Rozitis to return
The biggest question mark remaining on the current Hawaii basketball roster finally offered up an answer on Thursday.
With a simple “I’m coming back!” message, Davis Rozitis confirmed he’d be around for his senior season in 2013-14, turning the tide (at least for the moment) of early player departures that have plagued the Rainbow Warriors under Gib Arnold.
The 7-foot Latvian Rozitis, a popular teammate, will be the only player to play all four years under Arnold since the coach took over in 2010. Rozitis actually played the previous year at USC with Arnold on that staff, as well.
Rozitis has never been a first option in the middle, but that could change going into next season with no other game-tested DI centers on the roster at the moment. Redshirt freshman Caleb Dressler and the incoming freshman Stefan Jovanovic are the other centers on the roster. Isaac Fotu might be tried out there but it’s not his natural position and he might have problems against some of the bigger bodies in the Big West should that happen.
————
Ferd Lewis touched upon the team’s APR issues on Wednesday. I’m also hearing that it’s going to be a close deal for both lost scholarships and a possible postseason ban. Stay tuned on this one. It could come down to one or two players’ academic progress this spring semester before they depart the program, so it could be dicey.
————
City College of San Francisco point guard Quincy Smith‘s paperwork isn’t finalized, thus no official statement from Arnold and Co., but it’s not a cause for alarm yet. Sometimes it takes a while to process.
The Smiths Paperwork!?
Let’s FINISH Quincy & Jamie Smiths’ Paperwork !
WE NEED Depth & Strength @ The Point and
More Student Body Commitment, Growth & Excitement…
Let’s GO UC!
BULBS & Maintenance Versus Excuses…
In Life there’s RESULTS and Reasons…
It Is Time to be About Results…
Instead of “Busi-ness As Usual…”
EX: Use Light Bulb Changing Poles/Tools instead of Lamenting ’bout your inability to Climb Ladders…
Brian, great to hear Davis coming back! This APR thing, and going down the wire, not good. There is a large, loyal MBB fanbase out there that still wants program to go upwards and be stable. It would be quite devastating If a few guys did not finish strong for Spring semester before leaving, and UH loss scholarships and post season ban. I think it would be sadly, a hurge downturn for MBB. However, Brian, that is the way Gib’s teams have played the last couple of years, right when you think they are out of a game, they come roaring back. Hope for the sake of the hard core MBB fans, the guys, all of them do well in school to finish year.
Otherwise, with Sanctions, what would we have to look forward to during MBB season? It would be like the time during the seventies when UH was under NCAA sanction.
Man, it would be bad. At same time, UH advisors, tutors, and the athletes themselves should take care of business in the classroom. Even if the guys leaving are going pro or transfer to other schools, a full ride UH schloarship is expensive. A lot of regular out of state students pay a lot of money, and do it by student loan?
Well, let us know, I guess very soon, man….clock 3,2,1…will they make that last second shot to secure the win for their finals. ?
Great now can he learn to dunk and get stronger, his body looks exactly the same since he got to UH.
SMARTEST DECISION BY ANY U.H. ATHLETE EVER. EVERY BASKETBALL PLAYER,WHO LEFT BEFORE THEIR SENIOR YEAR COULD HAVE BENEFITTED BY PLAYING ONE MORE YEAR OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL; THEY NEVER MADE IT ANYWHERE. EVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS.
GREAT NEWS !!!!!
How will Rozitas’ return affect the APR? I’m guessing that if he had decided to leave, that would not have hurt it, because he’s already graduated, but does him staying help the APR?
Brian:
If UH MBB does receive the sanctions, will it be loss of scholarships OR no post season play? Or Both? Will the sanctions be imposed this 2013-14 season or 2014-15, or even a longer period?
I guess, the most important thing is for those one or two MBB transfers to finish well Spring UH semester, especially since it if finals time.
Thanks for your replies and up to date information Brian. Hope everything goes well. Don’t know if you remember sanctions against UH MBB program in the Seventies, that was a real blow.
Mahalo Brian
#4. SMARTEST DECISION BY ANY U.H. ATHLETE EVER. EVERY BASKETBALL PLAYER,WHO LEFT BEFORE THEIR SENIOR YEAR COULD HAVE BENEFITTED BY PLAYING ONE MORE YEAR OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL; THEY NEVER MADE IT ANYWHERE. EVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS
Except: Davone Bess (left early) & Pisa Tinoisamoa (left early). Colt Brennan (should have left early).
Thanks for coming back Davis! Look forward to seeing you on the court next year.
Brian,
whats latest on Gib Arnold’s contract extenstion?? I hope no extenstion is the answer. If not for Coach Nash’s Great academic record, who knows. The APR, is the Head Coach responsiblities. maybe Arnold forgot that Acadamic Goal gives Bonus money just like the Autograph bonus clause. All the talk about APR, the program suffers. What sanctions for the Head Coach, not the academic coach, the head coach, remember it goes downhill
For the programs sake hope this APR situation doesnt affect the students we just signed! If there is a negative effect I am sure Mr Jay would look at that as a black mark on Gib’s tenure.Come on team, finals ahead, study hard, the future is beyond basketball.
