Warrior Insider

The Inside Source for Hawaii Men's Basketball
Search

Warriors making fast strides

Believe it or not, the first quarter of the regular season is already complete for the University of Hawai’i basketball team. The Warriors have opened the season in sprint mode, and they are making strides faster than expected.

The Warriors are 6-2 after opening the season with eight games in 13 days, including three games in three days at the Gulf Coast Showcase at Estero, Florida. The last Hawai’i team to start a season with a better record was the 2004-05 team that opened 8-0. Here are the records after eight games for the previous 10 seasons:

2013-14: 6-2
2012-13: 5-3
2011-12: 4-4
2010-11: 6-2
2009-10: 4-4
2008-09: 5-3
2007-08: 3-5
2006-07: 4-4
2005-06: 5-3
2004-05: 8-0

It is interesting to note that the 2004-05 team was 4-0 after the first 13 days of the season, and did not hit 8-0 until December 23. That 2004-05 team finished the season with a 16-13 record, proving that a fast start is not necessarily an indicator of season-long success.

MikeThomas2_Flores

Some other first quarter observations:

• Sophomore forward Aaron Valdes leads the team in both scoring (14.9) and rebounding (7.5). Through eight games, he has a total of 119 points and 60 rebounds. Last season, he appeared in all 31 games and finished the season with 100 points and 62 rebounds.

• Senior guard Garrett Nevels is shooting less than 40 percent from the field (including less than 30 percent from 3-point range), but is still finding ways to contribute. He ranks second on the team in both scoring (12.6) and rebounding (5.5).

• Junior point guard Roderick Bobbitt already made history by becoming just the second player in UH basketball history to record a triple-double. He also set a UH record with 10 steals against Hawai’i-Hilo, and remains a threat in four categories – points, assists, steals and rebounds.

• Negus Webster-Chan leads the team with 14 3-pointers, and is averaging 9.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-7 sophomore was recruited as a wing player, but has had to fill in mostly at the power forward position.

• Sophomore forward Mike Thomas is averaging 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Through eight games, he has a total of 66 points and 27 rebounds. In 20 total appearances as a true freshman last season, he had 23 points and 23 rebounds. What’s more, he has been playing the entire season so far with tape on his hands to cover wounds suffered in a moped accident just before the season opener.

• Sophomore center Stefan Jovanovic is averaging 4.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in just 17.4 minutes per game. He also leads the team with nine blocked shots and a .900 free throw percentage. He only appeared in 10 total games as a true freshman last season.

• The Warriors are shooting just 43.9 percent from the field as a team, but are limiting opponents to 40.5 percent shooting.

• A 74-70 victory over Pittsburgh marked just the second win by Hawai’i over a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The previous victory came over Clemson in the 2011 Diamond Head Classic.

• Hawai’i went 2-1 in the Gulf Coast Showcase at Estero, Florida, giving the program its first wins in the Eastern Time Zone since 2003. This is also now just the second team in UH history to win two games in the Eastern Time Zone in the same season (the 1970-71 “Fabulous Five” team also won twice in the East).

The Warriors will return to the Stan Sheriff Center court on Tuesday, December 2, when they host Delaware State at 7 p.m. After that, they will return to the mainland for a game against Brigham Young on Saturday, December 6, at Salt Lake City, Utah.

15 Comments

  1. Keep getting better Bows…finish strong in class…bond..stay together…you all will win lot of games !!
    Go Rainbow Warriors …the best team coming out of and through adversity I have seen in my lfe watching UH MBB ..

    INSIDERS..MEDIA national and coaching fraternity have tremendous respect for you all !!
    🙂
    Keep grinding ..get better ..make the run for 19+ W’s pre BWC tourney!!

  2. RB — UNDERSTOOD (ALWAYS…)
    [Your Undying Support is unwavering, unquestioned — NO Apologies]

    MY CALL Out or Criticism is For Those Able-Bodied to Attend…

    What Will it Take ?

