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs are 2-2 in their home arena this season.

Hawai'i is 2-5 all-time in Moody, including a 78-69 loss last season.

Going live: The 'Bows are planning to attend tonight's NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Center.

The last time the team was there, they were playing Xavier in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

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

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