Showdown at the Sheriff: Warriors vs. 49ers
Christian Standhardinger has been the most consistent player for the Hawai’i basketball team this season, and he was just named the Big West Conference Player of the Week. But if there is one game he would like to do over, it is Long Beach State.
Standhardinger and the Warriors will get that chance on Thursday night when they host the first-place 49ers in a Big West showdown at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawai’i is 13-9 overall and in third place in the conference at 7-4. Long Beach State is 13-8 overall and 9-1. The 49ers have won eight consecutive games, including a 76-72 victory over the Warriors on January 12 at Long Beach, Calif.
“I’m motivated for every game,” Standhardinger said. “But especially when No. 1 (team) is coming in right now in our conference, and we are in third place. I just want to take it to them and I – WE – really want to win this game.”
Standhardinger currently leads the team in scoring with 16.0 points and 29.1 minutes per game, and is second in rebounding at 7.8. In the loss at Long Beach State, he finished with season-lows of six points, three rebounds and 12 minutes.
“In that game, Coach wanted us to realize how important the ball is and I made a mistake – I came out and turned it over – so I got subbed out,” he said. “We were still close to winning it, even if I don’t think we played our best basketball. Now I think we are a whole different team and I think we will be able to take them if we just put a lot of effort in it and play a good game … a great game.”
The Warriors will especially have to be great defensively against a 49ers squad that is athletic at every position. Their top player is James Ennis, a 6-foot-6 senior wing who is a leading candidate for Big West Player of the Year. He is averaging 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He also leads the 49ers in 3-pointers (38), free throw percentage (.850), blocked shots (35) and steals (31).
Sophomore point guard Mike Caffey is contributing 11.9 points and 4.2 assists per game. He hit the game-winner in the win over the Warriors on a driving floater in the lane with 1.7 seconds remaining.
The other starters: Tony Freeland, a 6-7 junior forward, is averaging 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game; 6-9 junior forward/center Dan Jennings is contributing 9.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game; 6-5 junior guard Keala King is averaging 8.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
The Warriors are also concerned about the Long Beach State reserves, in particular shooting specialists Deng Deng and Peter Pappageorge. They combined for 27 points, including 7-of-11 shooting from 3-point range, in the win over Hawai’i.
As Standhardinger noted above, the Warriors managed to stay close with the 49ers despite a subpar performance. The only Hawai’i player to score above average in that loss was freshman Brandon Jawato, who finished with 16 points, including 4-of-6 shooting on 3-pointers.
Senior center Vander Joaquim got in foul trouble in the first meeting with the 49ers. He is currently averaging 13.9 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game.
Freshman forward Isaac Fotu is added 10.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, junior guard Brandon Spearman is contributing 9.5 points per game, and senior point guard Jace Tavita leads the Big West with 5.3 assists per game. Senior wing Hauns Brereton is averaging 11.7 points per game since being reinserted in the starting lineup three games ago.
Thursday’s showdown will be the Warriors first home game since January 19, and they are hoping the fans will make up for the lost time by showing up in force. “They would help us a lot if a lot of people show up,” Standhardinger said.
The Manoa Maniacs student section will be dressed in tie-dye shirts and Afro wigs, and other fans are encouraged to do the same for “ ‘60s Hippie Night.”
Head coach Gib Arnold demonstrates how fans should dress for the game in the photo above. Photo by WarriorInsider.com
GAME INFORMATION: Hawai’i (13-9, 7-4 Big West) vs. Long Beach State (13-8, 9-1 Big West)
When: Thursday, Feb. 7, 7:00 p.m. (Hawai’i time)
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, HI
Television: Live statewide on OCSports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: Live video streaming is available on ocsports.tv.
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona, and KTOH on Kaua’i.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: $26 (lower); $18 (upper-adult); $16 (upper-sr. citizen); $5 (upper-youth, ages 4-HS); UH Manoa students free with validated ID. Parking $6.
Promotions: First Hawaiian Bank is the sponsor on Thursday and will award great prizes throughout the game. The student theme is “60s Hippie Night” and free wigs will be distributed to the first 200 students.
The team will have to play smart basketball tonight. We are going to need a big night from Vander and our upper classmen. It should be a fun game. Go Warriors!
Bill Amis is one of the most admired Warriors.
Christian Standhardinger is the one who closing-in rapidly to join The Elites actively!
He excels in representing Hawaii, Germany, Philippine equally. He humbly asking for support!
FilComCenter is a proud community leader locally for the Filipinos >> Show Christian how proud you are in SSC and, show the visitors how uniquely beautiful “Bamboo Dance” is, by ethnic power!?
The TEAM will make Hawaii proud!
Play Hard, Continuous 40+ ‘Bows!
GOOD / Better Pressure Defense/ Anticipate, Beat ‘Em to the Spot & The Ball
Box/Block-Out Defensive Rebounding, DOMINATE
Body Up, Chase O Rebounds. Good, Quick Putbacks/Kick-outs
Easy/ Smart Passes / Communicate
Make ALL the 5 Footers
Continue the Improved Outside & Free-Throw Shooting
Body Up & Earn Extra Free-Throws;
When you’re Open, Light ‘Em Up!
