Warriors wary of Norfolk State
The University of Hawai’i basketball team is well aware of the holiday traps that can be in place between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This year, it comes in the form of a Norfolk State team that is tall and experienced.
The Warriors, who are 9-3 and have won seven of their last eight games, will host the Spartans at 7 p.m. on Monday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Spartans, who are picked to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, are 8-5.
“They start four guys at 6-6 and one guy at 7 feet, so that tells you what they like to do,” said UH assistant coach Brandyn Akana, who scouted the Spartans. “They’re long, athletic, big guards and they look to do a number of different things.”
Norfolk State returns four players from last season’s team that finished 21-10 and won the MEAC regular-season title and advanced to the NIT. Among the returnees is Pendarvis Williams, a 6-6 senior wing who was named MEAC Player of the Year last season.
He is averaging 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season. Williams was also a starter on the 2011-12 Norfolk State team that was a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament and scored an historic upset of No. 2 Missouri.
While Williams may be the Spartans’ top all-around player, he does not lead the team in any of the major statistical categories. The leading scorer is Malcolm Hawkins, a 6-5 senior wing who is averaging 17.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, and is shooting 41 percent (25 for 61) from 3-point range.
Williams and Hawkins are the threats from the outside, and 7-foot senior Brandon Goode is the threat inside. He is averaging 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and has a .596 field goal percentage.
“They like to spread you out,” Akana said. “This team will run a lot of half-court sets. A lot of down picks, a lot of isolation in the post and on the wings … they’re not a team that likes to speed it up, so we expect them to slow it down and pound it in the post.”
Norfolk State’s five losses this season have come by an average of 5.8 points per game, including three losses by three points or fewer. The Spartans are also a well-traveled team, as they have already played in six different states (Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Washington).
The Warriors will counter with their solid starting five that continues to average double-figure points at all five positions.
Senior forward Christian Standhardinger leads the team in both scoring (17.5) and rebounding (7.1). Sophomore forward Isaac Fotu is next in both categories at 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and he also has a .578 field goal percentage.
Guards Garrett Nevels (13.2), Brandon Spearman (11.7) and Keith Shamburger (10.5) are also averaging double-figure points, and Shamburger leads the team in assists at 4.9 per game.
“We know how big of a game this is,” Shamburger said. “Every game is big to us. Every team wants to beat us now. That comes with winning. We just have to keep winning and knock those teams off, who ever comes in here.”
The Warriors are averaging 82.8 points per game, which ranks 25th in the country; Norfolk State is not far behind at 80.8 points per game. However, the UH coaches would not be surprised if it is a lower-scoring game.
“We’re going to pass up and sacrifice the good shots to get better shots,” Akana said. “We’re going to make them defend … that will in turn help us to get easy lay-ups and easy dunks. That’s what we look to do is be patient on offense.”
Game 13 Tip-off Notes
Who: Hawai’i (9-3, 0-0 Big West) vs. Norfolk State (8-5, 2-0 MEAC)
Date: Monday, Dec. 30, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu
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
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: The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is the game sponsor and will award a two-night stay in an Ocean Front Junior Suite during the halftime contest.
A team that could defeat UH , so guys bring it on and get the W!!
Go Bows!!
😀
Eagle , any poll , that shows team on the rise good right?
Superfan Eagle, let’s go Bows!!
😀
[Pomeroy Analysis:]
YES, Watch Out!
#197 NORFOLK BEAT #127 Boston University (Rated Comparably with Hawai’i)
On The Road, Dec. 15, 86-82 in OT…
and came within 10 points @ #22 Virginia on Dec. 23,
The Only Team they’ve faced Rated Higher than Hawai’i
#106 Hawai’i, #92 Miami FL and #128 NC-Central (@Home)
are the Only Sub-#247 Teams remaining on Norfolk’s Schedule…
Gotta Be Careful IF We Play ‘Their’ Game
D-Up. Continue to Pressure Opposition into Turnovers
While Minimizing Ours and Scoring Smart & Efficient
Go ‘Bows!
Beat Norfolk!
this is where Gib’s coaching, and his staff input, scout etc, is really stepping up. Plus, team, know Defined roles, and playing their roles, as Gib says, team on path to become a very good team. Now, UH, with its’ reputation of going against good teams, good pomeroy, RPI, BPI, or whaterver top 100 teams, Norfolk and Omaha, just so happen to be, not push over teams. good athletes, well coaches, and they can grab that trap game victories. UH has to play DHC effort and better to avoid, disaster. I believe, and coaches, are going to be constantly coaching them up, until and during game time, eagle, DO not Let up, go to war, cannot, cannot lose one or two of these games.
