Hawai’i set to go “up and down” with Boise State
If fast-paced basketball is on your wish list, the opening night of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic will be the place to be on Sunday.
The University of Hawai’i will face Boise State in a match-up of top 20 offenses at 8 p.m. on Sunday at the Stan Sheriff Center. It will be the fourth of four games on the opening day of the tournament.
“A lot of points should be scored,” said Hawai’i assistant coach Scott Fisher, who scouted the Broncos. “Both teams averaging nearly 90 a game … it’s going to be up and down.”
The Warriors are 7-2 and will bring a five-game winning streak into the contest. The Broncos are 8-2 – they started the season 8-0, but have since lost to Kentucky and Saint Mary’s.
The teams are tied for 12th in the nation in scoring offense at 86.4 points per game. “When you look at statistics across the board, we are very, very similar teams,” Fisher said. “I guess the differences are they might be a little more efficient from the free throw line and the 3-point line overall, and we’re a little bit better on defense.”
The Broncos return all five starters from last season’s team that finished 21-11 and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. All five starters are key contributors, and four of them average double-figure points.
Anthony Drmic, a 6-foot-6 wing player, is a versatile scorer who averaged 18.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game; Derrick Marks, 6-3 guard, is averaging 17.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game; Jeff Elorriaga, a 6-2 shooting guard, is averaging 12.9 points per game, and Fisher describes him as “the most efficient offensive player in the nation,” because he is shooting 60 percent from 3-point range and 62 percent overall.
Boise State’s top post player is 6-9 senior Ryan Watkins, who is averaging 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. The Broncos often use four guards around Watkins to maintain a fast pace.
The Warriors will counter with a balanced attack of their own. All five Hawai’i starters are averaging double-figure points, led by senior forward Christian Standhardinger at 18.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Junior guard Garrett Nevels is averaging 14.2 points per game and is shooting 55 percent (22 for 40) from 3-point range; Isaac Fotu (6-8, So., F) is averaging 13.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game; Keith Shamburger (5-11, Jr., G) is averaging 10.9 points and 4.2 assists per game; Brandon Spearman (6-3, Sr., G) is averaging 10.3 points per game.
Sunday schedule
12:30 p.m.- Iowa State vs. George Mason
2:30 p.m. – Oregon State vs. Akron
6:00 p.m. – Saint Mary’s vs. South Carolina
8:00 p.m. – Hawai’i vs. Boise State
Monday schedule
9:30 a.m. – Consolation game
11:30 a.m. – Semifinal game
4 p.m. – Semifinal game
6:20 p.m. – Semifinal game
Wednesday schedule
8:30 a.m. – Consolation game
11 a.m. – Consolation game
1:30 p.m. – Third place game
3:30 p.m. – championship game
Game 10 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai’i (7-2, 0-0 Big West) vs. Boise State (8-2, 2-0 Mountain West)
When: Sunday, Dec. 22, 8:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu
Television: ESPNU
Streaming Video: WatchESPN.com
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
Ticket Information: $26 (lower) and $18 (upper) for evening session. $10 (general admission) for day sessions. All-session ticket packages for $90 (lower) and $70 (upper).
Promotions: Military Discount (Must show military ID and limit four [4] per ID); Upper Level (Reserved Sessions 2, 4 ,5, 6) – $9; General Admission. UH Alumni Discount (Must show UHAA ID) – $5 off Upper Level (Reserved) or General Admission session.
Great Scout, Coach Fisher
Christian – What a Character… We Looked Forward to You joining the Team
Totally Enjoy Your Play, Energy & Hustle
AND I Think You Are Also a Great Role Model on How ‘All of This’ CAN Work…
Stefan Jovanovic Committed to Joining the Program In Large Part because he could see, through Your Efforts,
How This Could All Work for Him as Well… Mahalo Plenty…
BOOM ON!
I ‘knew’ somebody was gonna do it (Mix Stefans…REmember the Matts?)
didn’t think I’d be The First (or Last)
Jankovic VS Jovanovic
(and IF They Both Do Great,
Mixing Up a Few Sports Writers/Sportscasters Will Be a Fun Thing…)
Which team can defend, for UH stop their transition, get all the rebounds, and close out game.
Should be a shootout.
I’d expect Gib to put Spearman on Marks and Nevels on Elorriaga, and Fotu will have to guard Watkins, so the key to the game appears to be the matchup between Drmic and Standhardinger. Christian will need to either shut Drmic down or outscore him. The wild card is Shamburger; if he can find a rythmn offensively, his late scoring could decide the game.
Preliminaries are done… time for the Warriors to step up and show they can play with the big boys!
Buck Foise! I wanna see Nevels and Spearman go bananas tonight!! LET’S GO BOWS!
X-Factor on Defense, just might be Big D! Davis Rozitis, he could disrupt, Boise, from the perimeter to the rim. He is very agile and quick for a 7 footer. Also, the play off the bench, Q, …Thomas, and Valdes, now, if called on, have to step up, rebound, defend, and get some points, steals, blocked shots and assits, Will take UH whole team to win, this game, then the next, and hopefully be in championship game.
One win at a time, UH shoot for 2 out of 3, best case scenario…3-0 and first ever DHC crown would be great for team, Hawaii, and the exposure for possible recruits. Another 7 footer, defensive whiz, SF, athletic shooter, defender? In the House?
Go Bows!
😀