Warriors looking for super effort against Cal Poly
Nobody said this was going to be easy. The University of Hawai’i basketball team will once again face a difficult task when it hosts Cal Poly in a battle of the fourth place teams in the Big West Conference on Saturday.
The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center, and it is being promoted as “Superhero Night.”
Perhaps fittingly, the Mustangs have played a villainous role against the Warriors in recent years. Cal Poly has won five consecutive games against Hawai’i, including a 77-65 victory last month at San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Hawai’ is 15-7 overall and 4-4 in the Big West following a 75-64 home loss to UC Santa Barbara on Thursday. Cal Poly is 8-13 and 4-4.
“I never beat Cal Poly since I’ve been here,” senior guard Brandon Spearman said. “It would be a wonderful win.”
While Hawai’i struggled offensively in the loss to UC Santa Barbara, the Mustangs were resting comfortably. Fortunate scheduling (or unfortunate for Hawai’i) gave the Mustangs a bye on Thursday, thus giving them extra time to travel and prepare for the Warriors.
The game will offer a contrast in styles, as the Warriors lead the Big West in scoring at 81.6 points per game, while Cal Poly is last at 63.9. Defensively, the Mustangs rank first in the conference in points allowed at 63.6 per game, while the Warriors are seventh at 72.9.
“If you give them an easy basket in transition, they’re pretty good at scoring that, but they really like to get late into the shot clock,” UH associate coach Benjy Taylor said. “That’s their thing … and they’re a very, very good offensive rebounding team.”
The Mustangs have a balanced attack, led by 6-foot-7 senior forward Chris Eversley, who is averaging team-highs of 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Dave Nwaba, a 6-4 wing, is the only other player averaging double-figure points at 11.9.
Eversley had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the victory over Hawai’i last month, while Nwaba had 17 points and five rebounds.
Kyle Odister, a 6-foot senior, is averaging 9.7 points per game, and leads Cal Poly with 40 3-pointers. Jamal Johnson, a 6-foot guard, is averaging just 5.6 points per game, but scored a season-high 15 against Hawai’i last month.
The Warriors shot a season-low 38.6 percent in the loss to UC Santa Barbara, and they are hoping to bust out of the slump against Cal Poly. “That definitely wasn’t us,” Spearman said.
The Warriors are led by the forward tandem of Christian Standhardinger and Isaac Fotu. Standhardinger is averaging team-highs of 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game; Fotu is averaging 15.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and leads the team with a .609 field goal percentage.
The guard corps struggled in the loss to UC Santa Barbara, and will need to make up for it on Saturday. Garrett Nevels is contributing 14.2 points per game and leads the team with 45 3-pointers. Spearman is contributing 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Junior point guard Keith Shamburger is averaging 8.9 points and 5.0 assists per game.
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The second video above features a message from redshirt players Niko Filipovich, Stefan Jankovic and Negus Webster-Chan. The trio – and starting forward Isaac Fotu – wanted to send a message to the fans that they are, indeed, a part of this team and will continue to do what they can to help their teammates.
Also see the video below for more fun interaction between Webster-Chan and Spearman as a promotion for Saturday’s “Superhero Night.”
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Game 23 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai’i (15-7, 4-4 Big West) vs. Cal Poly (8-13, 4-4 Big West)
When: Saturday, Feb. 8, 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 California Hotel & Casino is the sponsor and will award a Vacations Hawaii trip to Las Vegas. UH Kids’ Club members are invited onto the court for the pre-game ceremonies. There will be an autograph session in the arena concourse near Gate B following the game. UH Alumni Association paid members and members of the military receive 50% off adult tickets. UH Student Promotion: “Superhero Night” and the student with the best costume will win a special prize. Students will receive free Manoa Maniacs t-shirts (while supplies last).
Saturday’s Big West games
Cal State Fullerton at Cal State Northridge
Long Beach State at UC Riverside
UC Irvine at UC Davis
Cal Poly at Hawai’i
hawaiifan09 and TAVS, I bet you really want Gib and team to win tonite. So do about 10,000 other fans, tuning in on TV and live at the SSC!
Hey when team wins, we cheer, say great. When team loses, we say, gotta fix things Gib and team, this team lot of heart, never say die, they will get back to averaging 80 plus points a game and holding teams to 70 pts or less.
One win at a time, then UH will still be back a game or two from leaders. Keep the Faith.
Hey Eagle, hold your head up high, UH will be back and get the win. If UH loses next 8 games in a row, well next, Baseball right, nope, we still look forward to Big West tournament!