KEEP it Up
Expect The Beach to Challenge & Fight Back
BE The More Intense Team
Be the More Consistent Team
FIND the Ways to WIN
Make the Winning Plays
Win Tonight …
Take Over as BW’s HOT/Hottest Team
We’ll Be There..LOUD
Give a Loud Shout Out to The Big West
YOU’re in Trouble IF You’re playin Hawai’i…
WIN WARRIORS!
HUGE Game for UH. Huge for the team, huge for the fans! Huge for the program in general.
However, its not a huge deal for in terms of catching The Beach in the standings, I think they are out of reach unless they fall apart down the stretch, and that’s not likely with Dan Monson running the team.
Where this game is big is staying pace with Pacific for the #2 spot. Pacific plays at Cal Poly tonight and CP plays very well at home.
Standhardinger just needs to keep playing hard and imposing his will tonight. We have seen Standhardinger take over games 3 or 4 times this year and its been fun to watch.
The biggest key to the game will be Vander. He’s been non-existent for 3/4 of the last handful of games and he needs to play a full game tonight. He’s been able to hit key free throws late but he must be a factor the entire game for UH to win. If he only has 2pts and 2 rebounds at halftime like last game, then UH is in trouble. The Beach loves to penetrate and get to the paint and draw contact and get to the stripe. Vander must be a defensive force to force The Beach into a perimeter team.
This is a crucial week Warriors keep up the intensity ,Come on! this is the Long Beach St game! Revenge time, dont let this one get away ! Students get to the arena tonight , it’s going to be crazy!Loud!
I don’t normally cry-over-spilled-milk but, I’ve felt dang-dang, when Deng Deng didn’t even pay Hawaii a visit!
ALERT: a dangerous team plus, a dangerous player are in The House!
Jef or Spearmint: Please do me a favor >> Make Deng Deng wishes that he is playing for Hawaii instead, if unfortunately he got on the court!?
[[[[[[ CLAMPED ALL OF THEM DOWNED ]]]]]]
UH MBB team, play with great energy, and winning attitude. Prove to yourselves and the league, that you are one of the top teams in the BWC. Prepare to win all 7 remaining games. NO FEAR. Play well, get the W. Turnovers low, Rebounds on O and D get majority of. Close out game . Should have a good crowd tonite, rocking the Stanley(SSC)!!
Big game tonite. Play hard, smart and with lots of energy. Show Long Beach whose the bully in this conference.
Go Warriors!
Winning attitude and no fear it’s a good formula for victory
I wish you good luck and enjoy the game
GO WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHAMPIONS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
looking at the last game spearman missed 4 threes made 1…hauns missed 3 threes and was 0-3…ozren missed 4 threes and was 0-4
The last 3 games, Standhardinger played like a man possessed. In the words of Jim Harbaugh, go out there and play the game like maniacs. Hustle, dive for loose balls, anticipate, steal, and finish. The little things will win this game tonight. No doubt in my mind, Warriors will get this game tonight. It’s too important.
Half of Standhardinger’s points comes through shear hustle. Take away his hustle play and you got an 8 points a game player. This is what separates the good and the great—the will to win. It is the single most difficult thing to do in all of sports–to give it your all night in and night out, whether you are a fresh fish or a dead toad, and never give up. Das why pain makes cowards of us all. Three guys come to mind who got it right: Bill Amis—Improved his game each year at UH and total dedication to the sport; Anthony Carter—13 year NBA player, UH alumni; and Michael Jordan. Add now Christian Standhardinger.
Attention please, Warriors trey-shooters/Jaw, Hauns, “King”, Spearmint, Roopi, Oz, Jac: Your efficiency is urgently needed NOW >> Concentrate but, not psyched-out; Fast but, not rushed; Get opened & readied; Don’t hesitate to execute your proper-release when #15/#1/#21.. fire one set-upped-pass your way for a “Nothing-but-net”.
MAY THE BETTER TEAM WIN!
Wahine leading at Long Beach, 26-22, at the half. Shawna-Lei Kuehu has 13 points in 12 minutes, helping Wahine overcome 12-0 deficit.
Our lovely Wahine making it exciting @ LBSU.
Started slow losing 12-love to begin then,
Making their own run of 26-10 to lead by 4pts to end the 1st1/2!
Hope they will do even better in the 2nd1/2 for another “W”.
Wahine beat The Beach, 61-54. Kuehu gets double double of 18 and 10. Next up …
Congrats to Wahine chalked-up another road win.
Pts. 61-54 sweep the 49’er.
Kuahu 18pts 10 rebound doubles.
Martin double digit rebounds.
Sat @ Irvine.
“This is the most amazing 1st1/2 ever @ this building!” exclaimed Kenoa.
Warriors leading 53-20 a 33pts advantage.
Love to Keala King for the 1st time..
Fans loving it!
Fantastic Win!!!!
Congrats for matching the Wahine’s win over the 49’ers and,
They should be matching your triple-consecutive-road-wins by Saturday, when they completed their sweep of the Anteaters, while waiting for you to evan the score with the boys for your consecutive fifth Bravo! Someone tells us when was the last time that happened?
94-73, 21pts exceeded my winning margin expectation!
This is the best feeling since last July. Mahalo, TEAM!