Road Warriors
Raise your hand if you thought Hawaii would have a better conference road record (4-2) than home (3-2) coming down the stretch of Big West play.
That’s reality, and it’s certainly the first time in recent years that is the case. UH has a record active streak of four away games in a row coming off wins at UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton last week.
The second-half execution at Fullerton wasn’t perfect, but you have to credit the Rainbow Warriors for coming back from eight points down with eight minutes to play. And credit shooting guard Garrett Nevels specifically for his cold-blooded shot-making down the stretch, both from the corner on the go-ahead 3-pointer and at the foul line to put UH up three in the final seconds.
UH will have the opportunity to extend the streak even further with upcoming away games at Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara — though those will be two of the tougher ones of the season.
First up, though, is a tester at home that will either keep UH around in the regular-season title race or all but eliminate it from contention for the top seed at the Big West tournament. The ‘Bows stole one at UC Irvine last month on Keith Shamburger’s miracle shot to send the game to overtime.
The Anteaters will look to settle the score on Thursday in Honolulu, in what’s being dubbed “Wig Night,” the second straight year that “Frotu”-esque theme was chosen for the UCI game.
Congratulations to forward Christian Standhardinger for his deserved Big West Player of the Week award, his second of the season. Cases could even have been made for Nevels, Isaac Fotu and Shamburger, as well.
Standhardinger was able to foul out UCI’s 7-foot-6 freshman center Mamadou Ndiaye in the last meeting. Maintaining that aggressiveness and limiting the shot blocker’s minutes due to foul trouble could be key in the rematch.
One final note: Maybe teams will stop scheduling UH for their homecoming games in the immediate future. The Rainbow Warriors are 3-0 on those nights in two years of Big West play — twice at CSF and once at UCI.
I hope Big West opponents keep scheduling UH as their homecoming game ‘coz it fires them up!!!
Bring ’em on! Go Bows!!!
What’s the story with 6’0″ PG prospect Tyler Harville?
Congratulations to Christian, but I would have liked to see the POTW award go to Garrett. His three-point shooting makes it harder for teams to double down on Standhardinger and Fotu, and he has a knack for coming through in crunch time.
Kapakahi,
My understanding is Harville is on UH’s radar as a walk-on prospect right now. I haven’t heard it’s a done deal that he’s coming next season, however.
HOW ‘BOUT NUDDA 7+FOOTER…DOES ROZITIS HAVE YOUNGA BRUDDA?
Just checked out Harville’s videos. Looks like a very effective perimeter shooter, but I don’t think he’s 6’0″ tall… more like 5’10”. On defense he could have trouble handling Big West guards.
Brian,
Thanks for the clarification on Harville. Walk-on candidate makes sense.
With Jankovic on-board but Dressler now departing (in addition to seniors Spearman, Standhardinger & Rozitis finishing up), how many uncommitted available scholies for the 2014-2015 season is Gib now left working with?
Hopefully Gib can recruit some bigs (4s and/or 5s) to make up for the departure of Standhardinger, Rozitis & Dressler. Bol? Ndoye? Malou?
BTW, UH still in the hunt for Fox (pun intended)?
Kapakahi… verbalcommits.com is the only site that I’ve found that has much info on UH recruiting. Harville is not listed there, though.
Besides sportshawaii.com/2014, 2015 and 2016 UH Men’s Basketball Recruiting…
#7,
Tonight showed that maybe need another shooter instead…..to complement Nevels.
kapakahi:
, besides the talented rim protecting and attacking big, bet Gib and staff are doing exactly that, a guy or guys who can hit the 3 ball with 40% accuracy, and UH can run good O sets, with solid screens. Nevels off season, or even now has to learn, and Gib has to run stuff for him , He shoots way better when he has 3 or 4 foot separation. You are right though, if Sham and Spear are not hitting their 3 pointers, UH will be in dog fight, and strange, at home on thursdays of all things. Would not be surprised if UH beats LBSU and UCSB on the road, also beats Davis and Fullerton final two home games, becuase, those teams don’t have a Mamadou!
Harville led state of Kentucky in made 3s and 3 pt % senior yr. Then set 3 pt record in NEPSAC with 125 made 3s at Vermont Academy during prep season. Unlimited range. Very, very quick release. Went head to head against guards going to Syracuse and Kansas in prep league and made 8-13 threes and scored 28 puts total