Warriors look to ride momentum against top seed UC Davis
ANAHEIM, Calif. — There was only one exception to the scripted seeding scenarios during the quarterfinals of the Big West Conference Tournament on Thursday,
The University of Hawai’i basketball team would like to continue being the exception in the semifinals on Friday.
The No. 5 seed Warriors were the only team to upset a higher-seeded team on Thursday, eliminating No. 4 Long Beach State, 79-72. The top three seeds – No. 1 UC Davis, No. 2 UC Santa Barbara, and No. 3 UC Irvine – won its respective games.
The Warriors will next face top seed UC Davis in the first semifinal at 3:30 p.m. (Hawai’i time) at the Honda Center. An internet broadcast will be available live via www.ESPN3.com, and a delayed television broadcast will be air on ESPNU (Oceanic channels 219 or 1219) around 8 p.m. (following the broadcast of the other semifinal between UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine).
“Just figure out a way to win,” head coach Benjy Taylor said of the team’s game plan against the Aggies. “Just beat them by half a point.”
Hawai’i is 21-12 overall, and split the home-and-home series with the Aggies. UC Davis is 25-5 overall, and defeated CSUN, 71-67, in a quarterfinal game on Thursday. Josh Ritchart, a 6-foot-9 senior forward, hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points to lead the Aggies into the semifinals.
But it is well known that the Aggies are led by senior guard Corey Hawkins, the Big West Conference Player of the Year. He is averaging a league-best 20.4 points per game, and has made 74 3-pointers with a .487 percentage from 3-point range.
The Warriors have held him in check in the two previous meetings this season. Hawkins scored 19 in the game in Honolulu, then scored just six points in the game at Davis.
Hawai’i won the meeting in Honolulu, 84, 76, then UCD won the rematch in Davis, 74-67.
UCD’s Tyler Les hit nine 3-pointers and scored 28 points in the Aggies’ win over the Warriors last month. Hawai’i played that game without three key contributors – leading scorer Aaron Valdes, Isaac Fleming and Mike Thomas. All three have since returned to the rotation, and the Warriors are expected to be at full strength this time against the Aggies.
The game will start at 6:30 p.m. (California time), so the Warriors spent some of the early afternoon at the Honda Center to cheer on the UH women’s team, which defeated Cal State Fullerton in a semifinal of the Big West women’s tournament.
Defense ! Defense !
Go Rainbow Warriors.
Hey, win Or lose, Benjy deserves Head Coaching job.. make it to semis of BWC tournament, first time in 3 years, or ever since joining the league.. Awesome
Benjy and The Bows..
Great season..
🙂
Women’s team just won play tomorrow for championship. Men’s team was there to support them as well as the Hawaii fans well outnumbered Fullerton side. !h
jjay, brokenhearted,
and other Hawaii fans from 808 and from mainland.. glad you all enjoying the BWC tournament.. One day, they have to have it , The BWC tournament at the Stan Sheriff Center.. UH fans would pack that arena to support the Warriors !
Good for the ladies.. and the support for the team by the MBB team and Coach Taylor..Now , very sure if not too late, the ladies will support the men.
Go Warriors !!
Congrats to the women’s team on advancing! To my understanding, they’re in to the championship game. Wouldn’t that be something to have both Hawaii teams playing for the conference championships? Or even both to make the big dance! Holy smokes, that would be something. Either way, I’m proud of how far our teams have come thus far. Let’s go BOWS!!!!
Go Bows! Sending Cali Love!
I’ve been following UH Bball for a couple years now.. such a great team to watch!
Hope for the win tonight against uc davis!
Hey….IF UH comes up short, and I know they will Battle All the Way for win against Davis..
21 wins is Fantastic
And for UH MBB team that might read our posts….Great Season.
Just , all 11 of you guys, battle, defend, shoot well, Cali, Hawaii fans, 808 fans So Proud of Team
If this is Benjy’s Last game as Interim Head Coach, chancellor is crazy for not keeping him, signing him, or Matlin or McNamara, new AD.. Keep Benjy as multi year HC contracted, a good one, a well written one, and he can keep 13 returning guys and possibly 2 JC recruits signed for next year. Keep this MBB program on the upswing,.. no matter what..
Benjy and The Bows Awesome, Great, Great Season.
Don’t Listen to the Negative Noise.. Just play for selves, coach, Hawaii, and your Ohana.
Go Warriors !!
🙂
And Thankyou Benjy and the Fantastic Fourteen for staying on board for 2014-15, it makes a lot of Hawaii proud.. do not listen to Negative People
Just the Positive vibes and Appreciation we have for all of You !
And Dayton, if this Is the Last game of the Year for MBB team.. Mahalo for videos interviews, real time updates, fast uploads, and of course for Fantastic support of Schmidt Ohana, Valerie Schmidt, Ameriprise, and Pacific Risk Solutions.. for sponsoring Warrior Insider for some 5 years.. Mahalo and Thankyou so very much.
Now Bows.. Battle, just give all out effort, no matter What Happens. You all have far surpassed expectations.. You all , the UH Warrior MBB team are Champions in the hearts of thousands of UH MBB fans in 808 and throughout the world !!
🙂
Love that quick pan up to the MBB team. Big respect for supporting the Wahine.
65 – 58 Bows !
Heal. Rest. Get ready for the next game.
Oh wait. The interviews. Then get ready !
Go Bows !