Posted on: Tuesday, March 8, 2005
'Bows want to roll in Reno
| • | WAC men's capsules: Odds favor host Nevada |
| • | Rainbows hope to fill big gap left by Abele |
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
RENO, Nev. — In a legalized gambling town, it's quite fitting that the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will have to go "all in" this week.
The Rainbow Warriors will face San Jose State in a first round game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament today at 4 p.m. (Hawai'i time) at Lawlor Events Center.
If the 'Bows want even a remote chance of playing in the NIT or NCAA tournaments, they must get on a roll in Reno.
"It's all or nothing," senior guard Jake Sottos said. "We know what's on the line and we're ready to put it all out there. We don't want this season to end with all the what-ifs."
Hawai'i is 15-12 overall and the No. 7 seed in the tournament at 7-11 in the conference. San Jose State is 6-22 overall and the No. 10 seed at 3-15 in the WAC.
The winner will advance to Thursday's quarterfinals; the loser's season is over.
Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace figures the 'Bows need to win at least two games in the WAC Tournament to even be considered for the NIT. The only way for Hawai'i to get to the NCAA Tournament is to win four games in five days and emerge as WAC Tournament champs.
"We can't worry about down the line," Wallace said. "In a tournament like this, where every game is a tough one, you just worry about your next opponent."
So for now, the 'Bows are concentrating on a San Jose State team that appears to be in disarray.
The Spartans are on a 10-game losing streak and head coach Phil Johnson officially announced his resignation yesterday. It will be effective at the end of this season, so he will coach today.
"Every coach in this league will tell you he can coach," Wallace said. "He's in a tough situation — it's been hard for every coach over there. They don't get much support financially and from the students. I think he's done as good a job as you can do there."
Wallace and Johnson have been coaching against each other since they were at rival junior colleges in Oklahoma in the 1980s.
"You have to be a little worried about his players coming out with extra energy, wanting to win it for him," Wallace said.
Hawai'i has already defeated the Spartans twice this season, by a combined 37 points. Wallace said the key in both victories was Hawai'i racing to an early lead.
"You have to jump on them early," he said. "If they get a lead on you, they slow it down and make you play their game."
Hawai'i will have a size advantage, with 7-foot center Chris Botez starting alongside 6-9 forward Julian Sensley and 6-8 forward Jeff Blackett. The Spartans are expected to start four players who are 6-7 or shorter.
"They're undersized for a Division I team, so if we utilize our inside game and make good passes like we did against them before, it should be no problem," Sensley said.
Hawai'i point guard "Little Matt" Gibson had 35 points and seven assists in the two victories over the Spartans.
"Every opponent is the same to me," Gibson said. "But any time you beat a team twice, you get more confidence. But we know it's not going to be easy. They know all our plays and they know our personnel, so we still have to be at our best."
Guard Groce removed from postseason roster
Reserve point guard Kris Groce was removed from the postseason roster last night by head coach Riley Wallace for "attitude problems."
Groce, a 5-10 sophomore, walked off the court in the middle of yesterday's practice and did not participate in drills for the last hour of the workout.
"Just (Sunday) night we met as a team and talked about sticking through this together as a team," Wallace said. "And then he comes out the very next day with attitude problems. We can't have that."
Wallace said he dismissed Groce from the team after a meeting with him last night. Wallace said arrangements were trying to be made to send Groce back to Honolulu.
Groce has played in 11 games this season, and is averaging 1.0 points and 0.5 rebounds per game.
Wallace said he was not sure about Groce's status for next season. "We'll talk about it after the season," Wallace said.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
