UH, Rice focused on their big game

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	TODAY ON RADIO Hawai'i at Rice 3:05 p.m. 1420-AM

Oh yeah, and the Super Bowl is being played here on Sunday, too.

For the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team, today's game against Rice is as big as it gets. First place in the Western Athletic Conference will be on the line when the Owls host the Rainbow Warriors today at 3:05 p.m. (Hawai'i time) at Autry Court.

Still, billboards and banners all over the city offer a constant reminder about Super Sunday. In keeping with their recent road trend, the 'Bows visited a shopping mall yesterday. Even there, a whole shop was dedicated to Super Bowl merchandise.

Not that any of it mattered to the 'Bows. A sampling of a few of the Hawai'i players:

"It's the Patriots and the Cougars, right? I have no idea who's better," said reserve center Milos Zivanovic.

Starting center Haim Shimonovich said: "I know it's Carolina and New England, but I don't think I ever saw those teams before."

Reserve forward Vaidotas Peciukas added: "I don't even know who's playing. Ask me about the NBA and I might know a little more."

Sure, those three players are from Europe and did not grow up around American football, but the point is ...

"It's basketball season as far as I'm concerned," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "I could care less who wins the Super Bowl."

That's because Hawai'i is alone in first place in the WAC at 14-3 overall and 6-1 in the conference. Rice is 13-5 overall and 5-2 in the WAC.

The Owls, who have never finished higher than third place in the WAC in their seven previous seasons, can move into a tie for first place with a win today.

"I think it's real simple," Rice head coach Willis Wilson said when asked to explain his team's improvement this season. "We have better players and more experienced players."

Leading the way is Michael Harris, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound junior forward. He is one of the conference's best all-around players, averaging 18.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

"We have a chance to play for first place, and that's something we really haven't done in my first two years here," Harris said. "Even though we're coming off a loss, we're still excited to be right there near the top. We're taking this as a big game."

Nevada beat Rice, 101-76, on Saturday in Reno. It ended a stretch of four games in eight days — including three road games — for the Owls.

"I'm not sure we're refreshed yet," Wilson said. "But all things considered, going 2-2 through a stretch like that ... there's worse scenarios you can get."

Today's game will feature a contrast in sizes. The Owls do not start a player taller than 6-6. The 'Bows will counter with 6-10 Shimonovich at center, and 6-9 Julian Sensley and 6-8 Phil Martin at forwards.

"Almost every team comes in here bigger than us," Harris said. "But our mindset is that size doesn't matter. As long as we rebound hard and play aggressive, we're OK."

What's more, the Owls do have size on the bench in 6-9 Yamar Diene and 6-8 Christian Kollik.

"We could start a bigger lineup, but we don't because this is the lineup that has worked for us," Wilson said.

Diene had 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 75-58 Rice victory over Hawai'i last season at Autry Court. However, Shimonovich sat out that game with an ankle injury.

"I'm not looking at it as a special game because of that; that was last year," Shimonovich said. "It's more important this year; we are in first place and they are right behind."

Some Super Bowl activities are scheduled to take place on the Rice campus this week, but even the Owls are resisting temptations.

"There's parties all over town and stuff, but the Super Bowl is not 'til Sunday," Harris said. "We have two games before that, and if we can win both, then we can enjoy the Super Bowl."

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