|
| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
|
2000-01 record: 26-7;
15-3 in WAC (Tied 1st)
Postseason: Lost to Xavier 70-58 in first round of NCAA West Region.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: English 15.7
Rebs: Shimonovich 6.6
Assists: Campbell 4.6
FG: Shimonovich 49.7%
3pt: English 39.9%
FT: Hawaii | WAC
KEY LOSSES
Predrag Savovic | 20.3 ppg
Mike McIntyre | 10.0 ppg
M. Burneika | 9.0 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Mark Campbell | Senior
G | Carl English | Junior
F | Phil Martin | Junior
F | V. Peciukas | Junior
F | H. Shimonovich | Junior
Player to Watch
Carl English
Junior Guard
Hair color may change, but his consistant offense will be vitale.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Tulsa comes to the island in the first of what could be again three meetings to decide the WAC's best team.
|
HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS
 |
The scare of head coach Riley Wallace undergoing emergency brain surgery in September has passed, and the Warriors appear set for a third straight NCAA Tournament berth. Whether or not Hawaii can match last year's 27 wins is unknown, now that all-league guard Predrag Savovic has departed. But senior Mark Campbell averaged nearly five assists last season and is joined by arguably the WAC's best player in junior wing Carl English (15.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg). English can play three spots, valuable when you consider Hawaii also lost proven players Mike McIntyre and Mindaugas Burneika. Hawaii's strength should be up front, where junior forward Phil Martin (6-8, 230) and junior forward/center Haim Shimonovich (6-10, 245) return. It is again a team loaded with foreign influence, of players who arrive with the experience of playing abroad. The Warriors went 16-1 at home last season and have won the past two conference tournaments on Tulsa's home floor. The non-conference schedule again keeps Hawaii home for a majority of time, save a Dec. 14 trip at San Diego State.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Shimonovich polished his moves at big man's camp over the summer and Martin should improve on last year's averages of nine points and five rebounds. Each will be more a focal point of the offense. It didn't help that highly-regarded freshman Dane Dmitrovic (6-10, 205) quit a few weeks into practice for personal reasons, but there is plenty of frontcourt depth with sophomore forward Nkeruwem Akpan (6-8, 240) and senior Paul Jesinskis.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
English -- who went for nearly 33 minutes per game last season -- is a tremendous player who hails from Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland. He should have a break-out season now that Savovic is gone. But the backcourt needs to prove it can succeed without its former star. There is little proven experience behind English and Campbell. One of the names expected to make an impact is junior-college point guard Jason Carter (5-10, 155), who chose Hawaii over WAC foe Fresno State.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Wallace received a hefty and well-deserved raise over the last year. He has built a legitimate program that should contend for NCAA berths each season. Hawaii's main competition for the league title this season is Tulsa, and the Warriors certainly have enough to stand alone come March. Those on the islands can expect another post-season trip this year.
| |
|
