Mixed bag
There was plenty to like in the Hawaii men’s basketball team’s first half last night against Fresno State. The timely return of 3-point shooting, offensive execution and rebounding was encouraging.
Almost just as much to dislike in the second half, when the Bulldogs nearly made up a 20-point halftime deficit. The shots stopped falling, but FSU didn’t have quite enough and fell 62-52 to the Rainbow Warriors.
In the end, it’s still a UH win, and the Rainbows are in much better position than they were a week ago. A victory against San Jose State (9-8, 1-5 WAC) tomorrow gives the ‘Bows a solid grip on seventh place.
The Spartans’ star guard, senior Adrian Oliver, is third in the country in scoring average (24.2 ppg), behind only BYU’s Jimmer Fredette (25.8) and UConn’s Kemba Walker (25.5). Oliver missed the last two SJSU games with a concussion, but has resumed practicing this week. The UH coaches are assuming Oliver is playing.
Also, SJSU freshman guard Keith Shamburger returns to the islands for the first time since spurning Gib Arnold’s Rainbow Warriors for George Nessman’s Spartans. Shamburger (11.2 ppg) averaged 20 points in the two games Oliver missed, a win at Louisiana Tech and loss at New Mexico State.
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UH freshman shooting guard Bo Barnes, who returned to his early season form with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting (all 3-pointers), apparently isn’t the team’s only shooter to reinvent himself.
Junior guard Zane Johnson is wearing No. 50 at practice today, though it’s not a permanent switch. Apparently his usual No. 3 wasn’t available. Number looks a little strange on him, must say.
Too early to tell if junior Miah Ostrowski has completely supplanted freshman Bobby Miles in the point guard rotation behind senior Hiram Thompson. Miles didn’t play at all against Fresno, but we’ll know more on this after tomorrow’s game vs. SJSU.
UPDATE: Sophomore swingman Dominick Brumfield didn’t suit up for the Fresno game because he was academically ineligible, and will likely be so again against SJSU.
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The UH women’s basketball team’s game at San Jose State is no gimme. The Spartans, winless at 0-16 before last night’s 63-61 victory against Idaho, got a much-needed breakthrough. SJSU improved to 1-3 in the WAC, while Dana Takahara-Dias’ Rainbow Wahine are still winless at 0-4.
Pivotal game for the Wahine.
Hope Brumfield’s problems isn’t academic.
I hope they don’t take SJSU lightly. Their backcourt is very talented, especially with Adrian Oliver. That guy can shoot, drive and post up, which makes it difficult defending him. Not to mention Justin Graham, a very talented and athletic point guard.
jim leahey and artie wilson reported that brumfield’s an academic casualty.
Not sure if this is a typo on UHs part or what but Shawna-Lei Kuehu roster info states that Shaena-Lyn plays for Idaho, but if you look on the game notes for the Fresno game on UH’s website, with the stats for Shawna-Lei Kuehu, it now states that Shaena-Lyn played at Idaho.
RE: Bowsfan comment on Shaena-Lyn Kuehu of Idaho University….Checked Idaho’s web site. Kuehu is no longer on the roster. She was suppose to be injured earlier in the year, thus missing many games. Wonder what’s the story? Academics? Desire to transfer? She was not having a particularly good season, especially shooting-wise, after being one of Idaho’s leading scorers and one of its best players last year.
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