So UH basketball team and seniors, go 1000% and more and get to very,very important victories before the Big West rough 4 out of 5 games on the road to start season.
Captains, lead, and team follow their effort, you guys can come out with Norfolk victory first, and then go after a very disciplined Omaha team, ..
eagle, those rankings get me confused, I guess, as hoopsa, UHF, UH athlete, servante, jjay, and you say, JUST WIN…!
Eagle and fans, Goode might be the best Big, legitimate, O and D threat, athletic, 7 footer that UH will play this year. He looks like a good one, averaging 2.6 block shots per game, .596% FG, 7.1 rpg,10.9 ppg, and 64% FT line. He is a good one! Fotu, Davis, Standhardinger, maybe Jovanovich, Thomas, Valdes, double him, very rare, a good shooting and defending Big, a legit 7 footer!
Well, very sure, team is not going to come out flat, they don’t want to get down 18-19 pts, in first half and try to play catch up to a half court set running team. That would be like the NMSU game at the SSC. Should be good game , enjoy Eagle!
From Norfolk St site:
#23 Brandon Goode
Position: C
Height: 7-0
Weight: 235
Class: Senior
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
Previous School: James Monroe HS
2013-14 (Senior Year)
Named to the preseason All-MEAC third team.
2012-13 (Junior Year)
Played in all 33 games and started every single contest except for Senior Night … Named the team’s Most Improved Player … Averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game … Led the team in blocks and ranked second in rebounding … Shot 99-of-169 from the floor for the season (58.6 percent) and 57-of-91 (62.6 percent) from the free throw line … Ranked first in the MEAC in field goal percentage, sixth in blocks and 19th in rebounding … Ranked third in blocks in conference games only (2.6) … Also ranked 57th in the nation in blocks … Scored 255 points on the year with 175 rebounds 66 blocks, 14 steals and seven assists … Named the first MEAC Player of the Week of the year on Nov. 12 after posting his first career double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds at Rhode Island on Nov. 9
😀
Go Bows!!
Eagle-you are probably, like my family was, that core 3800 that followed UH through, Little, F. Arnold, R. Wallace, Bob Nash, and Gib Arnold, through good and bad times, win or lose. From the HIC, Blaisdell to the 1994 brand new SSC. We were going to games from way back when, even Klum.
Shout out to that core group, who are still healthy,and not too, old, who go to every game, some in their mid to late sixties, and some even seventy to near eighty. Those, plus the newer fans of Gib’s more exciting brand of BB, great mixture. Now I cannot go, because of age and ailments, however, I feel the excitement, on the radio, online and OC telecast. Fantastic!
I think that 3800 faithul, plus another 1200 walk up, and joining bandwagon, for Gib era, will help UH have that sixth man. Wait until Jamie Smith arrives in another week or so! He will have the SSC rocking!
Eagle, always, the faithful, yet keeping it real, not drinking the Kool Aid, see real time, the growth of potentially a very Good Basketball, and clean , Program!
Thanks too, on behalf of hoops too, for updates on Ranking and Power Ratings. One day, maybe this year, Hawaii will be in that 64 elite, for the Big Dance!
Go Rainbows!
Uhfanzonly1.
davis get ready to bang with another 7 footer and get him into foul trouble
UH @ its Best is a Formidable Challenge…
And Smart Enough to Respect Everyone, Fear No One…
Ho’okahi No ‘Ohana
Go ‘Bows!
Close Out 2013 and Start 2014 on Winning Notes…
——–
Maybe The Core 300-500 that Riley always appreciated…
Even make it to the Dreaded ‘Afternoon’ Games…
Are you kidding Hoopsa? Al Williams would destroy Goode.
Hey Uhfanzonly1, back in the day, I went to every game except 1, the time when I think it was Florida St. walked off the court in the middle of the game, UH up 30 – 10. Never missed another game until around Bob Nash time as coach and I left the islands. I catch the games when I can. Saw every Frank Arnold game except the one against BYU, (tough one to miss but something came up). Saw Bobby Miles smother Sham and the Spartans when Gib brought the team to San Jose. Catch all the games from San Jose to Las Vegas and Reno. Now I am on Australian time, but I love to keep up with you and the team. It is great when the video is available. I can’t see the ESPN games, but the Big West channel is great. Let’s hope we can see the team get ranked again in the top 20, and perhaps the top 10. One of these years, it will happen. And I hope we are all around to see it. Go Bows!
