Rainbows worked hard to get to top

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Practice has led to perfection in the past three weeks for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

Thanks in part to hustling practice habits, the Rainbow Warriors have won five consecutive games and are tied for first place in the Western Athletic Conference.

The 'Bows, who are 13-3 overall and 5-1 in the conference, will host Boise State (11-5, 3-3) in a WAC game tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"Last year, I remember we'd have a lot of bad practices and it would show in the games," said senior guard Michael Kuebler. "This year, it's like we come out and practice hard every single day. Ever since that loss to Fresno State (on Jan. 3), we realized how hard we have to work and that all starts with practice."

Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said this year's 'Bows are displaying a work ethic worthy of first place.

"With the exception of that Fresno State game, this team is alert and ready to go every game," Wallace said. "It's a team that wants to learn, and so they're eager to come out for practice every day."

The 'Bows were at it again yesterday, preparing for a Boise State team that is only two victories shy of matching last season's win total — the Broncos were 13-16 last season.

Before next Wednesday's game at Rice can become a showdown for first place, the 'Bows need to continue their winning ways against Boise State.

"They're definitely improved," Wallace said. "They got a lot of guys back from last year, so that had to help."

Six players who started games last season returned this year for Boise State, including the top three scorers: Aaron Haynes, Bryan Defares and Jason Ellis.

Boise State head coach Greg Graham installed a fast-paced offense during his first season as head coach last season, but the Broncos struggled to produce 65.4 points per game

This season, the Broncos rank second in the WAC with 77.5 points per game.

"We understand it better and the veterans are a little more comfortable with it," Graham said. "Instead of having to teach everything, we're able to work at getting better."

Four Broncos average double-figure points, led by Jermaine Blackburn's 15.3, and 6-foot-7 Jason Ellis ranks second in the WAC with 9.6 rebounds per game.

But according to Graham, the Broncos like to play as a herd, with no player averaging more than 30 minutes per game.

"We kind of do it by committee," he said. "We may have a guy one night or two nights step up. Then the next night it will be somebody else."

What's more, the Broncos are 6-2 on the road this season, including a 70-54 victory at San Jose State on Thursday.

Hawai'i defeated Texas-El Paso, 85-63, on Thursday. Boise State beat that same UTEP team, 98-94, in El Paso on Jan. 3.

"I would say Boise State will come in here as a better team than UTEP," Wallace said. "They're winning on the road, and that's always the sign of a good team."

But Hawai'i is becoming a pretty good team itself. The 'Bows are limiting opponents to a 38.5 field-goal percentage and 63.4 points per game during their five-game winning streak.

"They got lots of weapons," Graham said of Hawai'i. "They're big, they shoot it, they defend, they rebound and they can score. They got the whole package and can easily win the conference."

The 'Bows are using their place atop the WAC as incentive.

"It's all on us now," said Kuebler, who leads the WAC with 19.4 points per game. "It doesn't matter what other teams do. If we want to stay on top, all we need to do is keep winning."

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