Warriors prepared for fast pace of Missouri
The first road menu for the University of Hawai’i basketball team will feature a tall order.
The Warriors will play a tall – and talented – Missouri team on Saturday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Sprint Arena is about a two-hour drive from the University of Missouri campus, and it will be the only time this season that the Tigers play there.
The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. (Hawai’i time). Hawai’i is 2-1; Missouri is 2-0, and is in the “others receiving votes” category for the national Top 25 polls.
UH assistant coach Scott Fisher, who is responsible for scouting the Tigers, said he expects it to be a fast-paced, exciting game. Both teams are averaging over 80 points per game this season – Hawai’i at 83.7 and Missouri at 80.5.
“There’s going to be some points scored, there’s no doubt about it,” Fisher said. “We have to get back. We have to limit their fast-break opportunities as much as possible. If we can play five-on-five basketball in their half of the court, their percentages go way down.”
The Tigers are led by a trio of 6-foot-5 guards – junior Jordan Clarkson, junior Jabari Brown, and senior Earnest Ross – and Fisher describes them as “a three-headed monster.”
Clarkson is averaging 22.5 points and 3.5 assists per game; Brown is averaging 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game; Ross is averaging 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The frontline starters are 6-9 freshman Johnathan Williams III and 6-10 sophomore Ryan Rosburg. In effect, the Tigers will be bigger at all five starting spots.
“Their 1, 2 and 3 man are as good as any that we’ll see this year,” Fisher said of the Missouri guards. “They are dynamic players. They can all shoot the 3 and they are all very good at putting the ball on the ground and getting to the hole.”
The Tigers are shooting 50 percent from the field as a team this season, including an impressive 46.3 percent from 3-point range.
“Offensively, it’s push, push, push,” Fisher said. “They all rebound, and who ever gets the rebound wants to take it and go. Their offense is very much one long outlet pass and that guy taking it to the hole, so we need to get back. Our defensive transition is going to be very important in this game.”
The Warriors also want to play fast, but their scoring has been coming primarily from 6-8 forwards Isaac Fotu (16.7 points, 9.0 rebounds per game) and Christian Standhardinger (15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds per game).
Junior guard Garrett Nevels is averaging 15.0 points per game and leads the Warriors with nine 3-pointers. Junior point guard Keith Shamburger is contributing 9.7 points and 3.3 assists per game.
Shamburger sat out the final eight minutes of the Warriors’ 95-88 loss to New Mexico State earlier this week after he was ejected for picking up two technical fouls.
“The circumstance was tough, but it won’t happen again,” he said.
The Warriors could be boosted by the return of senior guard Brandon Spearman, who missed the first three games with an ankle injury. He is listed as a game-time decision.
Fisher noted that the Tigers have not been tested in a close game yet this season. They scored blowout victories over Southeastern Louisiana (89-53) and Southern Illinois (72-59).
“I think we can win this game, I really do,” Fisher said. “I don’t think they’ve played anybody that’s maybe up to our standard. Nobody’s giving us a chance, and I think that’s going to play in our favor.”
Game 4 Tip-off Notes
Who: Hawai’i (2-1, 0-0 Big West) vs.Missouri (2-0, 0-0 SEC)
When: Saturday, 6:00 p.m. MT (2 p.m. Hawai’i)
Where: Sprint Center (19,000) – Kansas City, Mo.
Television: Fox Sports Midwest
Streaming Video: WatchESPN
Radio: 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: Mizzou.StatBroadcast.com
You know, this is a great trip and scheduling for the Rainbow Warriors. Missouri, in their home state, that Sprint Arena , first class venue, great crowd, big time College BB enviroment, and we know, if Gib has to use the whole roster, they are going to get up and down with Missouri, ..scored 101, 85, 78 and 88…averaging over 83 pts a game since start of regular season. So UH can score, the intagibles, rebounding, and D, FT, and closing out, key, Would it not be something if UH go the Win, would be huge! Either, way , team will benefit,..This season, so far, with RBC, NMSU, Mizzou, DHC, those are good teams to prepare for BWC and Post Season Tourney play. Can’t wait for game to start!