    This Team Already Deserves The Support…
    15 Stayed… Injuries… Physical & UH Admin
    But Fighting Through To WIN, Anyway…
    Here, Outer Islands….Extreme Outer Continent…Terrific… Road-Tested Extreme Time-Zone-Trained…
    So Far, Always Fighting, Always in Contention
    More Times than Not, Fighting Through
    Mentally, Physically Tough
    Earning Opposing Coaches’ Respect…
    And Likely to Keep Getting Better
    Rarely See a UH Team with So Many Sophomores and Freshmen/First-Years Contributing..
    FUN To Watch
    When Fans Start Watching & Start Getting to Know These Good Guys
    Maybe a Little Like WInsiders already do,
    They’ll Likely Get Hooked, too
    And i Hope Most Stick Around as Long as their Eligibility
    Next — Trust & Chemistry can become Strengths
    Along with Improving Numbers and Depth…
    I Suspect Jankovic Helping Inside and Out Will Help Mike Thomas And Negus be More Effective
    Maybe the Serbian Stefan Duo Will Give UH a ‘Shocking’ Twin-Tower Presence
    This Team’s Options & Fascinations Seem Endless
    Especially When They ‘Perform’ So Well

    Get a Little More Time to Practice Sets, O&D
    Should Help Build Passing, Shooting Percentage

    KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON
    Keep it Goin’ ‘Bows!
    Continue to Get Better, Tougher
    CONTINUE STRONG!
    Finish Strong!

    [Mahalo, Dayton, Schmidts & Co…]

  3. Eagle:

    You know over 700 (?) was it, that came out set record by students for EXHIBITION game, against HPU.. I am sure, once December rolls around and mid term break, students will be out in force along with hopefully soon Jamie Smith leading the cheers., … That core, of which you have been a part of, for years.. long time.. will always be there.. I always think , if like Shoji’s faithful 4800 that come out no matter whom the opponent, UH MBB will have great audience in person.. Sometimes, the school and work night, for some families kind of rough, however this team deserves, they keep on winning on and off the court, and even through losses, come out better. , the fans will be there.. what could be a very, very special season .. great story, the first chapter being written, look forward to chapter Two !!

    Go Bows. And for those, and this forum has quite a few season, or game to game when they can, we know they work, and have family or health reasons.. that is okay, their comments, in support of Benjy and the MBB team and inspired by Mamma Valdes’ , I tell you.. THAT WAS A GALVANIZING LETTER…. it just created solidarity for fans, families, the athletes and Hawaii.. meant so much.. This team is living up to One Ohana, Family, and Finish Strong.

    Eagle, warriorhaw, TAVS, the loyal ones who go live in person to games when can, enjoy a very, special Team UH MBB Mighty Warriors
    !!
    🙂

  4. Thankyou to Dayton and crew go to Maui. the ONLY looooong edit version of Maui game UH vs Pitt, Rainbow huge victory.. thankyou very, very much Valerie Schmidt and the Schmidt Ohana , Ameriprise and Pacific Risk Solutions.. much Aloha for you all !!

    Families and fans, and Dayton, really set the tone, this is civil forum, that is fantastic, open for comment/opinions with respect.. We thank Dayton for that, in concert with so far, the great First Quarter run by the Bows.. what a great experience.

    Eagle and WI UH MBB fans, we await the NEXT 8 games leading up to BWC play..
    Go Bows. Mighty Warriors.. and MAKE SURE DO WELL IN FINALS, GPA for this fall semester, so vital for your futures..!!
    We Backing the Bows
    !!
    🙂

  5. And from previous thread, topic, The UH MBB Ohana(Family) Nation, continued support and condolences for the Fleming Family and the loss of a dear family member… Hawaii, the fans, the University , the coaches will help Isaac through these sad times.. Will make team bond and get closer together as one.

    Family so important.. Ohana….

  6. “Hello. My name is Coach Benjy Taylor & this Coach Q. We would like to talk with you about your son coming to play for us at the University of Hawaii. We have had our eyes on him for some time now and think he would be a great fit on our team.”

    “Well, we appreciate the kind words about our son, but the word has it that the two of you might not even be around next season, is that right?”

    THE SEASON IS ALREADY A QUARTER OVER AND THESE YOUNG MEN WHO HAVE DECIDED TO STAY AND PLAY FOR COACH TAYLOR ARE DOING SO BECAUSE HE HAS KEPT THEM TOGETHER. AS MOSTLY SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WILL DO TO THIS PROGRAM IS HE IS TAKEN OUT OF THE PICTURE?!

