Rainbows will go to Gueye a lot this season
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
| |||
 |
|
||
A lot of people from Hawai'i visit Las Vegas, and a lot them can relate to the tale of the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.
Got buried early. Came back a little bit, and actually got back up. But ended up losing for the trip.
The Rainbow Warriors returned to Honolulu yesterday after a season-opening 73-59 loss at UNLV on Friday.
"Looking back now, you wish you had a home game first to maybe get you prepared a little better," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "But we had our chances, no question. We were prepared for everything (UNLV) threw at us, we just didn't do a good job handling it."
The 'Bows fell behind 23-4 after the first eight minutes of the game, but rallied to take a short-lived 48-46 lead midway through the second half.
"I liked the way the team showed heart," Wallace said. "We fought to the end, so that was a good sign."
In any case, the 'Bows made several discoveries — good and bad — in the loss. Among them:
Gueye played the full 40 minutes on Friday, but said he was "a little sore" yesterday.
"I wasn't expecting to play the full game, but the team needed me in there, so I didn't want to come out," the 6-foot-8 senior forward said.
He finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
"We needed Ahmet in there because he's more athletic than our other big guys," Wallace said. "We're going to have to count on him a lot."
Last season, he often defended the opposing team's center, and thus stayed near the basket most of the time. He finished with 65 blocked shots in 26 games.
This season, he will have to defend smaller players because 6-11 junior Stephen Verwers will take on the opposing center.
"Ahmet has to cover the floor more this year," Wallace said. "Last year, he could hang near the basket and block shots."
Against UNLV, Gueye had to defend 6-7 Joe Darger and 6-6 Wendell White. Darger made four 3-pointers, most coming when Gueye tried to help near the basket.
"I realize now that my defense has to be different this year," Gueye said. "When (the Hawai'i) guards get beat, I'm used to backing them up. But every time I did that (against UNLV), that guy (Darger) popped out and was wide open for 3s. I have to learn to stay with my man."
The 'Bows committed 19 turnovers on Friday, including 12 in the first half.
Starting point guard Matt Gibson scored a game-high 20 points, but also committed a game-high six turnovers. His backup, Dominic Waters, added five turnovers.
"UNLV is really quick and strong, and that's their game — to get in your face and pressure the ball," Wallace said. "That might be the best pressure we see all year, but we still have to get better at it."
Gibson shot 7 of 11 from the field, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range, but he was the only Hawai'i shooter on target.
Matt Lojeski, Bobby Nash and Riley Luettgerodt combined to shoot 5 of 31 from the field, including 0 of 10 from 3-point range.
"I don't think we're all going to struggle like that too often," Lojeski said. "One way to look at it is we shot terrible and we were still in the game until the end."
Lojeski, a senior co-captain, was not hitting his shots consistently, but contributed in other ways by matching his career-highs with nine rebounds and six assists.
Gueye, the other co-captain, refused to come out of the game, even after the UH trainers suggested he take a break.
Wallace added that the team "traveled well," and every player showed up on time for meetings and practices.
"If we can keep that attitude, we'll win our share on the road," Wallace said.
In any case, the 'Bows will not have much time to recover and adjust. The home opener against Coppin State is tomorrow night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I want to play again right away just so we can get back on the right track," Lojeski said. "We need a good game to get this one out of our heads."
Virginia Tech routed Coppin State, 94-43, on Friday.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.
