Warriors look to extend road streak at Fullerton
In addition to chasing the leaders in the Big West Conference, the University of Hawai’i basketball team is chasing history on Saturday at Fullerton, Calif.
The Warriors will be seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive conference road victory when they take on Cal State Fullerton at Titan Gym. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (Hawai’i time) and is an ESPN3 game (available to Oceanic “Sports Pass” subscribers in Hawai’i on channel 290).
Hawai’i is 17-7 overall and tied for third place in the Big West at 6-4 following an 87-76 victory at UC Riverside on Thursday. Fullerton is 8-15 overall and in seventh place at 3-6.
No Hawai’i team has ever won four consecutive conference games on the road since the program first joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1980 (and then the switch to the Big West last year).
It won’t be as easy as it might appear at first glance against a Fullerton team that is clearly better at home than it is on the road. The Titans are 6-4 in Titan Gym, including 3-1 against Big West opponents. Most notable is a 74-72 win over conference leader UC Santa Barbara last month. What’s more, a capacity crowd of close to 4,000 is expected for the Titans’ “homecoming” game.
The Titans are a guard-oriented team, and they often use four guards on the court at the same time. The top eight scorers on their team are all 6 feet 7 or shorter.
The backcourt duo of Michael Williams and Alex Harris are the primary options. Williams, a 6-2 senior, is averaging 16.6 points per game and leads the team with 50 3-pointers. Harris, a 6-1 junior, is averaging 14.8 points per game and has 38 3-pointers. The duo has been even more effective in conference action, with Williams averaging 18.8 and Harris at 17.9 points per game.
The top inside players for the Titans are 6-7 junior Steve McClellan and 6-6 senior Marquise Horne. McClellan is averaging 6.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game; Horne is contributing 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
It makes for a contrast in styles, as the Warriors are led by a pair of 6-8 forwards – senior Christian Standhardinger and sophomore Isaac Fotu. Standhardinger leads the team in both scoring (17.9) and rebounding (8.1). Fotu is next at 15.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, and he ranks second in the Big West with a .613 field goal percentage.
The Warriors will counter the Fullerton guards with a solid trio of their own. Junior Garrett Nevels is averaging 14.2 points per game and leads the team with 49 3-pointers. He ranks second in the Big West with a .441 percentage from 3-point range. Senior Brandon Spearman is averaging 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Junior point guard Keith Shamburger is averaging 8.8 points per game and now leads the Big West in assists at 5.3 per game.
The Warriors have also been getting key contributions off the bench from guard Quincy Smith, forward Aaron Valdes, and center Davis Rozitis in recent weeks.
Although the Warriors have already completed home-and-home series with two Big West teams (Cal State Northridge and UC Riverside), this will be the first meeting this season with Fullerton. They will meet again in the season finale on March 8 in Honolulu.
Game 25 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai’i (17-7, 6-4 Big West) vs. Cal State Fullerton (8-15, 3-6 Big West)
When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 4:00 p.m. (Hawai’i time)
Where: Titan Gym (4,000) – Fullerton, Calif.
Television: ESPN3 telecast available to Oceanic Cable “Sports Pass” subscribers on ch. 290
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 GoHighlanders.com
Saturday’s Games
Hawai’i at Cal State Fullerton
Cal State Northridge at UC Santa Barbara
UC Riverside at UC Irvine
Cal Poly at Long Beach State
odds, Hawaii favorite by 3 1/2. That is about right. Fullerton, has athletes, have played the top 3 tough.
Should be good game. Once again, go inside to Fotu and Standhardinger , if they are doubled, they kick out to shooters. Once again, the guards have to hit the outside shots. The energy guys, off bench , Smith , Rozitis and Valdes, provide the boost, Then let Smith, Nevels, Shamburger and Spearman, close out game at end.
Of course, UH has to stop penetration and one, to the rim by the Fullerton, guards, and athletic wings.
Should be great game. UH, Fear No One and Respect Everyone. Play as a Championship game. All out 40 minutes of hustle and smarts on O and D. Get the Win, and UH will be solid coming home on flight to the islands!
Pretty much key: UH DEFEND, the offense can score, if UH shuts down Fullerton, keep thme 70 or below in points, and UH scores 80 or more, UH wins again, that seems to be the theme recently. However, UH has to get off to great start, always better than chasing a team, that gets hot, dunks, and bombs 5 three pointers in a row, from outset.
UH: DEFENSE wins games, outstanding DEFENSE wins championships and does damage in post season play!
Yo Winbows1, I agree with your UH defense assessment. But I’ve got to emphasize our guard play on offense. The muscle is the muscle, and the inside is the inside, but I suggest the words the shooters hear play a significant role in how well they shoot. Our guards against their guards, I think we can take em’. Our shooters can shoot And drive to the hoop And play tough defense. I think the encouragement should be there for our guards to go hard and play hard. Fill up those baskets and score, score, score. Fotu and Standhardinger have the green light. UH green of course. That won’t change. If the guards see the bigs have the better options as scorers, or passing lanes as point forwards, push it in to the bigs. But if they are feeling it, shoot it !
Go ‘Bows!
Out-Play, Out-Hustle, Out-Perform Fullerton
Take the Back-to-Back Homecomings Personal IF it can help Your Focus and Intensity
(Although i take it More of a Statement of Where AD Jim Donovan’s Heart Really is)
We’re NOT Likely to Beat CSUF in Baseball (#1 Nationally)
So Take Up the UH Flag and Sweep ‘Em in their Money Sport of Basketball
Oddly, It ‘Starts’ with Tonight’s Sold-Out Challenge …
(AFTER Your Northridge SPLIT(?!) and Riverside Sweep(!))
WIN!, Then YOU “CAN” Complete The Sweep on YOUR Senior Night
BUT Only IF You Out-Perform for 40+ Tonight…
AIM High, Shoot Straight (In, Four Straight OTR), Win!
GO ‘BOWS!
WAY TO GO, ‘BOWS!!
GREAT Comeback!
WORE The TITANS Down!
HAWAI’I 83 – CSUFullerton 80
24 of 26 Free-Throws Hawai’i
ALL Five Starters in Double-Figures
Keith Shamburger 11 Points, NINE Assists, One Turnover
FOUR Conference WINS in a Row
Including Missing Three or Four Shots to NOT Beat Northridge
i.e., ‘Almost’ FIVE In A Row
The “SAME” Northridge Team that WWON @ #1 UCSB Tonight
—————-
80-78 UCSB Loses to Northridge @ HOME
Cal-Poly VS LBSU: ___