Jankovic ready to return to lineup
Stefan Jankovic loves what his teammates known as “Hawaii 5O” do on the bench during games for the University of Hawai’i basketball team. He just doesn’t want to be a part of that crew anymore.
And that’s a good thing, because it means the 6-foot-11 junior will be on the court for the Warriors.
Jankovic had a back injury and sat on the bench next to the Hawaii 5O crew during the Warriors’ 86-67 win over Hawai’i-Hilo on Tuesday. He returned to practice on Thursday, and said he will be ready to play when the Warriors host NCAA Division II neighbor Hawai’i Pacific on Saturday night.
“It was all precautionary; nothing serious,” Jankovic said of his back injury. “I had confidence in the guys and the team and everyone was fine with me kind of taking care of my issue because I didn’t want it to turn into anything serious. I’m good now, playing on Saturday.”
Jankovic is second on the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game, and leads the team in rebounding with 8.0 per game.
He admits that he is still getting used to playing in the low post on both ends of the court, and is continuing to work at it.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be a true 5, obviously, but it is what it is – you gotta do what you gotta do for the team to win and the team to be successful,” he said.
In the last game against Hilo, Jankovic did his best to join the sideline antics of the Hawaii 5O crew to celebrate big baskets and made free throws.
“It was tough; I’m not going to lie, I messed up a couple of the routines,” he said. “They’ve been practicing hard on a couple of those things … it was cool, it was a good experience.”
HAWAI’I VS. HAWAI’I PACIFIC
When: Saturday, December 12, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Tickets: Lower Level – $26; Upper Level – $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens (65 and older), $5 for students (ages 4-18)
TV: OCSports (channels 16 and 1016)
Streaming video: www.bigwest.tv
Radio: ESPN1420 AM
Audio webcast: www.espn1420am.com
Live stats: www.hawaiiathletics.com
Jank – Thanks for Taking On the ‘Five’ Responsibility…
We ‘KNOW’ YOU Can Do A Creditable Job At All Five Positions …
AND Your Size And Skill Set Brings This Responsibility Your Way
Thank You for Accepting It AND Doing So Well
8 Rebounds (10RPG?), 2 Blocked Shots (3BSPG?), 13 (17? 20? PPG)
WHERESOEVER YOU SET YOUR GOALS
? Bring a Few More Toronto Friends, Serbian Friends?
The Next Generation?
Still waiting for that break out game. Got to give Janks the green light. Go Bows !
Good to hear Janks will be ready to go, we need him to break out in a big way! At least this one will be televised. Let’s GO BOWS!
I really wish we had a true big to play the 5 so that Janks could slide over to 3 or 4, but it is good to hear that he is learning and doing what he needs to do to help the team. Team player!
If he can put up his averages just a little bit to be a 15-10 guy that would be huge for this team against Big West. He’s already at 13-8.
Janks is more like a stretch 4 or a hybrid 5.
If he is recovering from back spasms, I think that Coach Eran should consider sitting him for the entire game or play him briefly. He will be needed more during the Diamond Classic where they will play 3 games in the stretch of 4 days. Then soon after comes BWC play.
The same holds true for the other players. Stats are one thing, but being healthy going into the meat of the schedule should be a bigger consideration.
Also, giving more playing time for our 8, 9, 10, 11’s and the rest of players on the bench will provide some needed experience with playing time. Remember the game last year where the team had to go deep due to players fouling out?
Beach will be the team to bet this year. We’ll have them here on 1/30 and UCI to follow on 2/11.
BWC predictions:
LBSU
UCI
Hawaii
UCSB
Cal St. Fullerton
Cal Poly
UC Riverside
UC Davis
CSUN
Go Bows!
^^^ Somebody been doing their homework! LBSU is very dangerous and the transfer from Maryland is legit player! I also see you already know that Fullerton been playing like a darkhorse.
It is going to be a very hard year for predictions. In most leagues the bottom 3 teams are all easy wins but that is not true in Big West. Heck, other than CSUN, it really could be anybody else in that bottom 3.
“Remember the game last year where the team had to go deep due to players fouling out?”
to really be successful this year and years going forward, have to refer to last season , what the guys went through.. thanks Daboyz808..
How the heck they did it with AV at 5, and NWC playing 5 spot.. Janks being a 2 or 3 ? last year..
still,… UH depth, talent wise, THIN…if Janks, Bobbitt, went down.. others step up.. however..as we saw last year.. Nevels out.. NWC out with ankle problems.. Q with wrist and back problems.. caused problems for UH run in BWC .. easily they were hot.. playing super well after great run in DHC…
Injuries, and that Nevels being out for surgery… probably cost UH shot at BWC regular season crown.
Hope guys stay healthy..
and comments by you all great.. and real.. BWC. .the teams will be ready for UH.. will UH be ready for BWC ? I hope so !
go Bows !
We are in 100% agreement for WBB AND MBB.. BWC play, whole different story.. teams have video on UH.. and know their strengths and weaknesses….guess we will see Niko, Zach, Brocke, Jakob, and Dyrbe, just being in there for bodies.. spread out the foul count.. or barring serious injuries or OTHER problems.. to win BWC.. tough to do.. hope guys did well In class this semester, and guys primed to grad in May 2016 or summer 2016, are ready.. to get diploma.