Blackout at midnight: Hawai’i vs. New Mexico State
The University of Hawai’i basketball team will take a shot at the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic title when it hosts New Mexico State in a “Blackout” at midnight game.
The Warriors are 2-0 after victories over Tennessee State and Western Michigan on the first two nights of the tournament. The Aggies are 1-1, following a loss to Western Michigan and a victory over Tennessee State.
It will be a tall order for Hawai’i, as head coach Gib Arnold describes the Aggies as “the biggest team in America.”
“All of a sudden, there will be no power; we’re not going to be able to back those guys down,” Arnold said. “We’re going to have to take them outside. We’re going to have to adapt to them, but they’re going to have to adapt to us because we’re going to try and run it like crazy.”
The Aggies won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament last season, advanced to the NCAA Tournament, and finished with a 24-11 record. Five key players return from that team, and New Mexico State is understandably the preseason pick to win the WAC again this season.
The biggest of the Aggies is 7-foot-5, 355-pound sophomore Sim Bhullar. He is averaging 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds through the first two games this season. He has a “little” brother on the roster in 7-3, 335-pound freshman Tanveer Bhullar, who has yet to appear in a game this season.
The leading Aggie through the first two games is Tshilidzi Nephawe, a 6-10, 265-pound junior. He is averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, and has a .667 field goal percentage.
Perhaps the most talented New Mexico State player is Daniel Mullings, a 6-2 junior guard. He led the team in scoring last season at 13.8 points per game, and is averaging 11.5 points per game this season. Two seasons ago, when Hawai’i was still in the WAC, Mullings posted a triple-double of 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against the Warriors.
The Warriors are led by starting 6-8 forwards Christian Standhardinger and Isaac Fotu. They will likely match up against Bhullar and Nephawe to start the game. Standhardinger is averaging 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and Fotu is contributing 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Junior point guard Keith Shamburger is averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. Junior guard Garrett Nevels is averaging 9.5 points per game and leads the team with five 3-pointers.
The late night/early morning start is due to the ESPN College Hoops Tip Off Marathon, and it will be televised live nationally on ESPN2. This is the sixth consecutive year that the Warriors have played in this time slot.
Note in the game information below that tickets for the game are being sold at a lower rate, and all seating is general admission.
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Christian Standhardinger was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week on Monday. Hawai’i’s first two games of the season last week counted toward the voting of the award, and Standhardinger had a total of 37 points and 16 rebounds as the Warriors went 2-0.
The 6-foot-8 senior forward won the Player of the Week award twice last season en route to earning first-team All-Big West Conference honors at the end of the season.
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Game 3 Tipoff Notes
What: 49th Annual Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic
Who: Hawai’i (2-0, 0-0 Big West) vs. New Mexico State (1-1, 0-0 WAC)
When: Monday, Nov. 11, Midnight
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, HI
Television: Live on ESPN2.
Streaming Video: WatchESPN
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM). Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona, KTOH on Kaua’i, and KNWJ in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: General Admission – $10 (adult); $5 (senior citizen and youth). UH Manoa students free with validated ID. Parking $6.
Promotions: Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is the tournament sponsor and will distribute 1,000 tote bags beginning one hour prior to the game. Outrigger will also award up to $2,000 a night during its popular “Shoot for Loot” promotional activity at halftime. It’s a “Blackout” during UH’s game, as fans are encouraged to wear black shirts for the midnight contest. All seats are general admission.
For those old time UH BB fans, ….remember how teams played against that 6’11” Tommy Barker, 6’9″ Jimmie Baker and 6’9″ Melton Werts team of 1974-75? Smaller teams, would be so much quicker, they just got the ball, whether made or missed shots, and out ran the slower Bigger UH team.
And how 6’11” Tommy Barker was able to help UH defeat Centenary with Robert Parish 7’1″ all american…2 out of 3 times they met…out hustled Parish..Barker, out ran, Parish to the offensive end, and scored on layins(no dunking at that time)..
UH center , Riley Wallace time..Tim Shepherd, all 6’5″ 240lbs of muscle, he posterized 7’6″ BYU all america center, Shawn Bradley.. with a tomahawk jam,right over him…The big for NMSU, have to over under sideways and around!!.
I guess same thing with UH, they are smaller, not as thick, however, their Bigs, probably quicker, try to out run NMSU. I think that is key, Plus, a crazy one of several Zones that Gib has..Game is at midnite, and we know , in the midnite hour, anything can happen!!
Go Bows!
