Warriors focused on winning more games
After winning three games in four days, including a thriller on ESPN2, the University of Hawai’i basketball team has reason to stay motivated for its next game against Nicholls State.
“We want to stay undefeated,” junior forward/center Stefan Jankovic said. “Simpler than that, we want to continue winning.”
The 3-0 Warriors will host the 1-1 Colonels at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. It will be part of a UH basketball doubleheader, as the Hawai’i women’s team will host Washington State at 5 p.m.
Hawai’i’s 3-0 start has featured a balanced attack, with five different players currently averaging double-figure points. Junior forward Aaron Valdes leads the way with 16.0 points per game, but it was the play of point guard Roderick Bobbitt that earned the Most Outstanding Player Award for the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic.
Bobbitt averaged 14.3 points, 7.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game in the three victories. Jankovic (11.0 points, 8.3 rebounds), Sai Tummala (11.0 points) and Quincy Smith (10.0 points) are the other Warriors averaging double-figure points.
“That’s going to be one of our highs for the season,” Smith said of winning the Rainbow Classic championship. “But we got bigger goals than that. It’s just three games. We want to continue to win and play better and better each game.”
Nicholls State opened its season with a 109-62 loss at Florida State, but bounced back with an 80-58 home win over NAIA team Mobile.
While the Colonels might be considered small in name, they are big on the roster. They usually start three guards (6-foot-1 Tre O’Neal, 6-4 Ja’Dante’ Frye and 6-4 T.J. Carpenter) alongside 6-8 Luka Kamber and 7-foot Liam Thomas.
Frye is averaging 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and he posted a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Mobile. Kamber is averaging 12.0 points per game, and Thomas is averaging 9.5 points per game. Carpenter is averaging 6.5 points per game, but he lead the team in scoring last season with 10.9 points per game.
Kyle Caudil, a 7-foot, 300-pound senior center, is averaging 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a reserve.
“They got some good players, their guards are athletic, they’re big (with) two 7-footers,” Smith said. “We just have to come out and stick to our principles, play hard, box out, rebound, share the ball, spacing on offense.”
It is interesting to note that both Hawai’i and Nicholls State have rosters sprinkled with international players. The Colonels have three players from Australia, one from Germany and one from New Zealand, in addition to players from four different states (California, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado).
Hawai’i has players from Australia, Canada, Serbia, Sweden, and five different states (California, Hawai’i, Arizona, Delaware and Texas).
HAWAI’I VS. NICHOLLS STATE
When: Sunday, November 22, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Tickets: Upper Level – $26; Lower Level – $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens (65-older), $5 for students (ages 4-18). Parking is $6.
TV: Live on OCSports (channel 16 and 1016)
Streaming video: Live on www.bigwest.tv
Radio: Live on ESPN1420 AM
Audio Webcast: www.espn1420am.com
Live stats: www.hawaiiathletics.com
Doubleheader: The Hawai’i women’s basketball team will play Washington State at 5 p.m. Fans with tickets to the men’s game can arrive early to watch the women’s game.
Theme: Star Wars Night
Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows!
Riley spoke to the players before practice yesterday, per McInnis. TV showed Riley at the football game yesterday greeting several fans on the field.
Speaking of international rosters the Washington St. women’s has seven : Starters- 6-5 center, Blanaru, from Romania; a 6-0 frosh forward, Hristova, from Bulgaria averaging 19.3 pts per game; a 6-2 forward, Brown, from Australia.
A 6-3 forward, Kmetovska,from Macedonia; another center, 6-4 Koustourkova, from Portugal; a 5-8 guard, Pavlopoulou, from Greece. And another 5-8 guard from Australia who hasn’t played too much.
Dawnyelle Awa (Konawaena) is averaging 4 steals, 7 pts. per game, shooting 57 % FG Pct. Wahine have one international player, Karaitiana.
Janks may be playing power forward and Mike center on offense, per SA article today, coach recognizing the players’ strengths. As to protecting against an opposing player attacking the basket like Nevada’s Coleman, Eran said he can go to a zone or use aggressive trapping tactics.
Talk about living in the past…Riley? Really? Ok…go ahead, hate on me.
