THERE is a price you pay when expectations exceed reality. UH basketball fans:
Beware of a letdownIt's called a letdown. And fans of the University of Hawaii men's basketball team are already flirting with one, even though the season opener with Indiana is still three weeks away.
One of the most difficult things for a team to deal with is great expectations. That's especially true for a program that has had only a moderate amount of success.
Hawaii is riding the wave of its second 20-victory season under head coach Riley Wallace, who is in his 11th year at UH. With four starters returning -- including the talented backcourt of Anthony Carter and Alika Smith -- there is good reason to believe the Rainbows could put together consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in 26 years.
But let's not tip over the bandwagon before it breaks from the gate.
First of all, Hawaii was fortunate to win 21 games last year. The Rainbows received a gift in their 86-84 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo when a referee called a phantom foul at the buzzer. The SLO head coach was so upset, he kicked over a band member's amplifier on his way to the locker room.
And let's not forget those two victories -- by a total of three points -- over Nevada-Las Vegas. UH made a shot at the buzzer in one game, and UNLV missed at the horn in the other.
THAT kind of luck doesn't follow you around every season. Just ask former head football coach Bob Wagner. His UH team got all the breaks in winning 11 games in 1992, and no breaks while winning only six games with basically the same team in '93.
The UH basketball team also has a much more difficult schedule than a year ago. In 1996-97, the Rainbows beat teams like Texas-Pan American, Detroit Mercy, Portland and Alabama State. This year the Rainbows could play a half-dozen nationally ranked teams.
There was talk around town that Hawaii deserved to be among those nationally ranked teams in the first Associated Press poll. But those in the know knew it wouldn't happen.
The local hype masters must think the people at Playboy Magazine -- they had the Rainbows 13th in their preseason ranking -- know more about hoops than centerfolds.
They don't.
Hawaii and fellow Western Athletic Conference representative Texas Christian University tied for 41st with 23 votes in the first AP poll released yesterday.
Bobby Knight's Indiana Hoosiers procured a No. 17 ranking, meaning a season-opening win for Hawaii would go a long way toward earning the respect of voters across the country.
UNFORTUNATELY for Wallace, fate is already conspiring against him. Carter won't be at full speed against Indiana thanks to a shoulder injury he suffered a couple weeks ago.
In fact, it's unlikely he'll be 100 percent at any point in the season. Neither will Smith, who is recovering from a near-fatal automobile accident. Throw in a recent shoulder injury to Eric Ambrozich and Micah Kroeger's unpredictable recovery from knee surgery, and it's easy to see how quickly things can change.
There's nothing wrong with fans being excited about the season. But don't expect miracles.
The Rainbows are in a competitive league that includes nationally ranked Utah, New Mexico and Fresno State. They aren't healthy, they don't have a proven center and only seven of the 13 players have Division I experience.
The potential might be there, but that's no guarantee the great expectations surrounding the Rainbows will be realized.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.
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