UPDATED: Warriors come up short against UC Irvine
Seemingly answering every Hawai’i threat with a big basket of its own, visiting UC Irvine held off the Rainbow Warriors, 78-72, Saturday night in tense Big West Conference men’s basketball action.
Will Davis II scored a game-high 17 points — including a crucial short bank shot with 41.3 seconds remaining — and grabbed eight rebounds for the defending regular season champion Anteaters, who improved to 11-8 overall, 4-1 in the Big West. Alex Young added 15 points, including two essentially game-sealing free throws with 25.5 seconds left.
Isaac Fleming scored 14 points off the bench, Garrett Nevels added 13 points and nine rebounds and Negus Webster-Chan and Stefan Jankovic each finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for the Rainbow Warriors, who fell to 14-7. 2-3. A vocal crowd of 8,761 – the largest home crowd of this season – at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Roderick Bobbitt add 10 points, four assists and five steals.
“They’re an awfully good team, and they’re very experienced,” UH coach Benjy Taylor said of the Anteaters. “Will Davis is a three-year starter, Luke Nelson was the league Newcomer of the Year last year, Alex Young is a former Newcomer of the Year … they actually look like what we might look like a couple years down the road. But right now, they’re a little more mature than us.”
UC Irvine led, 63-50, midway through the second half after Nelson’s 3-pointer, but UH clawed back to eventually close the deficit to two points three times past the seven-minute mark. Aaron Valdes then cut it to 71-70 with a 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:39 remaining, but Young answered with his own 3-pointer from the right wing 19 seconds later to push the lead back to 74-70.
“Aaron had a defensive breakdown,” Taylor said. “After he hit that 3, he left Young open for an uncontested 3.”
Jankovic sank two free throws with 59 seconds left to cut it to 74-72, but Davis glided in through the lane for short bank shot at 41.3 seconds to put the Anteaters ahead, 76-72. Jankovic then missed a 25-foot attempt from the right wing and Young was fouled after the ensuing rebound. He sank two free throws to push the lead to 78-72, and Valdes missed a long-range attempt on UH’s final possession.
Taylor said Valdes was open on the opposite corner when Jankovic launched his long attempt.
“We had Aaron wide open in the corner, and that’s where I wanted it,” Taylor said. “We needed to make that extra pass.”
UC Irvine made a lot of extra passes and showed impressive ball movement before ultimately taking a 42-34 halftime lead on Jaron Martin’s 27-foot rainbow which swished through the net two seconds before the horn. Hawai’i had led early, 8-7, despite missing 10 of its first 11 shots, but the Anteaters responded with an 10-0 run to lead, 18-7, as the Rainbow Warriors continued to struggle from the field. They had missed eight of nine shots before Bobbitt stroked a 3-pointer at the 11:57 mark, at which point UH was a measly 4 of 22 (18 percent) from the field.
“We missed a lot of layups,” Bobbitt said. “We had second chances, third chances, but we couldn’t convert. The first half was rough.”
A 3-pointer by Webster-Chan closed it to 22-18 with 9:45 remaining, but UC Irvne pushed the lead to 27-20 with seven minutes left and Valdes — the Rainbow Warriors’ leading scorer this season — picked up his third foul at that point and sat out the rest of the first half. Quick whistles in general seemed to limit UH’s normal aggressiveness on defense, which led to a few steals but not quite enough and not in bunches, as usual.
“The foul count was six to one at one point,” Bobbitt said. “We couldn’t play how we wanted.”
When the Rainbow Warriors did apply backcourt pressure, the Anteaters usually broke through it with efficient passes and sometimes converted those into uncontested transition layups.
“Our back line was moving too slow — we had to tell our bigs to get back and not give up easy baskets. It’s things we know, we just gotta clean it up.”
Taylor said UC Irvine’s maturity and discipline allowed the Anteaters to better handle the Rainbow Warriors’ usually disruptive pressure.
“They attacked it, but they also were not too aggressive,” Taylor said. “Sometimes they would just get the ball past halfcourt, and then re-set and run their stuff.”
Hawai’i did put together a 7-0 run sparked by Bobbitt’s 3-pointer and Fleming’s putback and baseline jumper to close it to 30-29 at the four-minute mark, but Martin drained back-to-back 3-pointers — including the long-range bomb with two seconds left — to put the Anteaters ahead, 42-34, at the break.
“We dug ourselves a hole in the second half, but really it began in the first half,” Taylor said. “We had 15 offensive rebounds in the first half, but we couldn’t put the ball in the hole. We missed eight layups — putbacks, point-blank layups … that changed the whole complexion of the game.”
In the second half, UC Irvine started strong and answered every UH threat with a big basket. A hook shot by Davis extended the lead to 48-36 six minutes into the period, and Webster-Chan proceeded to hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to cut it to 48-39. But then 22 seconds later, Young answered with his own 3-pointer to push the lead to 51-39.
Jankovic later dropped a hook shot to close it to 51-45 with 14:16 remaining, but Martin responded by banking in a short runner from the left side. Jankovic then closed it to 53-46 with a free throw at the 13;27 mark, but Nelson struck back with a 3-pointer and then Dominique Dunning added a putback to push the lead back to 12, at 58-46 with 12:23 left.
And so it went, until Nelson’s 3-pointer made it 63-50 with 10:20 remaining.
“We let their shooters get too comfortable,” Bobbitt said. “They hit a lot of open 3s, and that was huge.”
It didn’t help that on Hawai’i’s end, Valdes struggled. He was 0 for 6 until the 3-pointer with 1:39 left, and only got to the free throw line four times, making three. Valdes, who entered the game averaging nearly 16 points per game, finished with just six points on 1 for 8 shooting.
