Warriors race past Southern, 71-57
Stefan Jovanovic scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench and Aaron Valdes also scored 13 points Monday night to help the University of Hawai’i race past Southern, 71-57, in non-conference men’s basketball action.
A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 4,295 watched Mike Thomas and Stefan Jankovic each add nine points as the Rainbow Warriors improved to 11-4. Southern fell to 3-11.
UH led 31-23 at halftime and the Jaguars closed it to 31-25 after Trelun Banks swished a mid-range jumper, but Roderick Bobbitt and Negus Webster-Chan answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 10-3 run capped by Thomas’ slam dunk which made it 41-28 with 17:19 remaining in the game. After Southern scored consecutive baskets to cut it to 41-32, Jovanovic scored a layup to ignite a 13-0 run culminating in Quincy Smith’s free throw to extend the lead to 54-32 with 11 minutes left.
The Jaguars could not get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
(Game photo courtesy Matt Osumi)
Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows!
Nevels is a warrior and looked pretty decent playing. Even drove in for a layup.
This is the good news: Stephan2s= 6-12/FGs, 1-2/3FG, 9-9 FTs, 22 points, 1 steal, 1 /blk, 0 /assists, 2 /TOs. *both played 18 min @. Not bad for bench strength. Great scheme by Coach Benjy to use Stephan2s. Hawaii’s version of the twin towers.
This is the bad news: Isaac Fleming needs to stay under control to make a significant contribution. We need his talent level to make a run in conference play. He started off the game against Southern emotionally, was slapped with a double foul and never recovered. barely 5 minutes into the game. A basket case rather than basketball player. Isaac was out of sorts for most of the contest searching for his game. Coach Benjy has his hands full with this talented frosh. Will Fleming be a pre-season flash and a conference flop…dunot know????
Despite the Struggle and Lackluster Overall Performance
UH WINS Again Now 11-4
Overcame: FIVE Players with Colds/Flus – EX: Bobbitt & His 14(?) Stitches hasn’t played since Xmas Colorado game;
Probably Contributing to his Season-High Six(?) Turnovers
Overcame The Injuries… Nevels Will Probably NOT Sit Out Much After Surgery (Just a Guess..)
TRUE WARRIOR Mentality…
Still Surpassed TOP 20 Iowa State’s 10-Point and Baylor’s 4-Point Wins;
WON UGLY (Always a Good Sign) even with Season-High 23(!) Turnovers
Played Flat But Still Hit Free-Throws
15 more free-throws made versus Southern in a 14-pt Win…
Still Obviously Improving Even on an Ugly Night…
Hope the Return of The Students also Results in Significantly Larger Crowds
Probably Another Small Crowd Tomorrow VS PVAM
THEN ONLY Eight Home Games Left Against Mostly No-Name BWC Teams
Will the Notoriously Slow and Uninformed Fringe Hawai’i Basketball fans
Take ’til the Second Year of a Good Team (Again)
To Figure It Out AND Show Up En Force?
GO ‘BOWS!
Wrap Up 2014…and…
FINISH STRONG!
Fleming Will Be A TRUE Freshman Phenom…
Reverted Some Tonight
Highly Charged
Highly Emotional
High Energy
So Young…
Coach said He was trying to do Too Much (Tonight)
Just Needs to Let the Game come to him as he did Last Week against better competition
Even Veteran Bobbitt Struggled Tonight
Prediction: “Should Be” All-BW-Freshman Team
Prospective Newcomers’ Team
Shoulda Been Nominated for BW Player of the Week…(This Past Week)
CREAM RISING
GO AGENT ZERO!
GO ‘BOWS!
