Posted on: Friday, March 11, 2005

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Yesterday's 80-62 demolition by Texas-El Paso in the Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament provided an unfortunate but fitting end to what had become a disappointing season for the University of Hawai'i.

One that should spare the Rainbow Warriors the unseemly begging for a National Invitation Tournament berth for a 16-13 team on the fringes. Better the 'Bows spend their time and resources scouring the planet for a couple point guards and a power forward for next year. Better they get to work on improving at free-throw shooting, too.

After losing eight of their last 11 games to likely miss out on the postseason for the first time in five years, there is a need to improve all of the above if the 'Bows expect to turn things around next season.

It had been a mark of Riley Wallace-coached UH teams that they invariably got better as the season went on and played some of their best basketball in the prime time of February and March. Sadly, this year was the exception. UH lost 13 of its final 21 games and, in the final indignity, was blown out by 18 points on a neutral court yesterday.

This by a Texas-El Paso team it had previously lost to by one point by the border and four points at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Truth was UH was never really in this one. Not when the Miners blew to a 14-4 lead and never trailed.

Normally, there shouldn't be much gnashing of teeth for a 16-13 finish in a season where you are replacing four starters — unless, of course, you go into free-fall from an 8-0 beginning.

Maybe the 'Bows weren't as good as that undefeated and, at times, fortuitous start made them out to be. But from a team that seemed to find ways to win in November and December, they became a group that failed close-game chemistry the rest of the way.

With four of five consensus starters expected back next season, there are the makings of a good team. With three of the top five teams in the final standings — UTEP, Rice and Southern Methodist — leaving the conference, and Utah State, New Mexico State and Idaho jumping in, there is an opportunity to move up from seventh place. But only if the 'Bows fill in the holes exposed in conference play and find some consistency.

Job one — and, two, for that matter — is finding some honest-to-goodness point guards, people the 'Bows were left without when Logan Lee bolted July 28. Despite an earnest effort by committee, UH never found a suitable replacement. In the WAC, where nothing stays a secret for very long, opponents were able to take advantage.

That, among other things, was evident yesterday in a game where it was left to UTEP to tag on a disappointing end to a season that had gotten away from the 'Bows.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.