Posted on: Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Injuries continue for Hawai'i
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
An unwanted early season practice pattern continued for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team yesterday.
New center Chris Botez practiced yesterday with a wrap around his bruised left knee. He sustained the injury during a practice Wednesday, but a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam did not reveal any significant damage.
"It still hurts somewhat, but I'm OK," the 7-foot junior said. "I was only out a couple of days, but I feel like I lost a lot of what I had. It's important for me to get back out there to get back in shape and start learning things."
Botez, who was recruited out of Chemeketa Community College (Ore.), is the leading contender to start at center.
But while he returned, point guard recruit Kris Groce sat out of practice yesterday with a knee injury of his own.
Groce had an MRI performed on his right knee yesterday, but it was not expected to reveal a significant injury. He could return to practice as early as today.
Practices started Oct. 16, but six different 'Bows have already missed practice time due to injuries or illnesses.
"It's never good to have guys sit out, especially when we're trying to teach a lot of new stuff," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "Let's just hope we got them all out of the way now."
Hawai'i traveled to La'ie on Saturday for a private scrimmage against NCAA Division II Brigham Young-Hawai'i.
The scrimmage was closed to the public, and Wallace said NCAA rules prohibit him from commenting on any details. "It showed us that we're not anywhere near ready to play Division I teams," Wallace said. "It was good for our learning process, that's all I can say."
The 'Bows will play another Division II team, Hawai'i-Hilo, on Nov. 14 at the Stan Sheriff Center. That exhibition game will be open to the public.
Of all the players on this season's roster, walk-on Brandon Matano may have taken the most circuitous route to join the 'Bows.
Matano attended University High during his freshman and sophomore years, then enrolled at Paramus Catholic School in New Jersey for his junior and senior years of high school.
"I thought it would be better for me overall," he said of his move to the East Coast.
It earned him an invitation to play football at Siena, an NCAA I-AA program in New York.
He was a starting cornerback as a true freshman in 2003, and had two interceptions, a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown, and an 82-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
But Siena dropped its football program in January, prompting Matano to move back to Honolulu with his mother.
"I thought about going out for football (at UH), but I registered late, so then I looked to basketball" he said.
He is only 5-11, and probably won't get much playing time with the 'Bows this season (his eligibility for games is still in question). However, he is one of the better athletes on the team with a vertical jump of 42 inches.
"I'm a basketball guy now," he said. "I'm having fun."
The team roster was reduced to 15 yesterday with the release of walk-on Nick Milan.
Wallace said the damage caused by flooding in Gym 2 would affect his team's practice schedule, although no solution has been presented. "We'll just have to figure something out that works for all the teams. If it means we have to practice at different times, or whatever, then that's what we have to do," he said.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
One player returned from an injury, but another one went to the sidelines.
'Bows participate in private scrimmage
Walk-on has come a long way to play
NOTES
