'Bows could play Kentucky this season
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team needs one more opponent to fill out its 2004-05 schedule, and the Rainbow Warriors are trolling for a big one.
Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said he is negotiating with national power Kentucky for a home-and-home series, which could begin with a game in November.
The tentative plan is for the 'Bows to open the upcoming season with a road game at Kentucky. In return, Wallace wants the Wildcats to open Hawai'i's 2006-07 season in the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I don't want to go there unless we can get a home game (in return) out of it," Wallace said.
That could be the snag.
Wallace said Kentucky officials are not interested in playing a single game in Honolulu, even though the Wildcats are scheduled to play in the Maui Invitational in 2006.
Wallace is trying to persuade the Kentucky coaches to play in the Stan Sheriff Center a few days after the conclusion of the 2006 Maui Invitational.
"Teams have done it before," Wallace said. "But they said they're concerned because they have a big game with Indiana coming up after Maui and so they wanted to get home and get ready for that game."
Kentucky officials have offered Hawai'i an undisclosed guaranteed payout just to play the one game at Kentucky in November, but Wallace said he would probably not take that deal.
"We can make more money with a home game," Wallace said. "And if Kentucky comes here to play us, we'll get a good crowd. That's why I want it to be a home-and-home and nothing else."
The Wildcats return 10 players, including two starters, from last year's team that finished 27-5 and won the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Scott Rigot, a former assistant coach under Wallace at Hawai'i, is now an assistant coach at Kentucky under Tubby Smith.
The 'Bows will return seven players from last year's team that finished 21-12 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT.
Hawai'i has played at Kentucky's storied Rupp Arena once before — an 86-59 loss in 1987.
Four non-conference games are on the 2004-05 Hawai'i schedule: home games against Coastal Carolina (Nov. 26), Southern Illinois (Nov. 29) and Saint Mary's (Dec. 11), and a road game at Saint Louis (Dec. 4).
Also, the 'Bows will play three non-conference games in the Rainbow Classic, which is scheduled for Dec. 20 to 23. Teams participating in this year's Classic are Hawai'i, Alabama-Birmingham, Clemson, Georgetown, Indiana State, Long Beach State, Oral Roberts and Southern California.
Hawai'i is also expected to play a non-conference game in February against an opponent yet to be determined as part of ESPN's Bracket Buster games.
Wallace said he is also negotiating with Michigan State to play a game in the Stan Sheriff Center for the 2005-06 season. The Spartans are scheduled to play in the 2005 Maui Invitational, so Wallace would like to play them either a few days before or after that tournament.
Frost leaving
Jed Frost is leaving the UH men's basketball program after three seasons as its director of basketball operations.
He and his wife, Beth, will return to their hometown of Kansas City, Mo., next week. Frost said he would like to pursue a full-time coaching position.
"I had a great time here; we went to the postseason all three years," Frost said. "But there are more opportunities on the Mainland, and I'd like to see what else is out there for me. This wouldn't be possible without the help Coach Wallace and everybody else on the staff gave me."
Wallace said he would like to fill the position by the end of this summer.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
