Monday, March 16, 1998
Loss won’t outweigh
gains for the Wahine
Hawaii accomplished great things
By Al Chase
during the 1997-98 women's
basketball season
Star-BulletinSTANFORD, Calif. -- There are disappointing losses for teams that do not play well, and defeats that should disappoint just because they aren't a "W."
Saturday's 76-70 loss to the University of Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament was the first loss that didn't disappoint University of Hawaii head coach Vince Goo this season.
"I would have been disappointed if we hadn't played hard and played well," Goo said. "I think Arkansas played a very good game and adjusted well to what we were trying to do.
"You're talking about three baskets, maybe two baskets, a call here or there or a different bounce being the difference. Our ladies gave it their best shot."
That summarizes the 1997-98 Wahine season. The players liked to say they were the shortest team in NCAA Division I, but they played tall for 28 games. It was a rare night the Wahine left anything in the locker room.
The Wahine won 19 straight games at one point and captured the Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division title in just their second season in the WAC.
Entering the NCAA tournament, UH was in the top 10 nationally in winning percentage (.889), first in free-throw percentage (76.8), third in field-goal percentage (49.6), sixth in 3-point field-goal percentage (38.5), 10th in scoring margin (17.8) and 16th in scoring offense (80 points per game).
The Wahine will start the 1998-99 season with a 13-game home winning streak, tied for 14th nationally with Clemson and Utah.
All that despite having two players -- Kylie Page and Brandi Ashby -- playing out of position all season. Page, whose talents are much better suited for the perimeter, and Page, more adept at playing power forward, were forced to the post. Success was varied.
And the offensive sets were new and the defensive schemes revamped to best utilize the personnel available.
"Before the season starts you take a look at how good you might be, and this team has accomplished a lot this year," Goo said.
Coaches normally avoid comparing teams they have guided to successful seasons, but Goo readily agreed that the 1997-98 Wahine team was one of his best.
'They are very, very coachable. When you have players who come out and work hard in practice and do the things you ask them to do, it makes it very easy," Goo said.
Goo prefers to view it as a season filled with 24 highlights. Each victory was special.
"You should never get tired of winning," he said. "This team had to play smart and make a lot of decisions on the floor because we had a lot things to disguise."
The team generated the most interest in the program's history, twice breaking the single-game home attendance record, topped by 6,000-plus in the home finale.
Four seniors -- Ashby, Nani Cockett, Destree Wautlet and Liisa Kotilainen -- bow out gracefully, knowing the class, work ethic and intensity they brought to the program will enhance its future.
Team and individual records fell. But there was no WAC title. And last month, Page said the Wahine wouldn't be satisfied unless they reached the Sweet 16.
Also, the coaching staff would have preferred that the reserves received more playing time in '97-98 to get them ready for next season. It didn't happen.
But the few disappointments this season can be the focus of corrective action, and new goals for the 1998-99 Wahine team.
Percentages with Wahine
Entering the NCAA Tournament, the Wahine were in the top 10 nationally in several categories:
Free-throw percentage: first (76.8)
1997-98 Wahine Basketball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