Stay positive, right Valerie Schmidt and Ohana!
Go Bows!!
Go Warriors! Winning time and superhero nite!
😀
Hey TAVS, you must be a coach or super booster, long time fan, For team, they read the blogs, or else, the sponsor, or Dayton reads your posts, and our feelings, and relates it to team. These guys were clowning around in the back, they are brothers.
And hfan09, sure, possiblity every year that a few players will leave, Caleb , he doesn’t know for sure that his back will ever be 100%, very high level of play DI ball, think he wants to play for Bible college or JC or DII, then make it back to DI team, wish him the best.
Preferred ones, UH has, 5 out of 17 guys, active and roster scholies, so they have option. Like that Fotu, took the lead to clear the air. Yep, no felons, or head cases on this team, they are ONE ohana, and look to have chance to dance, I believe them, …hfan09 and TAVS,..before kicking team under the bus, remember, IRVINE game on the road, I chalked that game as big loss, and what do you know , second game of road swing, and UH upsets the undefeated leader, NEVER EVER count out the NON TENSION, One Ohana Rainbow Warriors, they will be back and win a lot of games 20+ and go to NIT or NCAA, for sure!
Go Bows Warriors!
😀
Good morning hawaiifan09; you have finally woken up and seen the light of day. All others, wake-up – UH will NOT go 8-0 in second half of season. at best they will go 5-3 . . . finishing 19-9; oh, so disappointing. It’s okay to be dreamers or wishful thinkers, but you gotta keep it real sometimes.
Hello, hello, . . . I am reaching out to Eagle, FUHA, playhoopsa, UHfanzonly1, jjay, winbows1; time for you guys to wake up and have a cup of java. Enjoy the next few games; dark clouds approaching fast! Mahalo.
TEAM seems to be in ‘another” Mid-Conference Season Slump;
Consistency over The Long Haul Counts
The Better BW Coaches getting 5 of 7 Wins
50-50 (4-4) is Not a Healthy (Enough) Number
That could just as easily been 5-3 or 3-5
Earlier Season Balance and Togetherness Ebbing Low? Adjusting?
Junior And Senior Leaders Need to Grab The Game and Opposition by the Neck
Seize Control of Games
Out of Balance?
“Over”-Emphasizing Defense
Losing Shooting & Execution Consistency
Team Needs to Hold Together, Execute Together
So Much one on two or one on three individual play
Low Assist Totals
Team might be suffering ‘Tired’ Legs as well?
Hard Drives to Basket getting Stuffed
Shots Short or Not Hitting Center
But Mid-Conference Season
Gotta Suck it Up
Gut Check
Fight Your Way Back to Upper Half
And Upper, Upper Half?
Top Three?
Or Middle Three?
Starts Tonight…
Can Take NO Thing for Granted Against Cal Poly
Gonna Get Out-Defensed? Out-Executed?
‘Bows? They GOT Your Number?
FIVE-Game Dominance? Six?
OR Finally Fighting Through?
NEED A Great Game
Good is Just Not Good Enough
Need That Mid-Season PUSH
Upper Third or Just Middling’?
NOW Will Tell…
HOME Court Guys….
Super-Hero TEAM Performances
Ho’okahi No ‘Ohana
When it Gets Tough is When it Matters
NICE ANSWER, Red-Shirts!
Nice Answer, Players?
Great video by the Redshirts and Fotu to make light of some comments by the Haters. Just know that there are a lot of UH basketball supporters out here that have your backs no matter what. That is the meaning of “One Ohana” it includes the players, the coaches, the manoa maniacs and us regular fans. Play hard, play loose and let the game come to you tonight versus Poly.
So, here’s my prediction for tonight’s game. Cal Poly wins by 4. They have Hawaii’s number. Chris Eversley goes for over 25 points. Hawaii leads a small lead at halftime, but the second half is another story. Missed F/T, turnovers, foul trouble spells drama. For all my thoughts, I hope I am dead wrong and Hawaii wins. Any win. Close win, medim win, or big win. Either way, we all have to handle the truth!!!!!!!
Really bottom line, the athletes, the MBB team, the bigs and especially the guards have to play well and start winning again.
Does it really matter if the coach were Rocha, O’Neil, Pitino, Little, Frank Arnold, Riley, or Bob Nash, or Gib.
Team has to win. They win , and team and fans happy.
Lose, and there is clamor, and everyone has opinion. Hope the guys, get back to winning as a Team, then we will all be happy!
Go Bows!
Uhfanzonly1.
