By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

HE curtain goes up in six days on the University of Hawaii men's basketball team. The Rainbows hope their encore performance will be held over for an extended run, this time in the NCAA Tournament.

Hawaii returns four starters and 79 percent of its offense from an over-achieving team that went 21-9 and advanced to the second round of the NIT. These Rainbows promise to be the Eagle Hardware Store of college basketball: more of everything, from offense to depth to heart.

"Last year we were the underdogs as well as the sleeper team," senior Mike Robinson said. "Some people are already saying we won't be as lucky as last year. But luck didn't win 21 games. It was hard work and determination.

"Unfortunately, we weren't able to fulfill our dreams and make it to the (NCAA) Tournament like we wanted to. This year, we're all working even harder to make that dream possible."

Robinson was Hawaii's inspirational sixth man last season. The 6-foot-8 forward has played well enough in practice that head coach Riley Wallace has penciled him in as a starter, either at power forward or center.

If tip-off were tonight, Robinson likely would be joined by the dynamic senior backcourt tandem of Alika Smith and Anthony Carter, and senior posts Eric Ambrozich (6-8) and Ales Zivanovic (6-10). But Wallace also has Micah Kroeger. The 6-6 senior swingman is still recuperating from off-season knee surgery.

A lot of new players are pushing for playing time. Casey Cartwright (6-5) brings quickness and versatility and Erin Galloway (6-8) is an agile leaper. Both are junior transfers. Also, Bryan Moeller (7-foot) has a strong inside game and Chad Hook (6-2) is perhaps the team's best pure shooter.

Of the freshmen, 6-5 Philipp Czernin has impressed the coaches with his hustle. Peter Kecskes (6-11) likely will be redshirted to allow him to work on his strength.

"I think we have the potential to be better than last year," Robinson said. "We're more mobile, more flexible and there's a lot more quickness."

Wallace liked what he saw in last Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, but is not close to being satisfied. The Rainbows are trying to get the new talent to blend in smoothly with the old.

"The guys look to be ahead at this stage compared to this time last year," said Wallace, who is in his 11th season as UH head coach. "But we have a long way to go. There's still some offense to put in and we have to get better defensively, especially our big men. And our new guys have to keep learning.

"What I like is, about the time we (coaches) start getting down on someone, someone else picks it up."

Everything picked up when Carter returned to practice last week after missing 2-1/2 weeks. The honorable mention All-American scored 30 points in Saturday's 50-minute scrimmage, dispelling doubts that he -- and his sprained left shoulder -- wouldn't be ready until after next Thursday's exhibition with the California All-Stars.

"I'm feeling pretty good about this team right now," said Carter, a nominee for the John Wooden Award for the nation's top player. "The new guys are working hard and trying to get the job done. Everyone is playing hard and likes to play together. It's a lot like last year.

"We've got a lot of guys who are pretty athletic. We've got good shooters. Defense looks good. But we've got to keep everyone motivated to play defense. There's no problem with offense. We're ready to start."

Hawaii is at home through 1997, with five tournaments and a couple of games against Top 25 teams. No. 17 Indiana headlines the Nov. 28-30 United Airlines Tipoff Tournament. No. 2 Kansas helps close out the holiday hoopla in the Dec. 27-30 Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

"A lot of people have better schedules than we have," Wallace said.

"And we could have had a better one if we had wanted to go on the road. But why go away when you can stay home, make money for the athletic department and give your fans good basketball?

"This is a fan-friendly team. They play hard, play together. What we've got to do is again win the close ones and be lucky again in some others."

UH inks two of three recruits

The University of Hawaii yesterday received letters of intent from two of the three players offered scholarships for the 1998-99 men's basketball season.

Signing were Damon Lee, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Monterey (Calif.) Peninsula College, and 6-4 freshman swingman Gary Gilman from Cuesta College in Morro Bay, Calif.

Lee led his team in scoring last season with a 19-point average. Gillman, who is sitting out after averaging 15 points last year for Cuesta, will come to Hawaii with three years of eligibility.

UH is still waiting on the written commitment from Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High senior Mike McIntyre, a 6-2 point guard who verbally committed last month.

UH MEN'S ROSTER/SCHEDULE

34	Eric Ambrozich  	F	6-8	 195	 Sr.
23	Anthony Carter  	G	6-2	 185	 Sr.
21	Casey Cartwright 	 G/F	6-5	 185	 Jr.
32	Philipp Czernin 	 G/F	6-5	 200	 Fr.
00	Erin Galloway  	F	6-8	 210	 Jr.
44	Rahula Hall  	G	6-0	 160	 Fr.
3	Chad Hook  	G	6-2	 180	 Jr.
24	Peter Kecskes  	C	 6-11	 210	 Fr.
13	Micah Kroeger  	G	6-6	 205	 Sr.
21	Luke Meyers  	G	 5-10	 175	 Sr.
25	Greg Miller  	F	6-7	 205	 Jr.
54	Bryan Moeller  	C	7-0	 240	 Jr.
33	Dean Pennebacker 	F	6-4	 164	 Fr.
4	Mike Robinson  	F	6-8	 230	 Sr.
20	Alika Smith  	G	6-2	 185	 Sr.
22	Ales Zivanovic  	F	 6-10	 220	 Sr.

Coaching staff

Head coach: Riley Wallace (11th, 155-143).

Associate head coach: Bob Nash.

Assistant coaches: Jackson Wheeler, Jeff Law.