“He was really forcing it tonight,” Taylor said. “He just pressed too much, and the more you press, the tougher it becomes to find success.”
Taylor said the team in general was pumped up for the game, but that alone does not result in a victory.
“We’ve gotta be smarter,” Taylor said. “Our guys were excited and jacked up to play, but that cannot result in mistakes. When we had six fouls (in the first half), four of them were not smart fouls.”
The Rainbow Warriors made just 10 of 40 field goals (25 percent) in the first half, and finished the game 24 of 73 (32.9 percent). They head to California early next week for a four-game, 12-day road trip with games at Cal State Northridge (Jan. 29), Long Beach State (Jan. 31), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Feb. 5) and UC Santa Barbara (Feb. 7).
“We’ll be OK,” Taylor said. “But we’re gonna have to shoot better than 32 percent.”
Saturday’s Big West Results
UC Santa Barbara 68, Cal State Fullerton 49
Long Beach State 64, Cal State Northridge 58
Cal Poly 68, UC Riverside 48
UC Irvine 78, Hawai’i 72
(Game photos courtesy Matt Osumi)
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Missed Opportunities, A Schedule that provided a Kind start;
NOW the Gauntlet of Four Tough Road Games
It’s Time for The Road Warriors to Emerge
The Ones who gave BYU all it could handle
and Toughed Up in Florida…
Agree with Earlier Post that UH Coaches Need Winning Strategy against Each BWC Team
and Test/Improve as head into second half of BWC
in Prep for The Tourney…
Keep Improving — This Team could steal a Road Victory or Two, Three? in Next couple of Weeks?
Time to Take On Some Tough Tests…
Good Defense and Talent Levels gives UH a Puncher’s Chance….
Like Tonight, Got To Make the Lay-Ups and Five Footers,
Stay Close or Ahead and Pull Out some Road W’s
Are These ‘Bows Gonna Do it?
We’ll Stay Tuned In…
Glad that the Solid, Exciting Style of this team gives us a few opportunities to follow/watch Live…
GO ‘BOWS!
SECRETS OF A REFEREE
They meet 1 hour before each game as a crew to discuss everything about a game from the venue to the tempo to the problem players and coaches. They meet for a half hour after the game to do their post game review. They are observed and critiqued by a review board. They would love nothing better to never have to even blow their whistle at all.
1) UNLESS YOU ARE A CAPTAIN WITH A LIGITIMATE RULE ISSUE, YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS APPROACHING AND SPEAKING TO A REF AFTER A CALL! BY DOING SO, YOU HAVE JUST MARKED YOURSELF AS A “CRYBABY” WHO NOW WILL HAVE THE EYES AND EARS OF ALL THREE REFS THROUGHOUT BOTH OF YOUR GAMES. YOU DO NOT WANT 3 REFS WATCHING YOU AT ALL TIMES…THAT LEADS TO MORE FOULS!!!! YES, PALMS UP, SHOULDERS SCRUNCHED AND MOUTHING OFF LEADS TO BEING LABLELED A “CRYBABY” AND DOES NOTHING BUT MAKE YOU A MARKED PLAYER!!!!
2) Officials do not key on the Offense, rather they key on the Defense. Teams that know how to move their feet on Defense are called for considerably less fouls.
3) Watch which way the first block/charge call goes…as a crew, if it favors either the Offender or Defender, the rest of the crew will pick up on that for the rest of the game or at least that half.
4) Because of the last two minute replay review rule, you should not be afraid to have the refs challenge an out of bounds possession…that gives you more time to discuss what your team wants to do.
Irvine is a well coached team…they did not get shaken by our press, reduced it down to half court game…where we are not yet there. Out rebounding them without Mamadou was a plus, but coach could not shoot for you. Leaving their guards open like that in crunch time was our lesson to learn for next time.
So now comes the brutal road trip…but we have proven it before that we are Road Warriors.
GO BOWZ
Tough game for the Bows. Like I said at the beginning of the year, I hope we keep in mind that we should be preparing for next year. Now that we’ve already lost 2 games at home, that means we would have to go 4 games over .500 on the road, to have a shot at being near the top of the conference.
I agree with most people here, that UH on paper should be better than most of the teams in the Big West. And for their part, the games are exciting (although how exciting can a loss be, amirite?). But Gib/Benjy were just not good coaches. Look at Irvine last night, running the 2 man pick and roll all over UH, scoring at will. UH coaches never adjusted to that, never put in a guy who might have been able to stop that play (I heard Filipovich was the best defensive guard on the team, but that was preseason hype or something). Anyone else dreaded the UH halfcourt defense in last night’s game?
Anyone else notice any of the new plays that Benjy was installing a few weeks ago? Last night’s game was hopefully some inspiration for our interim coach, to come up with some play that really only needs 2 guys on your whole team to run.
UH very young team bwc play…you have 5 garrett nevels in game uh mbb pulls away wins by 10..
the scout is there..coaches on top of it…uh mbb cannot hit 40 % from field come up short..
silver lining? Many naysayers after gib and akana fired and fotu went pro..reyes hurt transferred..uh mbb would not win 9 games all year..well they are at 14-7..2-3 in bwc play with two week on road and 4 games before coming back to ssc mid feb.
go 2-2 on road, come back 4-5..with 7 more games, could uh mbb go 5-2 down strech before bwc tournament..I think so..team never lost 2 games in a row this season..now they can learn from 5 tough bwc games and start to close out games
to a man they are family …they are not giving up
goal still win tournament and go to ncaa dance
I have feeling they get smarter , hit shots and stay together they will be this year’s poly..really great team..uh admin try to sink mbb..benjy and the guys won’t let them do it!!
11 more bwc games to go ..7-4:goal end regular season ready for bwc tourney…9-7..
