Gameday: Big West championships
Hawaii basketball — men and women combined — has another chance to do something special.
After coming up empty in their respective 2015 Big West championship games, the Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine are poised for some redemption.
For the top-seeded men (26-5), that means some payback could be in order against Long Beach State (20-13), their nemesis of the BWC regular season. Their inability to close in the regular-season finale (along with some questionable officiating) is very fresh in the team’s mind.
UH is a four-point favorite over LBSU. The ‘Bows haven’t been to the Big Dance since 2002.
The 49ers looked like a tough out in their 77-72 semifinal win over UC Irvine in Friday’s nightcap. Six players scored in double figures; it wasn’t just Nick Faust lobbing jumpers.
Of course, Faust was at his swaggerific best late in the game.
Rebounding will be paramount. That’s what ultimately cost UH both games in the regular-season series, especially the 14-point loss in Honolulu. LBSU grabbed a combined 26 offensive boards in the two games.
The status of UH guard Quincy Smith (hip) is described as a game-time decision. If he can’t go, it’ll be his first missed game of the season and UH’s depth will be put to severe test. You can be assured if there’s any chance “Q” can play, he will.
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Meanwhile, the Rainbow Wahine came out confident in their title game against UC Davis. (At halftime, they lead 40-25.) A slow shooting start didn’t deter Laura Beeman‘s team.
UH sizzled in the second quarter (11-14 FGs), scoring the first eight points of the period.
The vibe of the game thus far has been totally different than last year’s 67-60 loss to Cal State Northridge, in which UH played catch-up virtually the entire way.
It’s clear — they can taste the NCAAs. The UH women haven’t been there since 1998.
Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows!
Rain! —> Bows! Rain! —> Bows! Rain! —> Bows!
Isaac Fleming has more talent than Niko Filopovich and Sheriff Drammeh combined, but they bought into the team concept.
How does Fleming know that his next destination will lead to the NCAAs?
I think he got some bad advice. Too many sycophants.
If he was rooting for his teammates, I wish him the best.
We may win a first round game, but with Fleming on board, I think Hawaii could have reached the Elite Eight.
GOOD GRADUATION WARRIORS! HEY! You all Hawaii fans!. Just remember this? Beginning of the season Hawaii men’s basketball team was pick other finish 7th in the Big West Conference. They was all five sports magazines had pick that Long Beach State and Cal Irvine will finished on top!. All of them should eat all their words and on the website too!