Eh hope springs eternal. Even though yesterday was stink talk day, today is another day; and just like your spouse: you keep’em, love’m, and support’em—unless they do huhu with you know who.
servante and sarconic, appreciate your balanced observations. As well as some others on forum. Good analogy. Spouse, the better half, keep em and love em, stay together, and live together, make everything betta yeah!
Same thing with UH MBB team. Stay together, the starters, play together, the subs, play their roles, and coach manages the team. They have to retain that awesome SWAG, from game at Mizzou, N. Arizona, win Against SMU, OSU, and awesome effort against Omaha and Boise St. They start to have confidence, and as UHF says, I notice at ball games, the guards, Spearman, Smith, Enos, Shamburger, Nevels, have to get key stops, and shots, as was stated above, to be able to win at home. This team, I agree, get away from whatever losses they have had, heartbreakers at Stan Sheriff, they are really focused on the road.
Hope does spring eternal, well at least , until UH gets that NCAA bid, hey, it could and still might happen.
Appreciate, that Dayton and the guys, and coaches, as we thought, they do look at our comments, and feelings, then they feel it too..thankful, they did not have to do it, they were having fun making video, showing that they are Brothers, and are together, as for firepower, and fire, next year going be really good!
Go Warriors, just get the Win against Poly tonite, bring the Swag, physical, and go to the hole, shoot the 3, be the 3, HAVE fun, do not play uptight, and Gib..let the boys go, run , defend, gun and win. Should be awesome game tonite, Superhero Nite!
Anyone, hint , hint Eagle, caught the pretty good Big West TV feed of Wahine game, rough 2 week 4 game road swing, they come out 1-3. And now are , you guessed it, 5-4, a record that the Men have to keep up with, good if Beeman’s and Gib’s teams, peak at the same time at Big West Tourney , would be super sweet , if they both could win that tourney and go dancing!
Nah, servante, I think for fans 10 to 40 years following UH MBB, we ALL want team to win, heck, I would go to every game that Riley had, when they won 4 and lost 26 the first year. Same with Frank Arnold, 7-20 or something. We live and LIVE, not die with the Bows. WE like mens hoops, and want them to win 20 games at least!
Just bring the “A” Game guys, and keep up with the Wahine, after tonite, hope the UH MBB and UH WBB are both at 5-4, even steven!
HORSSSSSE_Champ….really liked your breakdown, on the BREAKDOWN of UH on offense and defense. Lack of FT’s, sure enough a lot of points by Standhardinger are of the FT variety. Spearman, and Shamburger are not the 45% 3 point bombers that ONE man Nevels is. I think Garrett really played his a.. off guarding Boswell, however as you alluded to, the support guys took over and hit dagger 3’s.
HORSSSE, yes, Negus, is deep and deeper, and can get to the rim, legitimate, 3 star, Big 12 , top 100 talent, he and Fleming and Jankovic, ..Maybe next year, and for Nevels next euro career pro or other, he can play the point, great vision, and makes great passes to Fotu, good court vision. He should play the best D he can, however, have to have his legs to hit his 3’s, that 7 points and one 3 pointer, it is one game in the season stats. When Nevels starts hitting 4 or 5 good percentage 3’s opens up a lot of stuff.
anyways, HORSSSE, love that name, Hope team comes out firing, on shots, that are within the offense, and draw contact, not hoping for, but legitimate, to draw fouls on Poly. Also, agree, Fotu, is NOT the 5 big, traditional, muscle or shot blocking big, he is a hybrid, very great footwork, and awesome offensive player, could and should rebound better, and position, and use body when guarding other bigs. UH second half of season starts tonite. Fresh start, hey UH go 8-0, or minimum 6-2 the rest of the way , and eveybody happy!
umm….Dallan?
who the hell are you exactly?
also, dont be such a douche.
dallan from Dallas, xer21? I don’t know the agenda of some of the people/so called fans who post on different sites. If Gib and team lose, or a player asks, legitimately, good intentions on both sides, i.e. Caleb Dressler, outstanding young guy, who had a literal bad break with back injury, these “fans” start to trash, and then say, “mahalo” or “thanks”, they are the road kill type, the vultures. When Gib and team start winning 19 – 20 games this year, and have possibly good run to championship game of Big West Tournament, they disappear…then if another preferred walkon, there are 5 on this year’s team wants to move on, they say, Gib ship sinking.
dallan, oahuan, I just don’t get it? If team, any UH team men or women do well, or try their best, great effort, no need to pound on them, and yes, Gib will be here for several more years.
Dallan, just enjoy that UH has improved this year, and will win more games than last year. Smile Dallan, Oahuan(?)!