Eran says honor the past and tradition of UH basketball so that’s why he let or asked Riley to speak to the team. He was a good part of the tradition, 20 years coach (winningest UH coach), 3 NCAA tourneys, six NIT’s.
Kelley what’s the big deal about bringing back the coach that holds the record for wins to talk to the current players. I think it’s a great thing that Eran appreciates the history of UH basketball.
KelleyO:
good insight and comments, welcome to WI forum board.
Just wondering, how far back you go as MBB fan? To the Fab Five Era? or Larry Little/ Riley Wallace.
know that you go to Anaheim too. for BWC tournament as well as WAC tournaments I think was mentioned.. if so. and you are part of that core 1800 or so.. in past 25 years. win or lose go to UH SSC home games and on the road for Conference Tournaments.. great job..
Honor the past , well that is good. I think Eran wants alumni reunion. too.. some good MBB athletes and people been part of UH MBB for past near 60 years.. good to remember. . and Dayton Morinaga, I love the write-ups about how guys and coaches doing..brings back some good memories !
Go Bows.. and WI nation.. welcome to KelleyO who will send comments via smartphone live from SSC.. look for KelleyO at SSC .. die hard UH MBB fan !
🙂
no just kidding KelleyO YOU don’t have to send message from SSC.. enjoy the games and hope team does well.. win or lose !
Hey, I’m just being sarcastic and stating the obvious lack of consistency in the “hating” on this site for those of us who appreciate and like to acknowledge that the kids on the team right now that Gib brought to the program, we’re told to “stop living in the past”…but then, as I knew would be the case, if I dare say that about Riley, everyone jumps all over me. Oh, wait, I know, not the same thing. Gib was only here a few years, is a crook, blah blah…whatEVER! I like Riley, loved how he spoke up against admin. That was classic! But I didn’t like how when he was gone, he didn’t stay out of things politically and how his lackey Jackson Wheeler was so salty and did everything he could to undermine Gib Arnold.
Thanks Uhfanzonly1. They think I’m you anyway which is hilarious. I’m your feminine side. But I’m not nearly as nice as you. In real life I’m very nice, though! I have been around since the fab five days but was just a kid then! My brother and I played sports and I also used to go to ALL the Hawaii Islander games too and I remember knowing all those guys who worked down at HIC arena. A guy named Ray who took tickets both at the arena and at the stadium stands out in my mind. Those were the days. I used to babysit for Steve Whitaker and Rod Gaspar!
Back to the real subject and that is tonight’s game! As some said yesterday, this should be a easy win and all the players should be in for some playing time. I will say again like I said before this is weak schedule but wise schedule. With a road trip coming up, this is a good “cruise” game to give our starters and main players a tune up and then let them rest in the second half and let the other guys finish.
BOWZ off to a good start and that “Will to Win” by Bobbitt is a great weapon to have. I love to see the enthusiasm of The Bench.
Texas Tech handled Minnesota today pretty easily…won by 13 on a neutral court. They are not the same team as last year.
Mahalo for the laugh KelleyO as your remark about the lackey, I am pretty sure, refers to one of this site’s regulars.
GO BOWZ
That explains a lot, BACKBEAT! ;-). Oops.
Wahine just hit two 3-pointers in a row to take a four point lead with 4:48 to go in the first half. Very physical game. Go Wahine!
Wahine eat humble pie. # 45 Hristova with all the moves and shots, only a freshman. Awa with 5 steals and an inbound pass off the back of Crawford for a basket.
KelleyO..my friend…no..we are not same person… too much paranoia here..you are there at SSC..me homebound..true fan speaking your mind..any politics involved at UH?
No place for that in Hawaii..
You go girl!
Cheer on guys and gals..
One day Ganot will have whole team of his own recruits, not past 2 coaches, I cannot even mention their names? auwe..
Live in past? Well great teams and athletes , recruiters in UH MBB past.. even recent
keep it real, and speak freely.. Dayton and WI site gender equity zone we all one united fanbase..I hope!
Go Bows!!..I want team go to ncaa’s ..team finish what BT started..
🙂
I guess Texas Tech…real challenge
No real competition in first 4 games for Hawaii, maybe Nevada which they probably could have lost
We shall see team away from SSC ..pre bwc last year
were 4-2 ..including 1-1 against BYU and Pitt
Go Bows!!