    HOW DOES THE ADMINISTRATION EXPECT OUR COACHES TO RECRUIT UNDER THIS SITUATION? SPRING SIGNING PERIOD IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND THE ABOVE SITUATION IS BEING REPEATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITHOUT CONTRACTS IN PLACE.

    AS ADMINISTRATORS, IT IS YOUR JOB TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, OUR PROGRAMS AND UH…ACT NOW OR YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE NCAA!

    THESE YOUNG MEN ARE SPECIAL AND ARE ENDURING HARDSHIPS LIKE FEW HAVE EVER KNOWN. WE OWE IT TO THEM TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER AND ALLOW THIS TEAM TO HARVEST THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THESE KIDS ARE MAKING THE ENTIRE STATE PROUD AND ARE THE TALK OF THE TOWN!

    GO BOWZ

  7. What can I say. These talented bunch of guys have just been awesome thru these 8 games. Kudos to the coaching staff.
    Go Warriors!

  8. BACKBEAT:

    If UH, Powers that be, Don’t want to start from Square One next season, or Spring exodus, have Benjy and current staff locked in, with and Additional year through 2015-16, so basically a 2 year contract solid. After 2nd year, see how he is doing, then go from there. For Betterment of Student Athletes, hey, the guys, the families, the fans, Hawaii, suffer along with this episode. What Benjy , Que, Brandon Loyd and Coach Autry are doing is Amazing. ESPN.. will have writeups about this… and to be able to, I thought unreal, Que mentioned, and Benjy develop these guys Now,,.. concentrate keeping them together, and have them fight for what is still there NCAA bid. They are doing it..under crazy , insane circumstances.

    You have Benjy and staff for 2014-15 AND 2015-16 locked in, with opportunity to negotiate during or after 15-16 season, It would not cost much, Solidarity for program and the athletes, some who will stay the course, I say majority will, to finish school and compete for championships..

    Hawaii Powers that be, These 15 guys, are great student athletes and citizens, already, why Go Backwards and start square one, when The Foundation has been laid already for the next 2 to 3 years? That Que, alluded to, and even Benjy making some visits, before coming back to Hawaii, This coaching staff are going above and beyond the call of duty.. for the right reasons.. For the Team, the University and the families and Fans.. What a solid group of men and great team of True Warriors.. shooots.. UH , AD, and the Power that does things, get it right.. UH MBB , is really a shining light for UH sports right now.. and They have not even had a month to practice Benjy Ball.. Wow!!

    BEN JAY.. we calling out to you.. with backing of That Power(s), lock in Benjy Taylor and staff for 2 years… for continuity.. it would make team, the coaches, the fans, potential recruits happy, and it would give a shot in the arm to a UH athletic dept, in disarray.. at least.. I can say.. no expert.. it would not be expensive at all.

    Ben Jay.. do the right thing..

  9. Really happy for team and coach for performance so far. But, as fans, we tend to go overboard, lock Benjy in for two years after six wins? Hopefully he gets more wins and then serious consideration. And agree UH needs to speed things up but no need to make permanent decision this minute.

  10. Wo-Men… Nice Showing Versus HOT-Shooting Stanford Team that was No.1 In the Country Last Week 73-86…
    Closer than Ten Most of Game and bounced back to Six (from 15 Down) in the Second Half…

    Very Impressive – Someone did a Nice Job getting High School Girls’ BB Teams out to game, honoring 1974 Patsy Dung, Patsy Mink and First NaWahine BB Team…Guessing 1500-2000 Screaming Fans — Great Atmosphere (Reminiscent of Maui versus Pitt — that good) — Jamie Smith’s Efforts getting Replicated for other Teams? IF SO…Keep That UP!

    ————

    Asked… Coach Benjy says Janks Eligible @ Semester Break
    (i’m interpreting as after Classes & Exams… Or is it Posted Grades…?)

    FROM UH-MANOA CALENDAR – LAST DAY OF INSTRUCTION THIS SEMESTER IS 12-11-2014
    SO I would Extrapolate that First Janks-Eligible Game IS 12-19 Versus CHAMINADE @ BLAISDELL (‘Ol Stomping Grounds…)

    bigdaddy – Isaac Good? Back on the Rise?

