Highlights from Saturday scrimmage
The Hawaii basketball team conducted another intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday morning in a continued effort to find the right combination of players for the upcoming season opener.
Head coach Gib Arnold rotated eight players on the “white” team: Shaquille Stokes, Bobby Miles, Zane Johnson, Garrett Jefferson, Hauns Brereton, Trevor Wiseman, Vander Joaquim and Davis Rozitis.
The “black” team used just five players for the 40-minute scrimmage: Jace Tavita, Pi’i Minns, Brandon Jawato, Tyler Brown and Joston Thomas. Redshirt junior Christian Standhardinger sat out with a knee injury.
“We’re getting a nice rotation,” Arnold said.”It’s still competing. I put a couple different lineups out there and took a look at them. We’re whittling that down. The guys that have proven that they play the best together as a team, we’ll put those guys out there every night.”
The scrimmage featured two 20-minute halves, and the “white” team won both, 40-17 and then 38-33.
Senior guard Zane Johnson led the “white” team with 24 points, including four 3-pointers. Junior center Vander Joaquim added 15 points, going 5-for-6 both from the field and at the free-throw line.
Johnson and Joaquim are the team co-captains, and probably the only two players assured of starting spots right now.
“I thought it was good, a lot better than last Saturday’s (scrimmage),” Johnson said. “I think we’re clicking a little better and we’re starting to recognize what people’s strengths are and how we can get people open.”
Freshman point guard Shaquille Stokes added 13 points and six assists, and sophomore forward Davis Rozitis scored 12.
Junior forward Joston Thomas led the “black” team with 25 points, while redshirting senior Jace Tavita added 20, including five 3-pointers.
“The ‘black’ team, who played the entire game, didn’t have a sub for 40 minutes, they worked hard and did a nice job in that second (half) of keeping it close, so overall it was definitely a positive for us,” Arnold said.
The Warriors will play an exhibition game against Hawaii Pacific University on Friday, November 11, at the Stan Sheriff Center. The regular-season home opener is scheduled for Monday, November 14, against Cal State Northridge.
Coach, co-Captain:
you said it all.
we are exhilarated as ever!
if you execute defense in game situation as you’re capable of, especially on the road..
W’s will increase accordingly, make-up for last season. thanks for your hard work, TEAM.
I can’t wait for Friday night! Better yet I can’t wait for Monday night. I just wish the regular season opener wasn’t the 11pm game…
Things are looking good, Coach. Looks like we have a good bench this year.
i’m super happy and couldn’t wait for this season as we finally got rid of hiram thompson
FINE With ME …IF this ‘alarmist’ questioning is unnecessary….
So-o-o-o-o-o…
IS Joston ‘still’ in the doghouse with Coach?
Scoring 25 points for the SCOUT Team …
AND NOT Working on meshing with the New Players or First Eight?
MAYBE HE’S Just a strong finisher and ‘ends’ any game (practice) flow because he terminates and that’s a good thing, but wouldn’t provide much opportunity for the team to continue running sets, etc.?
OR maybe he’s considered a proven entity that plays on the Scouts to provide balance and competitiveness?
Maybe he’s just being given a message about where he stands if he plays the way he’s been playing (Hey, you’re playing with the guys who WON’T Get into Games …the way you’re going)
OR – -is it closer to a worst case scenario where his single-mindedness “disrupts” teamwork and team chemistry ? SO that he’s NOT likely to be on the court with any game in jeopardy… IF SO, is he getting the message?
These Quotes:
“…I put a couple different lineups out there and took a look at them. We’re whittling that down. The guys that have proven that they play the best together as a team, we’ll put those guys out there every night.”
… we’re clicking a little better and we’re starting to recognize what people’s strengths are and how we can get people open.”
sound like maybe Joston wasn’t learning this (esp. with the new guys) and could end up simply being inserted for “instant scoring bursts ” (saw some of that last year)… NOT in the First Eight ?
i’m hoping Joston can be a regular working cog “in the system” — and was looking for him to extend his 10 points/ 6 rebounds of last season up to 12-15p/ 7r and up …IN System
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P.S. That’s a pretty good First Eight — good flow, quickness, skills — GOOD Video !
Thanks, Dayton …
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Imagining … VISIONing … You Gotta See it before you can believe it …
Make a Statement! Game 2 — Sneak Up on the Zags !
I like the endless rotations that the Coach has to match up with the team….. looks like we can go deep on the bench. SOLID WARRIORS!! few more days…..