Warrior Insider

Perhaps the best way to build an appetite for Thanksgiving is to win a game the night before. That’s what the University of Hawai’i basketball team is hoping to do on Wednesday, when it hosts New Orleans at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Warriors will celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday at head coach Gib Arnold’s home, but the focus for Wednesday will be on the Privateers from the Southland Conference.

Hawai’i is 3-2, while New Orleans is 1-2.

“They want to spread you out on offense and they’re looking to drive – they’re a driving team,” said UH assistant coach Brandyn Akana, who scouted the Privateers. “They got really athletic players, so they get to the rim well, and they got shooters.”

Hawai’i beat New Orleans, 82-58, in February of 2012, but only one player from each team’s current roster saw action in that game. UH senior Davis Rozitis had seven points and five rebounds in the 2012 meeting, while New Orleans sophomore Benjamin James saw a minute of late-game action.

The coaches are the same – Gib Arnold at Hawai’i and Mark Slessinger at New Orleans.

“The keys that we need to do is, we have to guard them and keep them out of the paint,” Akana said. “That’s one thing that they do very well. Also, a key for us is we have to get the ball and go in transition.”

The Warriors are averaging 89.0 points per game and have a .481 field goal percentage as a team. In contrast, the Privateers are averaging 71.7 points per game and have a team field goal percentage of .386.

New Orleans does have a pair of quality forwards in 6-7 senior Cory Dixon and 6-7 junior Matt Derenbecker. Dixon is averaging 19.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, while Derenbecker is contributing 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

“Cory Dixon, he’s their best player,” Akana noted. “He touches the ball a lot and they go through him a lot – at the elbow, down in the post. He’s good in transition. He doesn’t shoot the ball well from the outside, doesn’t take any 3s. Everything goes to the basket.”

Hawai’i is also led by a pair of forwards in 6-8 senior Christian Standhardinger and 6-8 sophomore Isaac Fotu. Standhardinger is averaging 18.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Fotu is averaging 14.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Two other Warriors are averaging double-figure points: junior guard Garrett Nevels (14.8) and junior point guard Keith Shamburger (10.2). Nevels leads the team with 13 3-pointers (and a .565 percentage from 3-point range), while Shamburger leads the team in assists with 4.0 per game.

Game 6 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai’i (3-2, 0-0 Big West) vs. New Orleans (1-2, 0-0 Southland)
When: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, HI
Television: Live on OCSports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: BigWest.tv
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM. 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
Promotions: Fantastic Sams Hair Salons is the game sponsor and will distribute 500 megaphones.
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.