  11. I also think that us die hard fans should not get too carried away with the fast start. Great performances so far but this is still a young team and I hope they understand they still need to work hard to keep this season going as something special. That list in the story says it about the 2004-05 team that started 8-0 but finished 16-13. That means they went 8-13 after that good start. I don’t know what happened that year maybe injuries? What evers happened 10 years ago it should be a lesson to this team that a good start is important but also very important to finish strong!

  12. Great job ‘Bows…love the effort…can’t wait till “The J-Boys” (Jawato & Jankovic)
    come back from injury and NCAA transfer rules. Another 2 bodies in the
    rotation…..also some of the “stuff” I’ve been reading indicates “Slammin Sammins”
    could be back earlier than planned…anyone got anything on that ?????

    I wonder what the “heck” is Ben Jay waiting for…just sign Benjy Taylor up
    and let him run w/ the ball…seems like the players want to play for him…The
    main thing is that they play hard and want to play for him. We fans have to
    remember this is a relatively young team…

    BEN JAY CAN BE SUCH A “DUFUS”…not can…IS !!!!!

    I don’t know if there is such a work but if you look it up in Webster or online,
    you’ll see his (BJ) picture as the definition

  13. No….what BACKBEAT alluding to…not that we are jumping ahead that guaranteed UH MBB team will go 30-5 and win BWC tourney…always say..read whole post…keep on grinding , get better every day, stay healthy physically , emotionally and academically…remember Benjy what he and staff and team have accomplished in 13 days is incredible..true how you finish like the 1993-94 Ruffin led NCAA team..stareted off rough…got hot in WAC tourney and danced

    What BACKBEAT alluding to..per Que too..there is still interest and maybe wait and see..I bet couple of bigs..see how UH doing come March early..they have good record and chance to dance..bet they would sign..no matter what the other junk..
    okay think economics and continuity to still sell program..coaches hard to fill 3 open scholies if interim and not knowing UH MBB still here..
    think by Early March if UH is peaking..on 19 wins or more..Ben should extend Taylor 1 more year..then recruits the 3 bigs? would consider signing..I betcha 100 bananas
    UH MBB ,Athletic program financial bind..not unknown..in the red because of football not winning
    Ben sign Benjy if doing well before BWC tourney..have unity, solidarity, and team knows they have staff coming back…would not cost too much.Ben be proactive,,ready if UH does well..
    I like how Dayton put the season into perspective. .32 games before BWC tourney..first 8 First Quarter..6-2…Second Quarter…8 games..another 5-3…before BWC play UH MBB rolling in with 11-5 record would be great

    However we ain’t drinking guava juice..this team have 2 straight weeks after BYU road game…in gym to install Benjy Ball
    with addition of Janks and healthy Jawato..UH will be ready..what UH team other then Savo 2nd ncaa team and Fab Five 2nd year road swing east could do what UH did?

    This team did pretty much the impossible..which team in BWC Currently had to deal with crud UH had? Nobody..not many in the nation

    Team bond, one ohana , no dissention, all on board with their team play and athleticism. Is 19 game winning season possible..guaranteed winning record…I say yes..unless whole team just quit..this group they ain’t quitters..the best group..in a dozen years and more through 8 games..

    Hey stay positive..if Ben has any sense..think of it..his guy for future and new staff is here already..you try to tell this group they going lose 20 games? They say no sirrrr!!

    Love this team..and they are the Good Talk of town . Finally something positive about UH sports in past 8 months!!

    Go Bows !!
    🙂

  14. 808…good comments , the more doubt..the more negative or thinking they going tank they come out stronger
    Benjy game management , his changing of defenses, trusting guys..saving bigs (2 !!)and timely timeouts , really good coaching..had positive comments from espn color analyst, and Gulf Coast tourney radio broadcasters from other schools
    who the heck , not larry brown, calipari, coach k,. Or don monson could do what uh mbb has done

    Ben economics guy, however has to understand sports and challenge of what uh mbb has before them especially this season

    19 + win season guarantee Benjy and great team winning season..count on it..this team is just getting started

    High character and good athletes !!
    Go Rainbow Warriors! !
    🙂

  15. Surprised at angry attacks on AD. Dufus? Calm down folks. Can support team without denigrating others. Hey, 808, you ready to jump in and manage $28 million department? Keep it civil. Respectful like Dayton asks of all on this site.

Leave a Response

Login or fill in the fields below to comment. (New user? Register)

Supporters