Hawai'i's mission clearly defined

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	ON THE AIR 2:50 p.m. Hawai'i at SMU 1420-AM

Visibility was reported as 1/10th of a mile, and several traffic accidents ensued. But by afternoon, the fog was gone and blue skies appeared.

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will try to take a similar hit-and-run approach today when it plays Southern Methodist in a Western Athletic Conference game today at 3:05 p.m. (Hawai'i time) in Moody Coliseum.

"The overall feeling of this team right now is that we're up for any challenge on the road," said UH senior co-captain Phil Martin. "We've been having fun here in Dallas, but if we can get this win and get out of here, then our mission is accomplished."

The 'Bows, who are 10-3 overall and 2-1 in the WAC, have been in Dallas since Sunday. Since then, they've visited museums, shopping malls and restaurants. Last night, they attended an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers.

"Everybody's having a good time," senior Jason Carter said. "We're getting to know each other more by being together on the road and that makes a difference, too."

Hawai'i also got in two days of practice at historic Moody Coliseum, including an intense two-hour session yesterday.

"It's kind of cool; I like it," said sophomore Julian Sensley, who will play his first game in the 47-year-old arena today. "You can see there's a lot of tradition here. So I think it was a big help to get in here for a couple of days to get used to the feel of the court and everything else."

Hawai'i's extended stay in Dallas has SMU head coach Mike Dement concerned. The Mustangs are coming off two road losses last week at Fresno State and Nevada. In essence, they arrived in Dallas the same day that the 'Bows did.

"We've kind of lost any home-court opportunity we might have had," Dement said. "They've practiced here this week as much as we have."

Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace disagreed with that theory. "Trust me," Wallace said. "They still have home-court advantage."

SMU is 7-6 overall and 1-2 in the WAC. The Mustangs' five starters — all returnees from last season's 17-13 team — play the majority of the minutes and score the majority of the points. That might make them easy to scout, but it does not make them easy to guard.

"They've got good athletes at all five spots," Wallace said. "So they'll try to run and beat you off the dribble."

The primary player for that attack is sophomore point guard Bryan Hopkins, who was last season's WAC Freshman of the Year. He is averaging a team-high 16.4 points and 32.4 minutes per game.

"I prepared myself this summer to step up and play a bigger role," he said. "We just lost two games, but we know it's not over. That's why we're focused on this game with Hawai'i."

Hopkins has been battling the flu this week, and returned to practice for the first time yesterday.

"He should be strong by (today)," Dement said. "We're a team that needs everybody playing well."

So does Hawai'i. In part because today's game is part of an 11-day road trip, Wallace said he plans to give several of his reserve players extended minutes, among them Jeff Blackett, Bobby Nash and Paul Jesinskis. It is also due in part to the bench players' key role in an 83-76 road victory at San Jose State on Saturday.

The UH reserves combined for 41 points against San Jose State, including a career-high 19 from Blackett. In contrast, SMU's reserves combined for 19 points in an 84-74 loss at Nevada on Saturday.

"Hawai'i's got a good bench and our bench just needs to get better," Dement said. "Our starters play a lot simply because our bench needs to get better."

Win or lose, the 'Bows will make a quick escape out of Dallas. They are scheduled to board a bus immediately after today's game for a five-hour ride to Ruston, La. Hawai'i will conclude its three-game WAC road trip against Louisiana Tech Saturday.

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