Hawaii Preview

Back to .500 (7-7) after an always refreshing road victory the Bulldogs head to the island. Land of sand, sun, bikinis, and questionable referees. Hawaii was beaten at home by Boise 70-58 on Saturday. You absolutely have to hate the second leg of these killer WAC road trips. Actually third leg since the team stayed in California after UCLA on Sunday.

 

 

Hawaii is 8-5 so far.

 

Wins Idaho State Iowa State Prairie View Eastern Washington Chicago State UC Riverside George Washington Pepperdine

Losses San Francisco Cal State Fullerton Illinois***** Colorado State Boise     ***** the only road game.

 

*only five different countries represented on the Hawaiian roster this season. Always have felt I was watching the United Nations team play whenever they are in the gym.

 

 

Players of Note

 

Roderick Fleming is leading the WAC in scoring at 18 points per game. The 6’7 210 Jr. forward probably had the highest recruiting ranking of any current WAC players with the exceptions of Rolle and Luke Babbit (Nevada) by being ranked a 4 star player his senior year. Signed with Oklahoma State and played one season there. Then left and attended North Texas for a year but couldn’t get eligible. Ended up at Weatherford Junior college (which just happens to be a feeder school for Hawaii) and finally got the grades to play again. Story sounds very similar to former Hawaii player Julian Sensley. Fleming shoots 51% from the field and gets to the free throw line almost eight times per game. Big time offensive rebounded (half his rebounds).

 

Bill Amis (6’9 220 Jr.) is one of three players averaging over 6 rebounds a game (Fleming/Balcocka). Amis scores at 10 points per night. Also has 19 blocks.

 

Petras Balocka (6’8 250 Jr.) 12.3 points, 6.6 rebs.

 

Fleming/Balocka/Amis have combined for 55% of all Hawaii’s shot attempts this season, 60% of the scoring, and 53% of the total team rebounds.

 

Lasha Parghalava (6’2 195 Jr.) – 8.5 pts. The resident bomber (59 attempts from 3) but doesn’t shoot a good percentage (27). In fact Hawaii as a team only shoots 26% from deep and only two players on the roster are shooting better than 30. I smell a zone coming.

 

Adhar Mayen (6’8 195 Jr.) 5.9 pts.

 

Kareem Nitoto (6’2 185 So.) 5.5 pts.

 

Hiram Thompson (6’2 175 So.) 2.1

 

Paul Campbell (6’10 215 So.) 1.9. Ontario Canada (someone besides Tech signs a player from Ontario)

 

Four times since joining the WAC Tech has faced the Hawaii/SJ double on a road trip. Never has Tech won both games.
Year	First	Second	Result
2001	Hawaii	San Jose	W,L
2002	San Jose	Hawaii	W,L
2004	Hawaii	San Jose	L, W
2006	San Jose	Hawaii	L, L
Wins @ Hawaii in 03/05 were both singular games. 07 loss at Hawaii was first leg of Hawaii/Fresno roadtrip.