Young team just shhot better , fight harder , be smarter, they going to dance, long as we fans don’t give up
Mbb team WI fan nation..learn from 3 losses and go and pick up 3 wins on road..business..prove aysayers wrong
go bows !!
🙂
We got your backs
don’ t give up!!
Just ask the 1994 trevor ruffinn led wac tourney champs and ncaa dance invitees!
Warrior time!!
Horsse… as was posted before.. this is test for Benjy and staff too… only 5 games in, not quite half way point in BWC play.. the two losses at home hurts, however, nobody, including still having Gib and Fotu on board, was picking UH to finish higher than 5th some publications had them at 6th, so with Benjy at the helm, if they can finish 5th, they are doing fine.
I don’t feel all 12 of the guys, plus the coaching staff are looking towards next year.. They want to get hot in March and go to NCAA tournament, This Year.. otherwise, why play the schedule.. just go through the motions.. This team is all heart.. they had a lot, 15 offensive rebounds, and we could All See, 3 x going back up, and their point blank layups or putbacks were not going in, too frenetic,..just have to go up sure and strong..
The full court, 3/4 defensive pressure is exciting, and helped UH close to within 1 point with about 1:34 remaining on Valdes’ 3 bomb.. However you are right,.. Benjy really has to find a way to stop that pick and roll, just about 4 of them or so.. Irvine, got it, and Davis was dropping in an easy jump hook ..that the Irvine guys off the bench, were dropping 3 bombs. that was a key.. if they missed 4 or 5 of them.. UH wins by 10 or 12.. YOUNG Team.. however, Benjy doing outstanding job.. let us see Horssse.. it has been formula so far this year.. UH NEVER lost 2 in a row.. I believe, they go out and take down CSUN in a close one.. and a team they play well even in Cali.. that game is up for grabs.. can UH go 3-1 on this road swing.. ? Up to Benjy prepare and the scout, as well as Eagle alluded to, you can draw up the schemes, yet the guys have talent, and have to have experience now, they have seen Big teams, quick teams, athletic teams, 3 pt bombing teams and very smart(Irvine)teams.. Now time for UH to Mature, and Execute.. I am sure the schemes are there and the counters.. just that for basically 11 new guys or returning for heavier minutes.. it takes time.. at least 6 or 7 games into BWC season.. to get rolling.. and Horsse, the BRIGHT side, the 3 losses, winnable, and UH never go blown out.. The are Warriors.
I would not be surprised, if Hawaii, comes back 2-2 or even 4-0… They have to shoot better, pretty simple, around 46% or better from the field, and continue to get D stops, and that turning over team 18x a game, However, that might be the strategy.. now, mix it up, and sit in a active, zone, and guard the Pick and Roll, .. UH has smart team, and Janks has to play defense without ticky tack touch fouls, he has fouled out of 3 games in a row.. they get him playing Great defense without fouling and Thomas too, UH will be ready.. Remember. finish that last 8-9 game stretch..6-2 or 7-2, going into BWC tournament, then, 1 win, 2 win, and 3 win for the Dance..
This 2 week on the road in Cali, in past, UH has galvanized, at least come out .500, and last year ,they went 4-0 over two weeks on road.. YOUNG team, Uhadmin, back up Benjy.. he giving his best, and the team really playing well for him.. Coach on down to water person, ball persons..Go Bows..
Hey, potentially 14 more games to go before selections sunday Horsse don’t give up..the guys and benjy are not.. and Benjy recognized as good coach, well he won Mid Major Coach of the Year .. recently.. if he pulls off a BWC tournament win.. maybe BWC coach of the Year.
Go Bows. Listen to coach, get smarter, tougher, and make your inside shots.. have to shoot much, much better, layups, hook shots or dunks.. finish strong.
🙂
The team will be staying on the road for the upcoming two weekends, per Gary D. Maybe almost two weeks, and not coming home in between.
This video shows the crowd size, etc. last night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZNehDQoWAY&feature=youtu.be
As Benjy says in the video, hard to coach guys how to make layups on this level. So many missed chances but it is also a good sign that this team is ready to battle anybody down to the finish.
I think it actually helped Irvine that Mamadou didn’t play in this game. He would of slowed them down too much.
UH now has three losses in conference but I don’t think anybody on either side believes that UH is an “automatic” win on a neutral court. What does that mean? UH will be a dangerous draw no matter where they are seeded in the conference tournament. Of course you want to finish as high as you can but I think the rest of this season should be about improving and maturing so that the team team can be peaking at the Big West Tournament.
Two weeks on the road, crazy, too much time away from class, even with a tutor , these guys will miss a Lot of class time. IDK about that one. Was at the game, what a disappointing night from the get go, rebounding poor, shooting poor, missed layups on steals, Flemmings showed improvement in attitude, that was good, we still need to make better decisions game time. Tough road ahead.
Those last minutes or seconds of first and second half, critical to get stops or make that game tying or winning basket, Benjy maybe use Isaac Fleming if under control, he can get to the rim, or now he knows how to dish, to Janks or Thomas or Jovanovich…Actually.. No Fear, Guys will, they have this mission, Naysayers, and doom the MBB boom with Benjy… sink it.. however as islandman alluded too, Dave R. ,Bobby C., Brian M. , Steve M. , Gary D,. , The OC16 broadcast crew, Artie on Point, and Benjy doing what last 3 coaches should have done, honor the past MBB members, that Feb 14 alumini game, the guys, Benjy says he has 20 plus lined up, from guys in their twenties late, till about late sixties, form the sixties.. Awesome.. He Benjy talking about NEXT season, and having all kinds of things in place to build up as a legacy, a PROGRAM.. the next step.. and then you have support from AC, Kuebler, English, Savo, Lil Matt, Jared Dillnger, Dennis Chai, George Ritter? Packy Ryan, Lance Takaki, Justice Sueing, Tes Whitlock, Tony Maroney, Phill Lott, Dwight Holiday, Jerome Freeman, so many from mid sixties till the 21st century… Good Job Benjy… nothing but helping UH MBB program be on good stead.. hope UH Admin, I pretty sure Benjy and his agent is hammering out at least a solid 2 year, comparable pay contract with 2nd year able to extend, with Power that be.. islandman, that video of sights and sounds of game.. AWESOME.. the UH sports media IT communication people that did that Fantastic.. even showing AFTER the sad loss to Irvine, All the guys were there, with perhaps a hundred or more, young and old taking selfies, and getting autographs with the guys,.. Man that is something.. EVEN AFTER a loss.. great job..
