Fleming questionable for road trip due to injury
The “next man up” mantra worked for the University of Hawai’i basketball team on its last road trip, and the Warriors may have to rely on it again this week.
The Warriors will depart Honolulu on Tuesday for a two-game Big West Conference road trip: at UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, and at Cal Poly on Saturday.
Sophomore guard Isaac Fleming has a sprained right foot, and is questionable to even travel with the team.
“As of right now, I’m not sure when I’ll be back,” Fleming said. “Just trying to take it slow, just praying and everything. I just got done talking with Coach and told him how I feel when I wake up (on Tuesday) if I’ll travel with the team or not.”
Fleming was injured early in the first half of an eventual 78-64 loss to Long Beach State on Saturday. He played 17 minutes, and went scoreless for only the second time in his UH career. He is still averaging 11.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and ranks second on the team with 26 3-pointers.
Hawai’i is 16-3 overall and 5-1 in the Big West, a half-game behind UC Irvine (6-1). The Warriors already own a 65-57 home victory over UC Santa Barbara, and Fleming scored 22 points in that win.
Starting forward Aaron Valdes was injured in that first UCSB game, and he sat out the next two games on the road (UH victories at UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton). Valdes returned to play limited minutes in the loss to Long Beach State, but is expected to be at full strength for this week’s road games.
“Me going down, I’m not worried for the team at all,” Fleming said. “It’s the next guy ready to step up and play. I know Aaron’s back; he’s healthy. There’s no worries on this team.”
HAWAI’I AT UC SANTA BARBARA
When: Thursday, February 4, 5:00 p.m.(Hawai’i time)
Where: Thunderdome, Santa Barbara, Calif.
TV: None
Internet video: Live streaming on www.bigwest.tv
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM
Internet audio: Live on www.espn1420am.com
Live stats: www.hawaiiathletics.com
Wednesday’s Big West Games
UC Irvine at Cal Poly
CSUN at UC Riverside
Thursday’s Big West Games
UC Davis at Cal State Fullerton
Hawai’i at UC Santa Barbara, 5 p.m. (Hawai’i time), www.bigwest.tv
Saturday’s Big West Games
CSUN at Long Beach State
Cal State Fullerton at UC Santa Barbara
UC Davis at UC Riverside
Hawai’i at Cal Poly, 5 p.m. (Hawai’i time), ESPNU
Part of College Basketball, conference time.. always..
In past 5 years, Zane and Miah sick, Quincy back problems, Jawato ankle and back problems,
Nevels hand surgery, now AV toe injury, and IF ankle problems..TEAM was so healthy about a month ago.. catches up I guess..
yes, next man up….I guess ALL BWC teams.. have key guys injured or out..
ONLY concern. for me. UH IS NOT NCAA DI 8 or 9 or 10 man deep.
After AV, IF, RB.. Janks, out for a time.. it really impacts the team ability to rebound , defend and score.
Probably why, Janks being the only real skilled big. he has to rebound and play defense without fouling. he goes into a funk or sits on the bench on the road with fouls.. The other teams, will crash the boards.. do the LBSU thing. battle even , or win the rebound battle, and shoot well at home.. UH , not going to be easy.. I thought so.. would not be cakewalk for Ganot and the guys.
BWC tournament time, key. healthy then ..
Couldn’t be said better. I’m not worried about this team either.
But it’s not so much ‘next man up’ as it is a great team.
Go Bows !
Heal well Isaac, we need the dynamic play you bring.
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Regarding prior posts on rebounding, i would think the conference game stats are a better indicator of rebounding ability rather than comparing the overall stats which include non-conference games. Because Long Beach St. played a much tougher non-conference schedule than UH, according to rating services and i assume that means they played against tougher rebounding teams overall.
UBSB was out rebounded by Arizona,40 to 20, Oregon 42 to 25 but out rebounded Duke 42-31.
Yes Isaac please get better soon because this team need you. Isaac could be a bigger loss than some of you might think because of his instant offense. When other guys were out like Valdes, you can count on Isaac to fill the points. Now if Isaac is out somebody else truly have to step up and play above average. Tummala is probably the guy who need to fill in more if Isaac is out.
I don’t think anyone on this board has ever underestimated or devalued Isaac’s worth to the team. Case in point, look what happened on Saturday night. A healthy Fleming would have made a huge difference.
So, I guess he’s decided to stay back and rehab his ankle. As difficult as the upcoming trip is, the team needs him healthy going forward.
Isaac stepped up when Valdes went down. It’s time Aaron does the same; hoping he’s full healed.
Our lack of depth is showing when one of the rotation players gets hurt. We are not a deep team. The other players on the bench can and do contribute. But there is a gap between the rotation and bench when it comes to crunch time. The opposing teams know it too and play off that fact by giving them space. Because they know that all they will do is pass the ball. We’ve grown accustomed to Isaac handling the ball in crunch time. But when he’s out there is no one that can create something when we need to score. I think Bobbitt can only do it when he’s hitting his outside shots like he did against Oklahoma. So hopefully on this road trip Bobbitt will get his offensive game back because the team will sorely need it. Ditto Valdes.
Re 8:12 am post, it should be “LBSU was out rebounded …” etc. not UBSB.
Notice Rod, great PG, did a lot for that past 38 wins UH has over near 1 1/2 seasons.. one thing noticeable..great defender , facilitator.. however. when LBSU was putting someone on him D wise as athletic, and LONG defenders.. he had some trouble. sure hit 3 big time 3 pointers.. however, Rod is not a Tom Henderson or Reggie Carter, or Thomas Louden, AC Carter, drive, to rim, score over , under and one… skillset..or drive and dish if he has the lane he is good. driving on 3 defenders and trying to score at rim, or dish.. LBSU made it really hard for him.. he has to facilitate more, Janks and HE HAVE to be ON SAME PAGE.. any , I repeat any type of friction, or not being together from here to BWC tournament.. UH will be playing for those pay to play tournament..so fragile team is right now, and Exposed , even honestly Eran admitted, exposed team AND coaching. Hope they get it together.. Time is running out. season very short.. and soon.. over.. HOPE for the best.. Love the Warriors of the Past 3 to 4 years. stay the course.. love those guys !
2 wins on SUPER TOUGH road swing against UCSB and Cal Poly?
As a team,.. Guys 5 score in double figures..Janks 18, rod 17, AV 16, Q 12, MT..11 and Sai 8 pts and has to Rebound..5 guys score in double figures, win the boards. and couple of bench guys contribute 12 points. Warriors should win.. by double digits. HOWEVER. coach Williams of Gauchos and coach Callero of Mustangs. super good confence coaches. they will be ready… heard gamd Bigwest TV stream, better and Cal Poly game Saturday on ESPNU.. Go Bows !
You don’t just replace an Isaac Fleming. If he doesn’t make the road trip, I could see the team losing both games. Other important variables:
-Rebounding
-Dumb fouls
-Dumb turnovers
-Making FREE THROWS
The team needs to hustle on the boards, at least on the defensive end. Also need to avoid silly fouls…the refs have obviously been cracking down hard this season. And yes, every teams have turnovers but there were a few last game that were really just inexcusable. And lastly, make those damn free throws!
Now that a top 25 ranking is pretty much out of the question on the year, team needs to be realistic and focus on each game as they come. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying the ride thus far and it’s still a season for the ages. Good to finally have another 2-game week and stoked that one of them will be on ESPNU! Let’s GO BOWS!