UH hoops team hopes to end season on a high note
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team might be in an outside lane, but at least it's in the race.
Entering the final week of the regular season, the Rainbow Warriors are one of four teams still in contention for the Western Athletic Conference championship.
Hawai'i is 19-8 overall and tied for second place in the conference at 11-5. The 'Bows will close the regular season at Nevada on Thursday, and at Fresno State on Saturday.
"You have to do whatever you can to keep winning and get seeded as high as you can for the (WAC) Tournament," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "We might have the toughest road among the teams still in it."
At best, Hawai'i can win its final two games and finish in a tie for first place. Depending on how some of the other games play out, Hawai'i could still earn the No. 1 seed for the WAC Tournament.
At worst, the 'Bows could lose their final two games and drop as low as a No. 5 seed.
"When you look at how even the league is this year, it probably won't matter who you draw," Wallace said. "But for a lot of other reasons, you need to keep winning to take that momentum into the (WAC) Tournament."
What's more, the 'Bows need one more victory to achieve the 10th 20-win season in school history.
But it's not going to be easy.
Hawai'i, Nevada and Rice are tied for second place in the WAC at 11-5. Texas-El Paso is alone in first at 13-4, and has already clinched at least a tie for the regular-season title.
The 'Bows are 0-5 all-time against Nevada in games played in Reno, Nev.
"First of all, they have the best talent in the league," Wallace said of the Wolf Pack. "Then you got the distractions of a casino city. And throw in the fact that you have to play at a very high altitude and you can see why a lot of teams struggle there, not just us."
Nevada is 13-0 at home this season, including a victory over nationally ranked Kansas. However, Hawai'i beat the Wolf Pack, 60-53, in the Stan Sheriff Center on Jan. 5. It was Nevada's lowest output of the season.
Long trip: The 'Bows are scheduled to leave for Reno this morning. They will then fly to Fresno, Calif., on Friday.
After Saturday's game at Fresno State, the 'Bows will stay in Fresno for the WAC Tournament, March 9-13.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