Promote Benjy the team and the program, UH.. do it now..
I say , UH makes it in as a 5th seed to BWC tourney, overall record 21-11, BWC 9-7… they are healthy, know how to finish, close out games. make the tough inside baskets, just finish strong, either they will get to shoot fouls or make baskets or And ones.. JUst Get tougher and strength coach, get team stronger down low.. and coaches, Benjy, Autry, Que, and Loyd, help team with, shooting, have to hit high 40% to 50% to contend for top 4 or 5 spot seed in BWC tournament.. They can do it.. remember even after 2-3 start, and 2 home losses.. Still 11 more games 5 road , and 6 on road, I think UH stays in Cali for two weeks, eat, rest, work out, study, bond.. focus don’t fight, and game on… they can win 2 or 4.. They have been in every game,. and BWC is parity, anyone of 9 teams.. correct yeah islandman, anyone of 9 teams can make the top eight for BWC tournament.. and be the next Poly Poly wanna NCAA bid, nooooo..Warriors want to whip teams up and get that ncaa bid..it would be great.. and for You islandman, I hope it is TWO for TWO, Laura and gals and Benjy and his guys, BOTH get selected by ncaa for tournament, by winnining the BWC tournament.. that would be Historic, and Fantastic !!
One more thing, behind the scenes, Benjy’s agent and admin, talk, discuss, try to work out a good secure deal for Benjy for next 2 or 3 years… let’s say, Benjy has overall 17 wins in next 5 games, and UH in BWC is 6-4, get some contract in place,.. Because, that 6’11” 257 rim protector with the 40 ” vert from Nor Cal is waiting, as well as the 6’8″ SF/defender, breakdown, inside out strong finisher, super strong, as well as a 6’6″ 215 SG, /PG, who can go to rim, defend, and shoot out to 27 feet. are awaiting.. Just gut feeling, however, I believe they are waiting, to see, if UH will knock out a permanent deal with Benjy for several years.. Then the guys will sigh.. could be JC , sophs to transfer with one JC jr.. JMO and guess.
Why does UH have such a difficult time in conference year after year? UCI was without Mamadou and they still got a win on the road. We can beat P5 teams that have far more talent and athleticism but we struggle with the BWC. The travel isn’t easy but it’s the easiest it will get since all games are in Cali. No La Tech, Wyoming, Idaho, etc.
You can’t do much when a team is hot from the outside and passing the ball well. But what you can stop is time after time Irvine driving for a layup with little or no interior defense. They knew that Thomas and Jankovic were in foul trouble and so the coaches drew up the perfect recipe for success: drive for the basket or kick it out to the open man. The bigs need to keep out of foul trouble. Otherwise they will be useless as defenders in the paint. Benji should go small when our bigs are in foul trouble. Our bigs have been our achilles heel this year—even more so when they get into early foul trouble. Benji and coaches need to rectify this problem or we will continue to see this scenario in future games. It all boils down to fundamental basketball—like free throws; it’s something that you can improve on.
For inside game in the future, verbal commits mentions Quadree Smith, 6′ 7′, 290 or so. But he narrowed his choice down to five schools in the Eastern or Southern areas last year, UH not among them. Don’t know how up to date the info is.
servante….:
Good comments/observation as always.
Talk about chemistry. I believe the team that beat Pitt, won 2 out of 3 in Florida Tournament, and defeated Nebraska, should have beaten Wichita St., and beat Colorado… was that iron man 5,….
Bobbitt, Nevels, Valdes, NWC, and Thomas…. with Fleming, Quincy, Jovanovich and later in DHC Janks off the bench..That 5…even closed out some close games, and rebounding by committee , they were competitive on the boards.. I wonder If Benjy would think of going back to that starting 5 again.. get going get lead, and that group closes out games.. Or Bobbitt, Nevels …cannot say enough about Captain G, 9 boards for a 2 guard !, Valdes or maybe NWC at his spot, Thomas and Jankovich if he rebounds like he did , 7 boards or more a blocked shot, and plays great post defense, he can, he is so long, and he can reject or alter shot, always was a good offensive player, such a great euro, usa/Canadian skillset.
Agree with you servante and other posts. know that you identified, from beginning of season, even when team had Fotu and Sammis, that post defense or lack of rim protectors, rebounders, would affect UH MBB team guarding and protecting the paint.. Falls on Benjy, to just work shorter drills, rebounding, rotating, Defensive scheme to blow up the pick and rolls, Turner and Irvine were prepared, yet, dang UH MBB team… All Heart and Effort,.. if not for that D pressure, it could have been a home loss of 18 pts or more, IF UH HUNG THEIR HEADS..
Sometimes, and servante we have seen it in the past.. when UH gets into a funk, lose some or a winnable game at SSC , homecourt, the best remedy? Go on the Road.. just Basketball, and hitting the books… keep practices light.. yet work on the cerebreal part..
