UH looking for a sellout
• Nebraska beats Niagara, plays Hawai'i next
• NIT at a glance
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
| • | National Invitation Tournament
Who: Hawai'i (20-11) vs. Nebraska (18-12) Where: Stan Sheriff Center When: Monday, 6 p.m. Tickets: $7 to $18 Parking: $3 |
 |
|
After a historic road win in the cold of Utah, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is all of a sudden the hottest ticket in town.
Fewer than 1,000 tickets remain for Monday's Na-tional Invitation Tournament second-round game between Hawai'i and Nebraska at the Stan Sheriff Center.
More than 9,000 tickets have been sold in just two days for a team that did not sell out a single home game this season.
"I think you can feel that excitement again like it was when (Anthony Carter and Alika Smith) were here," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "Maybe it took a while for people to believe in this team, but it would be nice for this team to experience a sellout because they deserve it."
The Rainbow Warriors are 20-11 after their upset of No. 25 Utah State, 85-74, in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday at Logan, Utah.
"I think the whole state of Hawai'i took pride in that win," sophomore Julian Sensley said. "It's been pretty cool the last couple days. We had people coming up to us and congratulating us and wishing us luck and all that."
Hawai'i's opponent for Monday was determined yesterday when Nebraska beat Niagara, 78-70, yesterday in Lincoln, Neb.
"They're big and aggressive," Wallace said of the Cornhuskers, who are 18-12. "They can match up with us inside, which is a concern because we've been bigger than most teams we've played this season. They're from the Big 12 (Conference) and they're legit."
The 'Bows returned from Logan on Thursday afternoon. They watched film of Nebraska for about one hour yesterday, and will return to the practice court today.
"I wanted to give them a little more rest," Wallace said. "They need to get their legs back from that long flight, and they needed to get into class."
Hawai'i is hosting a NIT game for the first time since 1998, when Carter and Smith led the 'Bows to the third round. During that season, Hawai'i drew 29,703 fans to the Stan Sheriff Center for three NIT games, including two sellouts.
The basketball 'Bows have played before a sellout crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center just once since then — two years ago against Tulsa.
"This is one of the reasons why I came back here," Sensley said. "I remember the place being packed to watch A.C. and Alika. It'll be cool to see what it's like as a player."
Like the Hawai'i basketball fans, the 'Bows appear to be energized by the whole NIT atmosphere.
Prior to its selection to the NIT last Sunday, the 'Bows had lost three consecutive games, including a 70-68 heartbreaker to Rice in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Fresno, Calif.
"I think just getting invited to the NIT made a big difference to us," senior center and co-captain Haim Shimonovich said. "After we lost to Rice in the WAC (Tournament), we thought the season might be over. When we found out we were in the NIT and had a chance to go to New York, we got excited again."
But before the 'Bows can get to the NIT final four in New York, they must beat Nebraska on Monday, then fly to either Michigan or Oklahoma for a quarterfinal game on Wednesday.
UH officials have already been told that the 'Bows must travel for the third-round game.
"If we win, then it's not a good situation to have to travel right after the game," Shimonovich said. "But I think we rather go through all of that and play one more game at home then just stay on the road the whole time."
Nebraska will experience its own travel woes to get to Honolulu.
No flights were available today, so the Huskers will not be able to depart Nebraska until tomorrow morning. They expect to arrive in Honolulu late Sunday afternoon.
"Let's hope we can use that to our advantage," Wallace said.
Live TV: Oceanic Cable station 16 will televise Monday's game live at 6 p.m. A rebroadcast will be shown the same night at 9.
KKEA radio (1420 AM) will also broadcast the game live.
Wear white: UH officials are encouraging all fans to wear white tops to Monday's game to create another "White-Out."
The White-Out games started during the 2001-02 season, and have been staged every season since then for home games against Tulsa.
"It's a big game, we expect a lot of fans, so why not do it again?" Wallace said.
Ticket hours: The Stan Sheriff Center box office will be open today and tomorrow, or until all remaining tickets are sold for Monday's game.
The box office will be open today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tomorrow from noon-4 p.m. UH season ticket holders who pre-ordered NIT tickets can also pick up those tickets today or tomorrow.
Tickets also can be purchased online at etickethawaii.com.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
• • •
Nebraska beats Niagara, plays Hawai'i next
 |
| Niagara's David Brooks drives against Nebraska's Brian Conklin. Nebraska won the NIT game, 78-70.
Associated Press |
Brian Conklin, who made three 3-pointers, added 14 points for the Huskers (18-12), who advance to a Monday game at Hawai'i.
Juan Mendez scored 27 points to lead Niagara (22-10). James Reaves had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Purple Eagles.
After Niagara tied the score at 52 midway in the second half, Jason Dourisseau hit a layup and free throw, and Andrew Drevo scored to give Nebraska a five-point lead.
Nebraska held Niagara to 40-percent shooting.
— Eric Olson, Associated Press
• • •
Opening Round
Tuesday's result
- Nebraska 71, Creighton 70
Wednesday's results
- Niagara 87, Troy State 83
- George Mason 58, Tennessee 55
- West Virginia 65, Kent State 54
- Rhode Island 80, Boston U. 52
- Austin Peay 65, Belmont 59
- Wisconsin-Milwaukee 91, Rice 53
- Boise State 84, UNLV 69
First Round
Monday's result
- Marquette 87, Toledo 72
Tuesday's results
- St. Louis 70, Iowa 69
- Michigan 65, Missouri 64
Wednesday's results
- Notre Dame 71, Purdue 59
- Virginia 79, George Washington 66
- Rutgers 76, Temple 71
- Villanova 85, Drexel 70
- Florida State 91, Wichita State 84, 2OT
- Hawai'i 85, Utah State 74
- Iowa State 82, Georgia 74
- Oklahoma 70, LSU 61
- Oregon 77, Colorado 72, OT
Yesterday's results
- West Virginia 79, Rhode Island 72
- George Mason 66, Austin Peay 60
- Nebraska 78, Niagara 70
Today's game
- Wisconsin-Milwaukee (20-10) at Boise State (22-9), 4:30 p.m.
Second Round
Today's game
- Virginia (18-12) at Villanova (17-16), 6 a.m.
Monday's games
- Nebraska (18-12) at Hawai'i (20-11), 6 p.m.
- Notre Dame (18-12) vs. St. Louis (19-12), at Fort Wayne, Ind., 2 p.m.
- West Virginia (17-13) at Rutgers (17-12), 2:30 p.m.
- Oklahoma (20-10) at Michigan (19-11), 4 p.m.
Tuesday's games
- Iowa State (18-12) at Florida State (19-13), TBA
- George Mason (23-9) at Oregon (16-12), TBA
- Boise State-Wisconsin-Milwaukee winner at Marquette (18-11), TBA
Quarterfinals
- March 24-26
Semifinals
- Tuesday, March 30
Championship
- Thursday, April 1