Might Be Only ‘Bout A Year to Approaching,
even Cracking into The Rankings again…
[SOME Possibility of Making Waves &
Putting the ‘East Coast Community’ on Notice This Post-Season,
Similar to Norfolk’s 15-2 Upset
BUT I’m pretty sure they’ve already got too many Losses to Rank]
Then, Consistent (90%+) Winning
would allow them to Climb As High As
The Competition they Can Schedule and Beat
OR Catch in The Post-Season,,,
THAT Would Be a Legit “Program”
And Might Even Be Sustainable
Because of Gib & Co.’s INCESSANT
Non-Stop, PERSEVERANT Recruiting…
and NBA Style Ball
which Does Attract a Better Quality of Talent…
“ONCE They’re Ranked”
We should ALL Be Able to SEE More Games…
(Although it helps that Internet Quality Keeps Improving)
Eagle-yes, I remember those days well, first year, Riley 4-26 or so, at times at the Blaisdell, there were perhaps a little over 1000 in attendance at the games, he appreciated those, and especially consolation games of the Rainbow Classic, the dreaded morning, day games losers bracket. We were there.
I guess I am dating myself, we go back to old Rocha days, Klum, now those, fans, a lot have passed on, however, when Riley started to win with that first NIT group led by Gaines , Hallums and Reggie Cross, that 500 or so core group, turned into about 1000.
There is a new, core, I would say about 3000+(the season ticket holders and newbies) who have been supporting for past 20 years. Gib has a good program, and moving towards a possibly great program in years to come.
Eagle, and your family, enjoy rest of the year, one more day..and into a great 2014 for UH MBB!
The dreaded “IMPLOSION” of Gib and his MBB team, did not happen, instead an “EXPLOSION” in interest and positive direction of team. Go Rainbows!
Uhfanzonly1.
Eagle keep on keeping on. One of the real supporters and fans, like DK, Palolo, Jjay, FUHA, servante, Derek, warriorhaw, and so many more who through thick and thin of Gib’s first 3 years, have supported the Basketball team! Hope UH will get to the NIT or NCAA promised land!
Go Bows!
akuhead2, yes….I think even hfan too?, there are several, whom are not in Hawaii, overseas who are Hawaiians forever will be at heart, and great fans of UH sports. Keep the faith brother! This team with Gib at the helm, seems to be reaching for that consistent winning and post season bound BB program. Maybe, one day, who knows, with Isaac Fleming, Negus Webster-Chan and Stefan Jankovic, all 3 star athletes coming on board next year 2014-15, Hawaii might return to top 20 -25, would be awesome.
For those die hards, who are now, the older ones, some call us the radio set listeners, or saimin sippers, however, we have been following UH a long time, and we love the team as well as the younger generation. It brings the whole state together!
akuhead2(love that name!) keep on hanging in there, from the land of Oz! UH MBB on the rise! Yes, I remember, when one of the referees, got into a scuffle with coach of SEC team, ? was it that game, the Florida St one, cannot remember. Great times, when Fab Five captivated a whole state, which was much smaller in population at that time, we stopped work, kids, in school, used their last 30 minutes or so of school time, the teachers tuned in their classroom TV’s to UH vs Oklahoma in the first round NIT game, great memories, with Gib and team creating hopefully a decade or more of additional fond memories and victories for all of the New and Older fans of Rainbow Warrior Basketball!
Go Bows!
Uhfanzonly1.
xer 21: actually I am not worried about Alan Williams handling Goode, concern for our frontline making sure Goode doesn’t go off, on O and D. With Gib’s emphasis, on Defense, individual and help side, double down, switching, the bigs going out to shooters, and the guards, staying with the Bigs, UH is getting better on Defending big and little teams. Still have a ways to go, however, if UH keeps at it, make themselves the Top Team on Defense, Rebounding and Scoring in Big West, they will win a lot, and have legitmate shot at NIT or NCAA’s.
Against, Norfolk St. and Omaha, who are not DII, schools, good mid major, who are projected to win their conferences and go to NCAA’s, good test for UH. NO LETDOWN, as other fans on this forum said.
UH can defend, hold down, the top scorers for Norfolk St., and get out and run, or, now with UH’s PG’s, I love it, running effective half court offense, UH is starting to become a good team. Key: UH , however, they do it, with maximum 40 minute effort, and close out, finish strong, HAVE TO WIN these 2 games, a must!
Go Rainbow Warriors!
😀
Rocha, Riley Wallace, and Bob Nash loved this team and Hawaii. I hope we can keep Gib for a long time.
Go Bows !
Hope that Frank Arnold isn’t too mad at us fans that may have called for his head. Sorry about that. Read some articles on how he wasn’t able to recruit the 4-year players into his system and wasn’t keen on recruiting JC players at the time. Team didn’t look like they were trying. Wallace’s down year, the team always looked like they were trying at least. And then they got better. Anyway, Frank is part of the Gib Ohana. He is part of a strong Ohana. A Hawaii Ohana. Go Bows!