After his tryouts/camp, Hope Vander Finishes the Semester — he met with B.Jay —
Better, GET that degree –may help the Program — Will Help him…
MAY DAY… Finish the Semester in Good Standing, Guys!
K-Bay: That is an excellent point. I Ben Jay told Vander, that is the reason why he came back for senior season, get that UH diploma, a promise to MAMA Joaquim. If Vander plays pro ball , and eventually goes into the real world of secular employment, if he doesn’t have a degree, harder to get job.
Vander, has to take his final exams, pass them, and complete the Spring Semester in good standing. For HIS OWN FUTURE sake, professional sports or the business world.
Hey Vander, just get it done in class. Finsh this year well. And the OTHER UH transfer too, you all have help of academic advisors, tutors to help prepare for finals as well.
The thing that gets me K-Bay, think of all the UH students, not on scholarship, local resident and all the more so out of state students, cost a lot of money for tuition. Probably that is what Ben Jay told Vander. Finish this semester strong. And maybe take 1st session of UH summer school too? Hope Vander keeps that promise, keep on track to get his UH degree!
Davis,
Good to hear you’re coming back. Please do the right thing and get done what needs to be done prior to the start of next season. Specifically, bulk up, work on your free throws, and get some kind of signature shot going that you can rely on come game time. Also, please learn how to take the rock to the hoop with authority. You’re f’ing tall as hell, and you could really use that to your advantage. Work on your vertical, get bigger, stronger, faster, go all out. This is the last time you will be playing any kind of competitive basketball. You will pay the price for sure, and the only way to get your monies worth is to do all of the above.
Best of luck to you and the rest of the team. I know you’ll do great things! Let’s GO Bows!!!
zzzzzzz: Rozitis has been a positive academic influence on the team. He’s set to graduate, as you noted. I believe whether he departed this season or not he would not hurt the APR at all. Him staying another year should have added benefits to that end (assuming he keeps his grades intact in grad school).
Poorboy: My understanding is the lesser of the two possible sanctions is the loss of scholarships. They’d have to cross a worse threshold to earn a postseason ban. We’ll have to wait and see on length and time of implementation on any possible punishment.
The 70s is before my time, but I’ve heard plenty from my veteran colleagues about the program’s dark ages.
Rainbowbballer: As of this moment Coach Arnold is still going into next season without an extension. However, that could change as the summer goes on. I’m hearing a one-year rollover is a possibility.
This APR thing is serious. The two possible athletes that have to finish up Spring Semester well, starting this week, and into first week of May when UH Spring semester ends, finals. Hope Vander, Ozi, Manroop, Jefferson(who is a good student) and Vander finish strong. Correct, for any of those four to graduate, it is good for APR.
We welcome back Davis Rozitis which is very good. However, if APR is bad, and UH MBB gets hit with sanctions. Not good. Could spell gloom and doom for UH MBB program and Coach Gib.
Hey Brian and fellow bloggers, I was so despondent about possible APR sanctions, I did not read your post above mine!
Thank your Brian Mcinnis, you always take the time to answer our questions! I really appreciate it. As pocho says too: you ask, and provide answers to the right questions.
I think I remember Riley Wallace losing a scholarship or two, because of APR. He just moved on, and made sure he had at least 10, 11 active players. Of course if UH MBB is hit, I hope it is the lesser of two evils, the loss of scholarship(s). Maybe that is why Gib is hot and heavy after possibly one more get for this season 2013-14. And the preferred walkons, which is unheard of to me , a long time MBB fan. I don’t remember UH MBB having 3 walkons, probably returning for next season. Amazing.
Thanks again Brian. I hope , we are not entering the 2013 edition of UH MBB dark ages. Back in 1976-77, that was a real downer period. Especially for those of us still going to games at the Blaisdell. Not only that, UH MBB was still popular, still being televised live! However, about that time UH-Hilo was taking over in popularity! I loved when Larry Little’s team, in 1979 gave UH- Hilo a good inter state rival, a DI vs NAIA lesson, UH Manoa, coming off of sanctions, beat Hilo by over 30 pts.
Hope the best for APR. Or worse case , 2014-15, a few scholarships less to offer. Brian, a lot of fans so pumped up because of recruiting gets, we all hope for the best!
Aloha kākou,
Mahalo nui e Davis for staying. I expect a breakout season for Davis. Also, you WILL be playing BBall after college. Isaac Mcmillan is trippinʻ. Maybe not in NBA but in Europe somewhere guarantee. You da man.
kden, puhi
Brian:
Now UH AD is talking about getting points back from Shaq Stokes departure. Every little thing helps UH avoid the APR sanctions. Does the fact that Ozren Pavlovic, Manroop Clair, Garrett Jefferson and Vander Joaquim, finishing Spring 2013 semester, with good grades and completed courses(i.e. good academic standing)have an impact to save UH MBB from going over the APR cliff?
Does UH MBB have to average 930 over the past 3 years?
Thanks in advance Brian.
poorboy.
Rozitis has never been a first option in the middle, but that could change going into next season with no other game-tested DI centers on the roster at the moment. Redshirt freshman Caleb Dressler and the incoming freshman Stefan Jovanovic are the other centers on the roster. Isaac Fotu might be tried out there but it’s not his natural position and he might have problems against some of the bigger bodies in the Big West should that happen.