Let’s see if Benjy and MBB team, and the UH fans can figure it out.. As I heard coach Autry chirping in background last few minutes to guys.. Gotta get stops, Gotta get stops.. Defensive ones. shut down inside and 3 ball.. hey if Irvine in last few minutes missed 2 or 3 of those killer threes or 2 of the near the rim, floaters with Wil Davis jumping 40 ” off the ground.. UH wins..
Well this 4 GAME road swing, pretty much, figure into how UH will be going into last 7 games and BWC tournament play.. can they be better rebounders, well they won that battle last nite against bigger Irvine, and can they have better Defense down low to 3 line, yes.. and Benjy is right, they can go over, and over and over, the rotation and hands up out to shooters..sometimes, if guys are hot from 27 feet out, no matter what you do..what can you do? Their nite to be in Fuego..
Key: UH on the road or at home shoot 46% or better from the Field, with their better rim to 27 feet Defense.. they have to shoot well, however that pressure all out effort D will keep them in games on this 4 game road swing, and for Nevels, Jawato, Jovanovich to extent, Niko, Smith, Bobbitt, Valdes and Thomas, they will be playing in front of families and friends, maybe they go to Chipotle’s or get some good home food too.. just being in Cali, their home state, might awaken that shooting touch,down low, I mean, you have 15 offensive boards, you should convert on better that half of them, just gotta be super strong with ball, and focused,.. you could tell , officials are letting teams just bang UH, and allowing UH to bang Opponents , however, UH from guards to wings, to bigs, down low, have to finish.. Valdes not the strongest guy.. he is getting called for a lot of fouls.. he cannot be saddled with 3 in first few minutes, neither can Janks or Thomas.. I think that was huge too, those 3 out, hurt UH..
Well, last year, UH MBB team, with backs to the wall, went on a historic 4 game road winning streak, let’s see if UH can get 2 or 3.. or who knows 4 !!
Go Bows.. Get Better and Shoot Bettter, Key Offensively shoot better.. and of course defend in half court better, even the other teams, throw longer passes over the top to break pressure, the bigs from other team leak out, or just hang around rim, and get those 2 on ones, or 1 on nones. for easy baskets, or spot up, no one guarding them threes.. Maybe Benjy goes back to fundamental, zone and man mix in half court.. Solid.. really. great D.. well, that is Benjy Ball, first year of Gib.. Benjy was implementing the Defensive sets, UH team was a top 25 Defensive team in the nation,.. with Amis, Zane, Miah, Vander and sometimes Joston, not too much.. that group were good defenders.not as quick and athletic, however they were good defending 3 ball and the paint..
And the video from UH athletics site, per islandman, sights and sounds of UH basketball, Awesome promotion.. I mean hundreds lined up for photo ops, and autographs.. They the 7500 near in attendance and thousands more at home fell in love with this team.. That is why to a man, and coach Benjy, they feel really bad.. They wanted to win Poly and Irvine games.. and of course Riverside… still anyone can win BWC regular season and BWC tourney title.. so much parity, and this is not the ACC, however UH has a win over Pitt , Colorado and Nebraska..
And you know what fans.. we die hard, live right, and bleed green and white, at 500pm , hopefully on radio online or over the airwaves espn1420 or BigWestTV stream.. if they have.. from CSUN, Matadome.. thousands in the islands and around the country will follow team.. and hopefully get that first Road win.. just the confidence. a real boost. Realistically? 2-2 at minimum, no less., then come home at 4-5 and go after 2 wins at home SSC for a 6-5 record going back out onto the road, go 1-1, come back to SSC at 7-6, win 2 games at home, be at 9-6, then finish regular season at Fullerton on the road, with a victory before BWC tournament.. UH will finish regular season at 10-6 and top 4 or 5 seed. ready to rock.. Eleven more games, can UH go 6-5, well I would think that would be 8-8, an overall record of 20-12, historic, back to back 20 win regular season wins since AC and Alika time 17 years ago, and primed ready for BWC tournament.
So 8-8, 9-7 or 10-6… or be like Poly, come in with losing record in BWC play and win the whole thing in BWC tourney and go to NCAA’s, either way. however to get to 19 or 20 wins so important for team and coaching staff and fans.. I believe team.. and Coach Benjy we love what you are and will continue to do.. just have to figure out better defense and having guys shoot better, not frenetic, or too jacked up, strong, under control, and be smart, yet physical.. refs are letting guys bang.
Go Bows ! You now have and in house SSC fanbase and live attendees nearing 8000, go 3-1 or at least 2-2 on the road, maybe 8200 will be at next two SSC home games in February.
Hey fans.. not lost, season still 11 more regular season games, and potential 3 more in BWC tournament for 14.. then another , up till 6 more towards a championship..
No where to go but up, and get better.. Janks,,play good defense, and Thomas, Valdes, and Janks stay out of early first half foul trouble.. !!
And of course, the shots , the hook shots, the layups, unless, it was Shaq down there, it is up to the guys to make the bunnies, go up strong, focused, you will make shots or get fouled.. love the hustle, to finally outrebound a bigger team, Fantastic, have to make better than 40 percent from the field at home and especially one the road, UH MBB will win games.. and be there for BWC tourney run.. confident they can.. guard, and rebound. have to go back to that first 16 game rotation.. maybe that small ball, Bobbitt, Nevels, Valdes, NWC and Thomas,.. that was an active team..
Well anything that works..
Still a season, even at 14-7, the doomsday, and naysayers, negative people said, UH would not even win 9 games total this year.. well they have chance to win 19 or 20 or more !!
CLOSE ONLY Counts in Horseshoes….
