UH men's basketball team trying to save best for last

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

FRESNO, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is hoping to save its postseason chances in the Save Mart Center tomorrow.

According to head coach Riley Wallace, the 'Bows need to win tomorrow's game before even thinking about any postseason possibilities.

"We lose the first one, our season's over," he said. "Not even NIT will want us. But our goal is to get to the NCAA (Tournament) and the only way we can do that is to win all three (WAC Tournament) games this week, so that's what we're shooting for."

Hawai'i is 19-10 overall and the No. 5 seed in the 10-team field. Rice is 21-9 and the No. 4 seed. The teams split a pair of games this season, with each team winning at home.

The 'Bows have been in Fresno since Friday, and Wallace has turned the stay into a postseason training camp. On Monday, he put the team through a grueling three-hour practice at Fresno City College.

He even stopped practice halfway through, and was at his drill sergeant best in his attempt to "challenge" the players.

At the start of yesterday's practice, he declared all five starting spots up for grabs. By the end of practice — which included a full-court scrimmage for 20 minutes — he said there could be some changes to the lineup.

Most notable, seniors Jason Carter and Paul Jesinskis worked with the first team instead of usual starters Logan Lee and Haim Shimonovich at point guard and center, respectively.

"Sure, I consider it taking a chance at this time of year," he said. "But it's time to take that kind of chance. Why would you sit there with a hand that's been losing?"

The 'Bows have lost six of their past nine games, including five consecutive road losses.

"I think everybody got motivated (on Monday)," said sophomore forward Julian Sensley. "People are starting to realize that the next game we lose could be our last. I think everybody's pumped up and that's why everybody was competing so hard today."

Sensley said the last time Wallace conducted practices like this was after the team's opening night home loss to UC Santa Barbara back in November. The 'Bows responded with a run to the championship game of the Maui Invitational.

"That's what it reminds me of," Sensley said. "(Wallace) got fired up at us in Maui and that got us fired up as a team. I think we're doing the same thing now."

Senior co-captain Phil Martin, who was one of Wallace's primary targets on Monday, said he sensed a transformation in the team yesterday.

"Coach asked for all our efforts and we gave it to him," Martin said. "This was probably the first time in a long time where every guy was going hard, playing strong. If we can take that into the games, we're capable of winning the whole thing."

• Up for grabs: Wallace said any of the top six seeds in the WAC Tournament have a legitimate shot at winning the championship game on Saturday.

The top six are, in order: Nevada, Texas-El Paso, Boise State, Rice, Hawai'i and Fresno State.

"It's probably the most even field I can remember," Wallace said. "You have to look at Nevada and UTEP as the favorites, but it's the kind of year where no game is going to be a surprise no matter who wins."

The Fresno Bee daily newspaper had Hawai'i winning the championship in a mock tournament played through a video game system yesterday.

• JC memories: The 'Bows have spent the last two days practicing at Fresno City College, which is a junior college basketball power in California.

Sensley's Los Angeles City College team beat Fresno City for the California junior college championship last season.

• Happy Birthday: The Piccadilly Inn, where the team is staying this week, posted a "Happy Birthday Phil Martin" note on its billboard yesterday. He turned 24 yesterday.

WAC TOURNAMENT

• Louisiana Tech 57, San Jose State 51: Paul Millsap had 16 points and 18 rebounds, and Louisiana Tech (15-14) beat San Jose State (6-23) in the opening round.

Donell Allick added 18 points and five steals for the seventh-seeded Bulldogs, who advanced to the quarterfinals to play No. 2 seed Texas El-Paso tomorrow.

Marquin Chandler made five 3-pointers and led the 10th-seeded Spartans with 21 points.

• SMU 79, Tulsa 60: Bryan Hopkins scored 30 points to lead SMU (12-17) over Tulsa (9-20) in a first-round game.

The eighth-seeded Mustangs advanced to play top-seeded Nevada tomorrow.

Tulsa was the No. 9 seed.