Administrative assistants: Len Scaduto, Art Woolaway.

Nov. 27: Exhibition, California All-Stars, 7 p.m.
United Airlines Tipoff Tournament
Nov. 28, first round
Indiana vs. Hawaii, 7:07 p.m.
Illinois State vs. Northeast Louisiana, 9 p.m.
Nov. 30, final round
Illinois St. or NE Louisiana vs. Indiana, 4:37 p.m.
Illinois St. or NE Louisiana vs. Hawaii, 7:07 p.m.

Power Bar Men's Invitational
Dec. 6, first round
Tulane vs. Hawaii, 7:07 p.m.
Southern Illinois vs. Long Beach State, 9 p.m.
Dec. 7, final round
So. Illinois or Long Beach St. vs. Hawaii, 7:07 p.m.
So. Illinois or Long Beach St. vs. Tulane, 9 p.m.
Zippy's Tournament
Dec. 13, first round
Arkansas State vs. Centenary, 5:30 p.m.
Long Island U. vs. Hawaii, 8:07 p.m.
Dec. 14, final round
Arkansas St. or Centenary vs. Long Island U., 5:30 p.m.
Arkansas St. or Centenary vs. Hawaii, 8:07 p.m.
Hawaii Nike Festival
Dec. 19, first round
Texas Southern vs. Hawaii, 7:07 p.m.
Houston vs. Santa Clara, 9 p.m.
Dec. 20, final round
Houston or Santa Clara vs. Texas Southern, 5 p.m.
Houston or Santa Clara vs. Hawaii, 7:37 p.m.
Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic
Dec. 27, first round
Virginia vs. Nebraska, 5:30 p.m.
Brigham Young vs. Hawaii, 7:37 p.m.
Dec. 28, first round
Vanderbilt vs. New Mexico State, 5:30 p.m.
Kansas vs. Ohio State, 8:07 p.m.
Dec. 29, semifinal round
Consolation games at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Championship games at 5:07 p.m. and 7:37 p.m.
Dec. 30, final round
Seventh place, 11 a.m.
Fifth place, 1:30 p.m.
Third place, 5:07 p.m.
Championship, 7:37 p.m.

Jan 3: Norfolk State, 7:37 p.m.
Jan 10: at San Diego State, 5:07 p.m. HST
Jan 17: Southern Methodist, 7:37 p.m.
Jan 19: Texas Christian, 7:07 p.m.
Jan 22: at Rice, 3:37 p.m. HST
Jan 24: at Tulsa, 3:07 p.m. HST
Jan 31: San Jose State, 7:37 p.m.
Feb 2: Fresno State, 7:07 p.m.
Feb 4: San Diego State, 7:37 p.m.
Feb. 12: at Texas Christian, 4:07 HST
Feb. 14: at Southern Methodist, 11:07 a.m. HST
Feb. 19: Rice, 7:37 p.m.
Feb. 21: Tulsa, 4:37 p.m.
Feb. 26: at San Jose State, 5:30 p.m. HST
Feb. 28: at Fresno State, 5:07 p.m. HST

March 3, 5, 6, 7: WAC tournament

WAC opponents in bold face.
Home games at Special Events Arena.

Top 25 teams coming to SEA No. 17 Indiana In Hawaii Nov. 28 Last season 22-11, lost in NCAA first round. Coach Bob Knight. Record at school: 598-208. Top returnees F Andrae Patterson (13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds), G A.J. Guyton (13.6 points), C Jason Collier (9.4 points, 5.7 rebounds), F Charlie Miller, G Michael Lewis. Top newcomer F Luke Recker. Outlook Amid ugly departure of G Neil Reed, who alleged physical and mental abuse by Knight, Hoosiers look to rebound behind talented Guyton, impact newcomer Recker. How good they'll be depends on inconsistent Patterson maturing quickly, Knight mixing in more run-and-gun to stale motion offense. With everything in place, Hoosiers have talent to make a run at the Big Ten title. Patterson is the key and has to become a tenacious player at both ends. No. 2 Kansas In Hawaii Dec. 27-30 for Rainbow Classic. Last season 34-2, lost to Arizona in Sweet 16. Coach Roy Williams. Record at school: 247-58. Top returnees F Raef LaFrentz (18.3 points per game, 9.3 rebounds), F Paul Pierce (16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds), F-G Billy Thomas, G Ryan Robertson. Top newcomer: F Lester Earl. Outlook Once again, Jayhawks are loaded with sound, fundamental lineup. Trademark depth of Williams' teams is evident. No. 13 Fresno State In Hawaii Feb. 2. Last season 20-12, tied Hawaii for first in WAC Pacific Division, lost in NIT first round. Coach Jerry Tarkanian. Record at school: 42-23. Top returnees G Chris Herren (17.5 points, 4.6 assists), F Daymond Forney (14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds.), F Terrance Roberson. Top newcomers F Winfred Walton, G Willie Farley, F Tremaine Fowlkes, G Rafer Alston, C Avondre Jones. Outlook Assuming they end up with 10 eligible players, the Bulldogs should make it to the NCAA Tournament this year. Alston and Jones are the X factors. The wings will score and defend and the four-man -- either Fowlkes, Walton or Forney -- will be able to control that position. If Alston has the banner-type of year expected and Jones is a dominating force inside, the Bulldogs will be a huge surprise. --Scripps Howard News Service

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1997-98 Rainbow Men’s Basketball
Schedule and Record

http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu