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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 27, 2005

Rainbows hoping to end losing streak at 3

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

The climb back to respectability — and the top half of the Western Athletic Conference — begins tonight for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

Blackett
The Rainbow Warriors will host Rice in a WAC game tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center. Hawai'i, which is on a three-game losing streak, is 10-5 overall and in eighth place in the WAC at 2-5. Rice is 10-5 overall and in third place at 5-2.

"I saw where we were in the standings and thought it was ridiculous," Hawai'i senior forward Jeff Blackett said. "Just looking at that is enough incentive to get us going."

The 'Bows will have to get going without starting point guard Deonte Tatum, who has not been feeling well and sat out the last two practices. At best, he will play a limited reserve role, according to head coach Riley Wallace.

"He's had some fainting spells so you don't want to mess with that," Wallace said. "Even if he is cleared (to play), he hasn't been practicing, so we won't be able to use him like we normally would."

"Little Matt" Gibson will likely start at point guard alongside shooting guard Jake Sottos. Bobby Nash is expected to rotate into the game for both Gibson and Sottos.

"We just have to make sure we take care of the ball," Wallace said.

In an effort to help build the team's strength — and confidence — Wallace has been scheduling weightlifting sessions this week.

"You lose a lot of strength on the road, so we need to get it back," Wallace said. "And when you're stronger physically, you feel better about yourself."

WAC MEN'S BASKETBALL

Who: Hawai'i (10-5 overall, 2-5 WAC) vs. Rice (10-5, 5-2)

Where: Stan Sheriff Center

When: Today, 7:05 p.m.

TICKETS: $20 for lower level seats, $15 for upper level adult seats, $5 for upper level student seats, $3 for upper level student seats, $5 for Super Rooter and Manoa Maniac seats. Parking is $3.

TV/Radio: Live on KFVE (Ch. 5), KKEA (1420 AM)

The 'Bows will need the added strength against a Rice team that features arguably the WAC's best player in senior forward Michael Harris.

"We expect it to be a physical game," Rice head coach Willis Wilson said. "We have to do a good job of not letting Hawai'i's size and physical play force us into a lot of mistakes."

Inch-for-inch, Harris is one of the best post players in the country. At 6 feet 6, he often matches up against taller opponents, but makes up for it with his solid 240 pounds and explosive jumping ability.

Harris ranks fourth in NCAA Division I in rebounding with 11.4 per game, and is second in the WAC in scoring with 19.7 points per game.

"I think it has a lot to do with desire and positioning," he said. "I may not be the tallest, but I feel like I'm stronger than most guys I go against."

Wilson said Harris' numbers are even more impressive when considering that he is double-teamed in almost every game.

"Other teams have tried all sorts of things against him and he's kept an even temperament through the whole situation," Wilson said. "That he's putting up the numbers he has says a lot about his work ethic."

The 'Bows may try to use various defenders on Harris, including 7-foot center Chris Botez.

"We want to make him work for everything; make him have to go over some of our big guys," Wallace said.

It could be Rice's last chance to get a victory in the Stan Sheriff Center. The Owls are 0-6 in Honolulu since joining the WAC in 1996. They will move to Conference USA next season.

"The next time I come here will hopefully be for a vacation," Wilson said. "Honolulu has not been kind to us."

NOTES

An ESPN official said WAC men's basketball games will be added to the "Big Monday" television lineup starting next season. A contract has not been signed, but Burke Magnus, who coordinates college basketball for the ESPN networks, told the Idaho Statesman that it's a "done deal." The WAC games on Mondays would start at midnight on the East Coast.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.