Well Maybe Shaving, Dancing, Horsehoes and Hand-Grenades
and Un-Wavering Belief in THIS Team…
I Respect Both the Admiration And Frustration i see @ This Site
Because they All Speak to What We See Is Possible,
Within The Reach, If Not Yet The Grasp, of This Team
Those LAST FOUR Losses:
ARE Very Different From the First Three, where The Team was Out-Disciplined, Out-Manned, Out-Numbered or Just Physically Unable to Perform (8-20 point Losses in games that just got away, out-of-reach);
All Four could trigger a Level of Frustration But Also ‘Could’ Point to “How Close” This Team may be to Breaking Through…
Two O.T. — Both Winnable, even shoulda-beens — and ALL Two-Possession games…
One or Two Focused Lay-Ups, Five-Footers, (Contrary to ‘Hard-to-Coach or Teach’, ONE Adjustment for ALL Shooters: “Just SEE the Basket Before You Go Up” Boosts Field Goal Percentages, Just Like Seeing the Ball into The Hands can reduce turnovers),
One or Two Lay-Ups, Five-Footers, One-and-Ones, Fewer Fouls, Passes, Rebounds, Steals, Defensive Positionings, Offensive Executions, Better Choices….
SO EVEN ONE PLAYER Can Make Two Improvements… A Smart Team CAN Make Seemingly ‘Overnight’ Adjustments —
I LIKE The Number of Players with More Rebounds — THREE Guys with SEVEN To NINE Rebounds that had Zero, One or Two in The Previous Game where the team was double-digit out-rebounded;
I’m Looking For Some (OR ALL IF they get on a Roll) of these Close Losses to become Two or Ten Point Wins…
For Now, Most of Us will just take The Wins…
Go ‘Bows!
As Coach Says…
YOU WILL Have a GREAT Road-Trip
REALLY Lookin’ Forward to The BREAK-THROUGHS…
GO ‘BOWS!
Q: WHAT Was That Discussion on Triggering “Awaiting Moderation” ?
I got “Awaiting moderation” awhile ago when i had two links posted on a one post; don’t know if that is a trigger.
MOVING GOALPOSTS
Hi fellow basketball Warrior/Rainbow fans (gotta keep the “RAIN”/”BOWS” cheer going in the arena). I come before you with a realization: too much is focused on today, and being blind to the future. I mean, not at all concerned about building a solid program, but instead trying to get a little shiny quarter today. And I just don’t know what they need to hit them to wake up…
So many signals that this year just is not going to be the year and maybe we are stuck in the wrong direction captain, to get this team where we want it to be. I am talking realistically: winning Big West every year with our superior facilities, journey to the Big Dance guaranteed every year. This year’s team was picked to finish 6th, and that was before Fotu and Gib left. Keep on focusing on today. This year’s team has already lost 2 games at home. Keep on focusing on today. But people still want to aim for a 5th place finish, bring back a lying coach, focus on today and turn a blind eye to tomorrow, as if that was ever the goal…Remember: what is the ultimate goal (I put it in words above, in case you’ve forgotten)?
Another thing: what is keeping us from realizing this goal. Too much focus on what UH does not have, eg “if UH had a rim protector then Irvine wouldn’t have gotten so many layups.” Well my response to that, is if we had all these things why would we only be trying to win a Big West home game? UH will always have deficiencies: but everyone in the Big West has them, how can they keep getting over us, that is where the focus should be. Rhetorical question: why did Irvine get so many layups, what play did they run? Why does UH not have a bread and butter play? What plays does UH actually have?
I will still cheer for the Rainbows/Warriors/team. They are all we have here. But enough desperation. Even if UH finishes in the Big West as 11-5, finds a way to only lose 2 more games the rest of the year, is that a success? To help you answer that, remember the goal for UH. Can UH reach that goal with no halfcourt offense?
UH are who we thought they are….
Shoot well… UH wins fairly easily.
Shoot poorly… UH’s hyper aggressive defense will keep it close.
—
UCI shot lights out and any opponent is going to be tough to beat when they shoot like that. UH played a horrendous game offensively and still was in the game in spite of the FG% discrepancy.
The regular season title is already all but out of reach for UH. No big deal because there’s no chance any Big West Team is going to get an at-large birth if they don’t win the auto-bid by winning the BWC tournament.
Unless UH falls apart, I see them getting the Riley Wallace Invitational if they don’t win the tournament (Only if it makes financial sense).
Me thinks that Benjy and staff need to create new drills to improve the team’s inexplicable inability to finish from point blank range.
I can’t recall any college team missing so many quality looks within 5ft of the basket in my life.
Hey, look for quotes from Dave R. , as he speaks, is it the Old Quarterback Club? This week about the ncaa thingee.
Agreed, with FUHA… focus, team drills, pratices, on just layups, hookshots, short bankers, tip ins.. the whole team, 5 on the court were battling to get that ball to drop, maybe trying to hard.. and it gets frustrating.
Good read on Dave R. column this morning, something that Benjy can address, the Whining on called fouls, even if justified.. leave to coach and team captains to discuss with refs.. Aaron, is getting rep, so he gets 3 fouls in first half, ref is looking for him now.. anyway, they can call him for something.. they Will,.. he has to keep quiet, don’t roll eyes, maybe to his team, and just ball.
Same for whole team.. they are not the Georgetown Team with Ewing of the eighties.. they are UH team very great young men, so humble, great hustle and dedicated.. I was afraid of that.. with all of the Positive press after great first pre BWC season start, they might play with chip on shoulder, or expecting everything to go their way.. conference play just the opposite,.. Make your shots, and get fouled.don’t reach in, ask the refs before the game how they will call it.. and respect it.. rebound.. and get back to that Team That Beat Pitt..