Let’s Go Bows!
Uhfanzonly1.
What is it that Gib says: Boys win at home, or try to, and MEN win on the road. Good Test, UH MBB team will grow up really fast.
I hope, that Mike Thomas and Aaron Valdes can contribute more points, steals, blocked shots, 50/50 ball, hustle plays and score, down low, transition to 3 line. I know they defer to the top 5 scorers, however, it might be key, if Mike and Aaron, Harper, Enos, Hackman, whomever, just let loose, have fun and gun.
Still picking, with my heart of course, and this team has a HUGE HEART, that UH MBB team will win one for the fans, The Upset of the 21st century, first two decades.
Go Bows!
😀
Pretty sad that we have not established a spot to go watch not only this game but all away games. Any suggestions? Weʻve got to make more of an effort collectively to post up somewhere to watch away games. Surprised an establishment hasnʻt stepped to the fore and staked their claim as “UH Hoops Headquarters.”
Itʻs nearly midnight and I still have no idea to tell friends where to hui up.
The game will be on Fox College Sports Atlantic region (Channel 244), which is part of Oceanic’s Sports Pass digital package. I’d imagine most “sports bars/restaurants” have that package.
Please DO Pleasantly Surprise US…
ARISE MAN-‘BOWS,
Five CAN Beat Three,
Even On The Road…
GO ‘BOWS!
——
That Would Provide A Benchmark for The New ERA
Going to be a fun game. Should be high paced, and lots of scoring.
We need big effort from Shamburger to dictate tempo. I’m not sure UH can survive a pure track meet vs Mizzou. Shamburger needs to get Fotu and Standhardinger going early and often. Nevels and Smith have been great so far and just need to keep it up. Standhardinger needs to redeem himself after his career worst game vs NMSU.
Looking back at the loss vs NMSU, I thought UH played too fast and rushed themselves into misses in attempt to catch Bhullar lumbering down the court.
Mizzou likes to fire the 3pt shot as it makes up about half of their overall FG attempts. One weakness that I see in the early games is their FT shooting… they are under 60% so that will be a factor if the game is being tightly called by the refs.
The one good thing is that Mizzou doesn’t really have a shot blocker. They have taller players, but their bigs only total 2 blocks in 2 games combined. I think Fotu will eat them up if he gets enough touches.
FUHA: Good analysis…It seems that Missouri’s Bigs are not playing up to par, yet. Christian , Isaac, Davis, I would like to see Jovanovich too, use the guy for protecting rim and battling for rebounds, he has 5 fouls to give, AV and MT step it up. As Coach Fish stated, you slow, MIzzou down, different ball game. Get them to run their half court offense for 35 seconds..Their percentages go down. I like UH’s ability to go fast or slow. Their BBIQ, seems to be very high this year. Shamburger and Standhardinger have to keep the emotions and talking under control, the refs will T you up, and with 2, you are gone. Should be interesting, if UH, has a good showing, or, just play their game to perfection, UH has a shot to win. Still picking UH for the win, ONE for the ages!~
Go Rainbow Warriors!
😀
That Sprint Arena in Kansas City, very impressive, big development in that area. Hosts all type of activity, business, entertainment, sports. What a showcase for Missouri and Hawaii on a sports network that will be seen by quite a few fans around the country, and possibly around the earth!
It is a neutral arena. Not Missouri’s home court. Though, a few hours drive from the Tigers campus. I think the favorite is Missouri, of course, by ten, eleven or so, that is not that big a difference. Like many UH teams in the past, whether, UH can be ready, mentally, physically, and Basketball wise set to go to war. They play good team ball, as Coach Fisher says, UH can win ball game. Kind of agree with him and what playhoopsa states, UH could win a close one. Would have to play near perfect.
Well, guys, no fear, just go out and play your hearts out. From Coach on down till the last man on the bench. The one team, ohana mantra.Should be great game.
watching on espn3
Poor decision to end the half, allowing Missouri to score at the buzzer. That being said, Warriors up 46-45.