I think as hoopsa says: UH bigs and littles have to out run NMSU, really speed up game. However, Western Michigan, just out hustled and out executed NMSU. So either way, use BBIQ and speed on O and D. I think UH this year, can do that…at least at home..so far..Just out play the other teams, with speed, or quicks to the basket, draw fouls, or score, with Davis, Fotu, Standhardinger, and even Mike T, and AV..
Should be interesting game. Will DVR it too.
UH , maybe Gib has to play 10-11 guys to just run with purpose, to relieve Keith Shamburger..we shall see!
Uhfanzonly1.
Yep no doubt all the above will come into play. Did anybody notice if NMSU play man or zone? If man, then CS and Fotu outside shot will come into play. Pull the big guy out and negate his inside defense.
But I think that indeed our speed will be the difference.
warriorhaw: Yes..this is good test for UH! NMSU in a zone, I don’t know, however, their two bigs 7’5″ and 6’10”, would just clog that low block. You are right, Fotu, and Standhardinger might have to draw them out by hitting outside shots. However, would be rough, If UH got into the jacking 3’s game, unless, Nevels, Smith, Shamburger, AV and MT, can hit a bunch of mid to 3 point shots. I still think, made or missed shots, UH is going to get ball, and run, run, run, try to score, before NMSU can set up their defense. You are correct warriorhaw, if you have speed, and the the 1 through 5 spots can run and finish, can negate NMSU size advantage. UH has to box out that HUGE guy too, and the 6’10” guy, maybe get them into foul trouble, However, Western Michigan did a great job agains NMSU, so UH, knows the Aggies can be beat, and on SSC home floor, I love the Rainbow Warriors chances! Will be sleepy eyed, however, hope there are those 2500 crazy, UH students in attendance, to get on ESPN2 national TV camera, and help UH to victory, If UH can win the Rainbow Classic, against, 3 different types of team, very, very good. Mizzou will be super tough, online stream, and Fox Midwest Sports, this saturday.
Go Rainbow Warriors! Let’s Go Bows!
My thought to add to hoopsa,…agreed about that ability for UH to hit outside shots..a lot of teams, will watch this game or Mizzou, if NMSU can slow down, UH or force them to become just three point shooters, …Keith, Garrett, Quincy, hopefully soon Spearman, Aaron Valdes, Michael Thomas, Dyrbe Enos(who knows, he might be KEY to help UH hit 3’s this year, good open spot up shooter!), Michael Harper, and Jawato( he is a warrior, just worry about his bad ankles, he limps so badly, he might just have to get surgery, feel really bad for Brandon J., he wants so badly to help team go to NCAA’s),
Key: UH can get out and run, however, even on the road, some guys, maybe 3 or 4 have to hit good percentage of 3’s…UH hasn’t gotten into that type of game yet, I would bet that Gib wants the shooters to shoot it, Shamburger has to keep on shooting his three, and Nevels , when open from 25 feet or more, hit several, Fotu, and Standhardinger, hit a couple each this game , will help. Just the dynamics of this game, a HUGE team, and a rebounding team, with athletic wings, a GOOD challenge for the Bows…If you are a UH Basketball fan, You Gotta Love it!
Come on Bows, get the W, you can do it!!
Uhfanzonly1.
Yes playhoopsa !!: “UH center , Riley Wallace time..Tim Shepherd, all 6’5″ 240lbs of muscle, he posterized 7’6″ BYU all america center, Shawn Bradley.. with a tomahawk jam,right over him…”. THIS WAS THE BEST DUNK EVER ! “Posterization Category”. Considering the competition and the surrounding hype and the rivalry. NCAA or NBA. Michael Jordan, Shawn Kemp, Vince Carter, sphere. It was very good.
With a days rest the players will be ready. Block out, draw the fouls, and shoot the lights out! And run! Go Bows!
Hey, ‘Bows!?
Watcha Doin’ “Tomorrow”?
FIRST On Your TO-DO List:
Continue Your SSCtr Winning Streak Over New Mexico State!
YOU Got a BETTER Team than Two Years Ago when you last Beat ‘Em!
GET HOT!! and BLOW ‘EM Out!
NO Need for Stressful Close Game …
Either Way — JUST WIN!
YOU Also got Noisier, Better ESPN-Induced-‘Madness’ Students
and YOU Are Now EARNING a New-Found ‘Loyal’ Fan-Base
After Years of Talk of Running Te
PUT The Boo-Birds to Bed
Early Birds Beat & Eat The (Slow) Aggie Worms…
WIN “Tonight”!,
Sweet Dreams!
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Then Take the Show on the Road
and SHOCK The NCAA BB World…
WAKE UP , GET DOWN TO THE SS CENTER ! IT’S WAR ! WARRIOR TIME, SEND THE AGGIES BACK TO NEW MEXICO JET LAGGED.!