UH motivation: 20th win, revenge
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
FRESNO, Calif. — This city was abuzz yesterday, and the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team was in the middle of it.
Not that anybody was so much interested in the arrival of the Rainbow Warriors. Not when the other headline act at the new Save Mart Center is Britney Spears.
The superstar pop singer performed in a sold-out concert last night, and was rumored to be staying at the same hotel as the 'Bows.
Hawai'i will try to be as successful tonight when it plays Fresno State in the final regular-season game of the season at the Save Mart Center.
"We're tired, as you would expect," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "But we talked about all the things we have to play for, and so I think we'll come out with a good effort."
The 'Bows are 19-9 overall and in a three-way tie for third place in the Western Athletic Conference at 11-6. Hawai'i could finish anywhere from No. 3 to No. 5 in the seedings for next week's WAC Tournament — which is also in Fresno — based on tonight's outcome.
The Bulldogs are 13-14 overall and 9-8 in the conference. They need a victory tonight to avoid the dreaded play-in games of the tournament. If Fresno State wins, it will be the No. 6 seed and avoid a play-in game. If it loses, it could drop into a play-in game as a No. 7 seed.
"This game is big for us," Fresno State guard Marcus West said. "We don't want to be in that play-in game in our own arena."
The 'Bows have other motivating factors. For one, Fresno State beat Hawai'i, 69-58, at the Stan Sheriff Center on Jan. 3.
"It was a long time ago, but it's still in the back of our minds," said Hawai'i sophomore forward Julian Sensley. "It's still motivating because they came to our place and kicked our (butts)."
If the 'Bows win tonight, it would mean that they have defeated every team in the WAC at least once this season.
"That's the only team in the WAC we haven't beaten yet, so we're shooting for that," said Hawai'i junior forward Jeff Blackett. "That way we can get our 20 wins, and go into the (WAC) Tournament knowing that we can beat any team there."
Sensley said he is especially motivated to play well in tonight's game. He once attended Fresno State for a semester before eventually signing with Hawai'i. Legendary former Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian stopped by the UH practice last night to chat with Wallace and Sensley.
"There's some memories for me in this place," Sensley said. "This is probably the most excited I've been for a game. Not just because I have friends here, but also because I didn't do anything that game when they beat us back home."
Sensley had the worst game of the season in the last meeting with the Bulldogs. Mostly because he had an injured shoulder, he finished with one point and five rebounds.
He also did not fare well in UH's last game, finishing with six points and six rebounds in a 77-64 loss at Nevada on Thursday.
"We need to get more out of Julian," Wallace said. "You can see how he's so important to what we do."
The Bulldogs will play with a depleted roster tonight, just as they have almost all season. Three players — Terry Pettis, Renaldo Major and Jonathan Woods — have been dismissed from the team for violating team rules. Major and Woods, two projected starters, were suspended for the last Hawai'i game.
"We've had a difficult season," Fresno State head coach Ray Lopes said. "It's been such an inconsistent season from our roster to our play. I'm just glad we finally got a group that I know is going to be dependable every day."
The most dependable Bulldog is senior point guard Shantay Legans. He leads the team with 14.8 points and 5.7 assists, and will likely be a first-team All-WAC selection.
"I can play what ever way I like because of my point guard," Lopes said. "We can go up and down (running) or we can control it in the half-court."
In any case, the 'Bows will not have much time to get adjusted to the Save Mart Center, which opened this season and has a capacity of 16,116. Because of the Britney Spears concert, both teams had to workout in a practice gym yesterday.
Hawai'i will get a one-hour shootaround in the arena today before the game.
"It won't make a difference," Wallace said. "This time of year, it's about executing."
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