Horsssse… Hey for 99.9% on this forum, the supporters. we ain’t expecting UH to go to elite eight, however with Poly last year, anything can happen, if UH can shoot the ball, and learn how refs call the game, play within those parameters, still play hustle, humble, hard on O and D.. make sure make their layups and FT’s.. can they win the BWC tournament, is 19 or 20 BWC regular season, (in my mind and thousands of others, with a basically Uh admin destroyed team, before they even started season)they are winners, already , however, at minimum 12 more(I am sure they will qualify for that top eight to make BWC tourney),can UH win 6 more games out of 12 before possibly making it to semi final of BWC tournament….go 6-6 till that quarterfinal , and be standing at 20-13 if they lose or 7-5 and standing at 21-12 if they win? Without Question.. Team, has that road ahead, unless, as FUHA says, And Horssse.. we are All Hoping, this is key for Benjy Taylor future too, keep team focused together, and finish minmum 2-2 on this road trip, have to shoot in th 40 % range, along with great D, on the road, and BE SMARTER.. after total of 5 BWC games and 21 overall, time that UH starts getting BB IQ smarter, and if they are, and stop the chirping, to refs.. they can win 20 games, and be in position to win BWC Tournament..
Shoot well guys.. whole practice, shoot layups, dunks, short jump hooks, though Janks has a whole arsenal of inside outside moves, he rebounding better, and he HAS to play better defense, without getting into foul trouble.. he fouled out 3 times in last 3 games..
UH:
1)Check with refs how they will call games.
2)Don’t question them, let Benjy or team captains ask about fouls
3)Shoot better inside, whole practice or drills, more Monster, Killer, getting pounded by other guys, in practice, and still make the layups, and dunks, floaters etc..
4)Continue to make around 10 threes per game by 6 guys, Janks, Valdes, NWC, Nevels, Bobbitt and Fleming..nice guy, hope he healed,,instant 3 ball bomber,, his career winding down.. Wato.. hope he can play this season.. My favorite UH MBB athlete !
After two weeks guys, learn, shoot better, stop whining to refs, play , humble, hard, stay together.. and come back minimum 2-2 or better, you guys are in race for 4 or 5 spot, get really hot.. who knows..end up10-6 or 11-5 would be HUGE.. just takes the Humility, and Want too, sometimes, have to have the Aloha, tone down the SWAG, the mouth, keep quiet sometimes, however talk on defense like Irvine or Poly.. Be Strong with The Ball.
Actually, UH MBB with Benjy,.. AGAIN backs against the Wall.. don’t want to come back 0-4 or 1-3.. every team from CSUN to LBSU, on this 2 week Cali homecoming, thinks they will beat you guys by 20 pts easy.. don’t let them do it.. This is Florida November, all over again.. reach, bond and fight, yet zip the lip, stay out of foul trouble and getting T’d
Go Bows !
FUHA: could be , and probably, with exception of Jovanovich, and he was a rebounder defensive guy in HS in Cali, not an inside scorer..
Janks, Thomas, Valdes, the guards, NWC, all basically 2 and 3’s, not the power, Reggie Cross, Vincent Smalls, Terry Houston, Bill Amis, types..lean, athletic.. Only that Irvine game can I remember 15 offensive boards, and they are missing 8 of them, basically layups or short bankers.. just throwing them up.. if you watch the video, they are getting pushed around by Irvine bigs, teams are really physical with them now, and refs are letting it go.
Somehow.. UH has to get as physical without fouling, and strong with the ball, dunk the ball Janks, Thomas, Jovanovich., Valdes, all strength, just throw it down.. that mentality.. ]\\
Very sure, Benjy and staff have done tremendous job to this point.. focus, finish layups, anything 5 feet and in, at 80 per cent clip.. UH will and can beat all of the BWC teams here and at SSC arena.
the story is out, you get Hawaii to shoot those close shots, at 36 per cent rate, overall from field, bang them, physical them up.. you can beat them by 7 pts or so..
UH and Benjy, and true, it is the guys on court, have to finish,they never did before, more finesse and perimeter, team, however now, have to Play Power Ball, simply finish those layins…
Former UH Athlete
You are right in that UH missed tons of point blank shots. You know as powerful as Shaquille O’neil was he had a mighty fine touch near the basket. Some players are pretty to watch as they swoop to the basket. But the finishing part is the most important. Shaq was not pretty but when he had to finesse a shot he had a high percentage of making it. This is one of the problems with our bigs in that they can get in position to score but can’t finish the shot. I suppose that you are gifted with good hands. But you can improve on it too. Also, it is a wonder to me why more players don’t use the bank shot, especially when they are leaning to the basket or fading away to the side. That’s why they have the square box on the backboard. All you gotta do is throw it in that box.
Hope the players keep their heads up. We don’t mean to put you down. We just want to help. And I think this forum is open to friendly critiquing right? Painful to here. But you never know someone might pick up something from this site and incorporate it into their game. And don’t worry we all love you brothers. Come next game we will be behind you 100%.
Something simple. We used to have a ‘Go TO Play’ whether the coaches recognized it or not, (I was never sure about that), but if they gave the ball to Standhardinger, he could ALWAYS draw the foul or put it in the basket. Just uncommon WILL. It was funny to watch. I liked it. It seemed to always, almost always, turn out well. If they didn’t actually spread the ball around, and then just gave it to Standhardinger, I think we could have pulled out quite a few of those games just on free throws alone. My point is two fold. Seems backwards, but as surprising as Standhardingeers play was, because his effort was truly uncommon and surprised me every time, (whoa!), the key was the points, the free throws. And he had a pretty good percentage. So first, hit the free throws, and know that they will win the game for you. And second, (which should have been first), find a particular talent of one or several of the players that just stands out at the end of games, or when you need that half court offense. Put The Ball In The Hands Of The Players. (There, I finally said it.) Call a Player. Not a Play.
