Warriors working their way back to full form
With the help of some extra tape, aspirin and fortitude, the University of Hawai’i basketball team is looking to be closer to its full self this week.
The Warriors who missed recent action are all on the mend this week and hope to be ready when the team hosts first-place UC Davis on Thursday, and third-place UC Irvine on Saturday.
Most notable, senior guard Garrett Nevels is targeting a return to the court on Thursday. He underwent surgery on his right (shooting) hand on December 31, and has since sat out the last three games.
“I’m either playing my regular minutes or I’m not playing at all,” Nevels said. “There’s none of that I’m in a little bit. I can go right now so I’m all in. I’m not going to go a little bit. I’m all in.”
He will have to play with his right hand taped, but he already did that in the two games prior to the surgery, and he responded with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3 percent), seven assists, five rebounds and zero turnovers.
Overall, Nevels ranks second on the team in both scoring at 11.4 points per game, and rebounding at 4.7 per game. The Warriors went 1-2 with Nevels on the bench in the last three games.
“It was really frustrating, but at the same time, just being able to sit back and watch, I got a chance to see some things,” he said. “You get a different perspective watching the game than playing, so I think when I come back I can add some things to help us win.”
Nevels’ injury will still need to be reviewed by the UH medical staff before Thursday’s game, but the fact that he was able to go through a full practice on Tuesday was a good sign.
“I’m ready to go,” he said. “I want to play.”
Starting forward Negus Webster-Chan also missed the last road game at UC Riverside due to the flu, but he has since recovered and is expected to play on Thursday.
Another starting forward, sophomore Mike Thomas, had to sit out the final minutes of the UC Riverside game due to a thumb injury, but he is also planning on playing this week.
“I plan to be ready to play on Thursday,” he said.
Junior reserve guard Brandon Jawato sat out the UC Riverside game with a back injury. He has not been able to practice yet this week, but is progressing.
(WarriorInsider.com file photo courtesy Brandon Flores)
Game Information
Who: Hawai’i (13-6, 1-2 Big West) vs. UC Davis (14-3, 4-0 Big West)
When: Thursday, Jan. 22, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center – Honolulu, O‘ahu
Tickets: Lower level – $26; upper level – $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens, $5 for students (high school and younger). Parking is $6.
Television: Live on OCSports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: www.bigwest.org
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420. 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 HawaiiAthlectics.com
Warriors. Go to battle…from captains G and Q and all 12…go get Davis then Irvine
time has come today!!
Go Bows !!
Nevels, your presence has been sorely missed! We need you out there as soon as you’re healthy enough to go, whether it be this week or next month. We need you back at full strength so please take care of yourself and come back when you’re ready!
Great Young Men — This Team …
Senior Focus and Leadership G
Realistic Self-Assessment — we know because he HAS demonstrated it
Should be Great, Surprising Usually, but consistently such a Positive Factor for this team
G just keeps finding ways to help and make a difference
Art Woolaway Inspirational, or Tip-of-the-Spear Team Leader to date…
Mike Thomas just a Good Representative of the Young Talent on This Team —
Keep Improving … Keep Surprising Us, But Definitely Finish — Put in those Lay-ups, Jumpers, Free-Throws
As John Wooden would Expect, Make All the Five Footers, as well as those great-lookin’ jumpers
Sophomores like MT, Negus [Welcome Back!], Aaron and Janks NEED to Be Game-Long Factors
Consistently Making Plays, Exploding for Periods at a Time
This Team has Skills, Intensity and Talent available At EVERY Position on The Court
Well Beyond what we’re historically accustomed to having…
and As They Continue to Improve & Perform,
Beyond What The Opposition Can Handle…
Comin’ At Them from Every Direction
CRANK IT UP, ‘BOWS!
Step Up That Focus and Intensity — and Results [esp. Baskets!]
BETTER Than What PITT or WSU or Davis / Irvine Can Handle for 40
GO ‘BOWS!
—-
Hey, UH Admin — i ‘Feel Like’ we Need to Remind You Every Week Or So
‘Cos it hasn’t “Happened” yet … Meet with BORegents? FOCUS on US!
Let The NCAA Drag THEIR Feet, as Amateurish and Un-Professional as their Performance IS
[“We Feel like we’ve been mis-led… ” — Boo Hoo…Just Check the Facts and DO Your Job, As Promptly as possible…]
BUT You’re Getting Paid Good (Generous) Money SO DO Your Job…
Give Benjy & Co. the Tools (Contract & Funds) they NEED to Support Signing Reinforcements and Help to Keep Improving The Team and Program … BEFORE April Signing!
Don’t Lock-Step Actions (unnecessarily, like UHAD hire) and Cost Us Better Performance and Improvements…
Maybe that’s all we need. Some senior leadership on the floor.
I’ll just echo that Senior Focus and Leadership G. Presence.
Hersey Hawkins and UC Davis coach Jim Les were backcourt teammates at Bradley, per Bobby C. Now their sons, Corey and Tyler are the same at UC Davis.
My wife and I will be at the games this week cheering the team on to two wins. Go Bows !
We need Nevels, Negus and Mike all to be healthy for this team to get back in the Big West race. Off shooting nights are part of the game for a young team like this but it is having so many different options that makes this team special. When you lose some of those options then an off shooting night such as Aaron at Riverside becomes a bigger problem than it really should of been if Nevels and Negus were there.
Warrior time tomorrow nite. Pack the house. We gotta make a lot of noise and intimidate the enemy. They’re use to be playing in a high school type gym. The Warriors will protect the house. !!
G-Money!
It’s a school night, so not sure my son will be able to join me at the arena tomorrow night, but whenever Nevels hit a 3 this year, we’d yell, “Hey! Must be the Money!”
Only 6 more home games in his UH career so I hope to enjoy watching Nevels play while there’s still a chance. It’d be awesome if he blocked a Corey Hawkins game-tying three attempt at the buzzer to preserve the win!
Jamie Smith should be back next week, per Gary D. But UH is on the road next week and the week after.
if he’s back, I wonder why it took so long,rumor on Warrior website said some associate athletic administrator was stone walling him for making him look bad in marketing our games to the students. If that was the case shame shame on you. look at Jamie as a valued member of UH in getting student involvement making our arena a true college experience.
dumb…admin….crazy… supposed support a positive MBB program.. with more interest from students and fans..auwe !
Jamie you are a good man.. gave your all for promoting UH MBB.. we want you back !!
Jamie very humble….the Brainchild, or the Mind behind the Manoa Maniacs , theme nites and going dorm to dorm/ Pep rallies? One Gibson Arnold.. he did his part…get students involved.. and Jamie took that idea and ran with it..
Jamie Smith.. great guy.. unsung hero for UH MBB..excellent basketball mind and huge pro and college resume..!!
Head Coach Mastermind…Jamie Executor…
Planning for While He would be gone…
Whoever Jamie ‘Deputized’ to GET OUT The Students
with Session Now IN, Needs to Get 500 (Thursday?), 1000 to 1500 Saturday?
Visiting Coaches and Teams Actually (Also) Get Pumped Up By Our Crowds
Especially In Comparison to The Remainder of Their Season in BWC Bandboxes
So NOW it Comes Up to The ‘Bows 40 Minutes-Plus of FANS-Pumped High-Energy
Outlasting The Adrenaline High of The Visitors…
Might Account for Our Home Ability to Pull Away in the Second Half…
JUST Like One And One Free-Throws, Which We GOT TO Improve Upon
Gotta Get The First, to get ’em BOTH…
Go ‘BOWS!
You Know…