UPDATED: Warriors pull away from Chaminade in exhibition, 83-66
Chaminade University’s men’s basketball team treated Wednesday night’s exhibition game against neighborhood rival Hawai’i as if it were a big opportunity for an upset, and the Warriors responded to the challenge by pulling away from the scrappy Silverswords in the second half to win, 83-66.
An entertained crowd of about 1,500 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Zigmars Raimo score 19 points and grab 12 rebounds and Samuta Avea add 18 points and six boards for UH, and Dawson Carper gathered in a game-high 14 boards as the Warriors broke away from a slim 37-35 halftime lead midway through the second half. Chaminade wing Tyler Cartaino led all scorers with 26 points and grabbed six rebounds, and guard Kendall Small added 12 points.
“It’s a balance, because on the one hand you want to be sharp and crisp, but it’s also good to see some adversity early,” Hawai’i coach Eran Ganot said. “We knew Chaminade was going to come out hard, because they went to the (NCAA Division II) Tournament last year. I always have a lot of respect for the basketball programs in Hawai’i, and (Coach) Eric (Bouvaird) does a great job.”
Chaminade pretty much matched the Warriors basket-for-basket throughout the first half, led by Cartaino’s 18 points. The Silverswords shot 50 percent (15 for 30) from the field in the first 20 minutes, but were out-rebounded 25 to 13. Many of their points came off of transition baskets and tough finishes under the basket.
“Chaminade came out strong as they should, and it was fun to play against them — they have a really good team, and the fans enjoyed it,” Raimo said.
But Avea said the Warriors knew they had to make defensive adjustments in order to slow down the Silverswords in the second half.
“It all starts with the transition (game), they play small,” Avea said of Chaminade, which does not have a player over 6-feet, 8 inches tall. “(In) the first half, we let them get out on the break too much, they got to the basket and got easy shots. So that’s on us — we made an adjustment, and held them to a lower percentage (37.9) in the second half.”
UH continued to control the glass after halftime, finishing with 53 boards compared to 31 for the Silverswords. After Chaminade closed it to 52-51 on Small’s short banker with 13:45 remaining, Avea sank both ends of a 1-and-1 to start the Warriors on a 12-2 run and they maintained the lead throughout. The Silverswords got as close as 66-60 at the 5-minute mark but Raimo responded with two free throws to ignite a 10-1 run that stretched the lead to 76-61 two minutes later.
“We have new guys who are learning how to play together like a team,” Ganot said. “Our offense is about great flow, and great extra passes, and inside-out … and our defense is about having each other’s back. We were too spread out defensively (in the first half), and we were out of sorts offensively, (so) we were fortunate our rebounding was where it was.”
Hawai’i is now just eight days away from its season opener vs. Florida A & M at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the SSC. Ganot said the Warriors will be very busy preparing between now and then.
“There’s a lot of things we need to clean up,” Ganot said. “There (often) was a clear lack of execution, and we’re going to need to shore that up pretty quick.”
Game photos courtesy Brandon Flores / www.brandonfloresphotography.com
UH finally gets on the court and no comments?
Mama said if I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say nothing at all….lol
Just kidding. When you look at the overall stats, there is a section that has second chance points. I believe UH had 27 and Chaminade had 3 in that category. Then as expected, UH out rebounded Chaminade by 20. Those two statistics generally are going to be won by teams with way more size, like UH had in this game. I believe Chaminade’s tallest player is 6’8”
Both team’s struggled in the shooting percentage category. This game was way closer than the score makes it seem. Also, apparently UH Hilo only lost by 11, UH shot 32 free throws in that “closed door scrimmage” that wasn’t too closed. And, UH Hilo turned the ball over 28 times….
What happens when the other teams are just as big, press us all game long, are just as physical on defense, and have knock down shooters? What happens when we play away and don’t get the calls?
I guess I should have just obeyed mama and not have said anything.
@PONO you have to wait for the regular season, when all the couch coaches come out to criticize UH when they lose games and then downplay the games they do win. Hopefully this year these Warriors can show fans what they’re made of.
In regards to the video uploaded, big mahalo to you! I couldn’t watch the game at all and I’m tired of just reading different posts about the team from fans and reporters (although it is better than nothing, and many of the analysis that I read is very interesting and informative).
Personal thoughts, I think something to look out for this season would be Samuta Avea and Justin Hemsley possibly playing together in a “small ball” lineup when either a) the other team has a smaller lineup or b) when there is foul to trouble for our bigs (Carper, Colina, Raimo). They both seem like good and physical rebounders, and from what other people are saying it seems like they’re both showing improved 3-point shooting from previous seasons. They’re also two of our most athletic players on the roster, and I’d expect that they’d be good to use in a “switching” defense where the “4” position on the other team is more of a stretch-4 than a post up 4.
In any case, it’s just nice to be so close to the start of the basketball season. I can’t wait, go bows!!!
Yes, Mahalo for the video.
And if available, more video and less interview.
In fact, if available, full games please.
Full games are under copyright by someone else.
Only one more football game, and just a handfull of basketball games. UH sports is passing into the night. Soon will be just a memory. No one at the helm.