bigdaddy: you son Isaac Fleming, huge talent, will not back down to any challenge not afraid to take big shots., just has to play under control, it will get more intense come BWC time.. When 9 teams are battling for the 8 seeds in BWC tournament for the NCAA dance, each game a war. Isaac should be a Warrior, he maturing, and I like how Benjy handles him, not overboard, however will sit him down, .. Isaac in the DHC, that was the best 3 game tourney run, and skillset, and winning contributing, mature Freshman I have seen play for UH in maybe 15 years. Hope he just locks, in, Nevels, Quincy, Que, and Benjy talk to him.. cannot get flagrant or T’d up in BWC games, we Need Showtime on the court.. was a sloppy game, so many guys sick, I think Isaac had cold of flu too.. Just glad UH..and the naysayers, when Gib was fired and Fotu departed said that UH would be fortunate to win only 9 games all season.. well they have chance pre BWC to be 12-4, all healthy and on board, more intense and fresh , larger rotation, up to 10 guys , including, Janks, Jovanovich, the twin 6’11” towers, mister inside and mister outside.. plus Jawato just settling down, to hit threes, when UH need it.. I say.. UH will be the scariest team in the BWC this year. they Can win the regular and BWC tourney title. Stay Together, focused, listen to Benjy, keep emotions under control, team before self, save the sexy passes for the NCAA tournament, make the sure passes, play Mature, BB IQ smart Ball, UH has chance to win it all !!
Hope Bobbitt, Q, Nevels, NWC, Fleming, Thomas, get over their flu and colds, and injuries.. or else, NEXT man up, MAN UP !!
Go Bows.. Eagle warriorhaw servante .. the believers,through the storm, what Benjy has done, he wins 4 out of the first 5 BWC games, and is sitting at 18-5…what do you all think? UHadmim., lock him into a minimum guaranteed 2 year contract, 2nd year can rollover.. won’t be expensive,..Keep the UH MBB train bound for glory, until Isaac Fleming , Brocke Stepteau and Zach Buscher are seniors and going to NCAA elite eight and beyond….can they do it. .Can UH admim . sign Benjy at a very reasonable price? Is he winning games? Will he win and go to semi or championship of BWC tourney. why not as NWC and Janks said last season .. aim high, grind, and get the money..!!
edit to above… I MEANT…pre BWC if Benjy at 12-5…then the first 5 BWC games Benjy’s team wins 4..so at that point overall record 16-5.. then what UH admin.. wise to lock him into a guaranteed, after this season 2 year contract, will not be too expensive, will have continuity, and whatever whatever .. guys will stay, win and graduate.. 2 year of that contract 2016-17 , depending how he is doing at same point 5 games into BWC.. then can roll over.. or even renegotiate extension.. I know to some, it sounds crazy, however..UH MBB team at this point is the most exciting revenue generating sport at manoa that is winning.. we shall see first 5 or 6 games, into BWC. season. Benjy and team 4-2 or 5-1.. and overall 17-5 or 16-6.. make Benjy the HC for the next two seasons guaranteed, plus keep Que, Loyd, Autry and Jamie Smith.. they have something very special going on at UH MBB, very ,very special.. Makes Hawaii proud.. and after WVB puttering and FB sputtering, no muttering. UH MBB is doing good, and getting better.
G Money.. have good surgery and speedy recovery. Bet Jay Goo works and speeds his rehab, and they design special cast.. within a week of his surgery, I bet, unless complications.. Nevels will be back starting. His Maturity, is So Important.. We said last year Spearman was the Heart and Soul of the team.. this Year is IS G MONEY.. G.. grind.. and win some ball games..
edit to above… I MEANT…pre BWC if Benjy at 12-4…then the first 5 BWC games Benjy’s team wins 4..so at that point overall record 16-5.. then what UH admin.. wise to lock him into a guaranteed, after this season 2 year contract, will not be too expensive, will have continuity, and whatever whatever .. guys will stay, win and graduate.. 2 year of that contract 2016-17 , depending how he is doing at same point 5 games into BWC.. then can roll over.. or even renegotiate extension.. I know to some, it sounds crazy, however..UH MBB team at this point is the most exciting revenue generating sport at manoa that is winning.. we shall see first 5 or 6 games, into BWC. season. Benjy and team 4-2 or 5-1.. and overall 17-5 or 16-6.. make Benjy the HC for the next two seasons guaranteed, plus keep Que, Loyd, Autry and Jamie Smith.. they have something very special going on at UH MBB, very ,very special.. Makes Hawaii proud.. and after WVB puttering and FB sputtering, no muttering. UH MBB is doing good, and getting better.
G Money.. have good surgery and speedy recovery. Bet Jay Goo works and speeds his rehab, and they design special cast.. within a week of his surgery, I bet, unless complications.. Nevels will be back starting. His Maturity, is So Important.. We said last year Spearman was the Heart and Soul of the team.. this Year is IS G MONEY.. G.. grind.. and win some ball games..