FUHA and servante being the Social media guys that UH students and athletes are now.. even Benjy.. They read our posts, pretty sure, Mamma Valdes did.. when everything was falling apart Oct 28 2014..
Told us to galvanize, support the guys and current coach.. remarkable affect on the team.. they are going to have a winning 19-20+ season guaranteed.. Just so young, and several are emotional where heart on sleeve, have to keep that in check…
We don’t have a Reggie Cross, power up, and automatic 2 points, even Tommy Barker, jumper, or layin at rim, Troy Ostler, Jeff Blackett, Ahmet Gueye, they are within 5 feet of basket the ball is going in.. that is why usually the bigs, and we have shortage of them, Real bangers.. have the highest shooting percentages on the Team.. Check out Aaron Valdes a 2 or 3 , not a banger has high shooting percentage, because of the runouts and slam dunks, or layins.. he is not getting the calls, I think that is the problem now.. UH is going in near the basket.. and getting pushed, clawed and shoved.. they still have to make the basket.
This is where those , Just Me guessing fans.. 2 bigs 6’9′ to 6’11” 240-245 are waiting to see what happens with Benjy.. they would sign.. and they would be the rim protectors and .550 FG percentage, dunks and layins for next year.. I hope Benjy approaches 18 wins within the next 8 games, then.. I really believe his agent and Admin power that be, they watching see if Benjy approaching 16 or 17 wins, then lock him in for at least 2 year guaranteed contract, a fair one..and Que and Benjy can lock in those sorely needed bigs who can bang and score and defend..
Otherwise, UH has to outquick, outhustle, and servante you are going old school, Elgin Baylor, Satch Sanders, Jo Jo White, Jerry West, the big O, Oscar Robinson.. good old Tom Henderson.. using the backboard, and proper angles, the ball going in.. I think.. UH just gets too excited, when there are 5 or 6 guys mixing it up under the basket.. they are not a Physical banging team closest to it would be Jovanovich.. he got to get tougher and stronger.. Team so resilient and smart.. You watch, unless dissension.. or not listen to coaches and watch video breakdown.. They going to win possibly these two next games,.. Athletic teams, not bangers in CSUN and LBSU.. should be great games..
Finish Strong, Janks, impresses me, he can score over 7’2″ guys, or 6’2″ , inside and out, just has to stay out of foul trouble.. Jovanovich, get his left handed hook going, .. and of course, these players. only Mike Thomas, and Aaron, I see using the glass for that short bank shot.. Tom Henderson, if his quirky 20 foot top of the key shot not going, he had that beautiful high percentage 18 foot left or right side bank shot, MONEY..
go Bows.. and Team, I KNOW you guys read our posts.. Keep Working, get better, shoot 40 percent or better every game, rebound.. defense and close out.. We Warrior Fan Nation are pulling for you guys.. No diss zone.. so much of fanbase and growing for your exciting brand of ball, the negative guys or girls staying away from the forums.. they go to store, school, work and talk to family and friends.. the topic? You seen that UH MBB team? They be awesome, man exciting.. just wish they get better and make a run in the BWC tournament.. shock the world and the dooms day naysayers.. and go dancing, or finish with a 20+ win season and CIT or CBI… FUHA.. what UH MBB team and Benjy and families have gone thorugh. UH better pay for them to play if it comes down to that.. THEY DESERVE IT>>
Go Bows We got Your Backs !!Backing the Bows. Way to go Warriors !!
3 more days till CSUN at 500 pm HST.. we be checking out scores.. go Bows !!
Getting exciting again.. on the road, is when team can bond, and get some wins.. 2-2 or 4-0.. Give em Imua.. Go Warriors. and keep Positive, still plenty of ball to play, in theory, up 20 more towards a national championship !!
🙂
I had more to say, but it looked like a fitting ending and said what I wanted to say. Call the Player. Not the Play.
We heard Coach Benjy, I think, allude to this earlier in the year, when referring to some jabber about the fabulous five or something from the past. I sure would like the players to take over the game, especially at the end of games. Practice Hard. And Then perform.
As far as pure WILL goes. It can be learned. Not often. It depends on the players. And then when WILL breaks down, hey, hit those free throws. Its part of the game. But go with the WILL.
THIS, is what this team has in abundance. Well, abundance means, in terms of this, more than one such player. It is uncommon. Standhardinger was our guy they last couple of years. But I think we have got guys on This team that have that special something. I know Quincy has got it. But he is not starting, I got that. And by the way, wasn’t his JC team undefeated, 32 and 0, something. Not the biggest guy, pretty talented, but the nose to get it done, … on command. And just take the free throws, dag nabbit. It’s part of the game.
You don’t want someone who will say, well I will take the shot. I like to take the last shot. They can’t be thinking about that. What they need to be thinking about is that the coach is depending on them, the fans are depending on them, and their team backs them all the way and will clean up any falter. And again, take the free throws. I would like to see Bobbitt demonstrate that WILL, to go to the basket, on command, and maybe not look to pass first a l l t h e t i m e. Flemmings might go, if commanded. I would like to see Jovanovich attack, on command. How many shots did Standhardinger have inside. It may have been the same one every time. And he always went right. Not a lot of variation. But just pure WILL. Our best ‘Go To Play’, is to call a player, not a play.
To the UH players, both on and off the floor. Let your play do the talking. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. Stay humble, be agressive, and yes, be smart. Quick hands, but don’t reach for stupid fouls.
Reardon said in his column today that a student-athlete was the one who threw the stress ball on the court in the last two seconds of the UC Davis game. I guess that person will be suspended or what ? if that is what Dave was saying.