[81alum]

First, an explanation about the Hawaii tournaments.  Hawaii has to host a lot of tournaments to be able to get any home games during the non conference season--given its travel costs.  No one wants to spend so much money and time for just a single game in Hawaii.  So these trips are billed as a nice treat for the players and their families--who often go to Hawaii to watch their kids play and vacation a little.  It also can help in recruiting for prospects to know that the team does some traveling to exotic locations.  (By the way, I just read this morning that the Puerta Vallarta tournament we played in last year got cancelled this year after 1 day due to some questionable finances--the three teams got to play the first of three games and then were locked out of the gym for days 2 and 3.)

Back to tonight.  We play tonight at 6:30--not much time to recover from yesterday's drubbing.  It is on Hawaii's home court.  Yesterday, about 200 fans showed up for the Stanford/North Carolina game and about 350 for the Hawaii/Prarie View game.  Hawaii is not New Mexico, apparently, so we won't have to worry about 8000 screaming fans in the pit.  Supposedly, the game will be on the Big West TV network, which might be available here:

http://www.bigwest.org/story.asp?story_id=16359

Hawaii is a fairly good team that played well yesterday in its win over Prairie View.  They are 5-1, with the sole loss being to C.al by 7 after leading them much of the first half of their game--also at home in a different islands tournament. 

Hawaii has a six person rotation, has two 43% three point shooters (5'9" Mason  and 5'6" Wimbley), has a 62% inside presence (6'4" Morris), and has a phenom of a senior guard who has managed to block 8 shots and score in bunches.  She is 5'10" Shawna-Leigh Kuehe, who is from Obama's high school--Punahou.

Looking over the Hawaii C.al game probably gives us the best insight.  Kuehe went 10/23 with 9 free throws to score 29 points against C.al.  This guard also led the way with 15 rebounds--going up against the likes of Reshanda Gray.  Kuehe seems to have broken down the C.al defense somewhat effectively.  She did not take a single three point shot, so it must have been a lot of slashes to the basket that generated a bunch of points and a bunch of fouls.

Hawaii's Ashleigh Karatiana scored 19, going 5/19 and making only 1/8 from three point range.  Mason and Wimbley did not shoot very much--it seems like Karatiana was the designated bomber in that game.

All in all, Hawaii certainly looks like a beatable team, but it looks like a better team than New Mexico, and like NM, we are playing them on their home court.  Tonight's game is not going to be a gimme.  Hopefully Tara can use last night's disappointment to motivate our kids to play hard and to play smart tonight.

[81alum]

First, an explanation about the Hawaii tournaments.  Hawaii has to host a lot of tournaments to be able to get any home games during the non conference season--given its travel costs.  No one wants to spend so much money and time for just a single game in Hawaii.  So these trips are billed as a nice treat for the players and their families--who often go to Hawaii to watch their kids play and vacation a little.  It also can help in recruiting for prospects to know that the team does some traveling to exotic locations.  (By the way, I just read this morning that the Puerta Vallarta tournament we played in last year got cancelled this year after 1 day due to some questionable finances--the three teams got to play the first of three games and then were locked out of the gym for days 2 and 3.)

Back to tonight.  We play tonight at 6:30--not much time to recover from yesterday's drubbing.  It is on Hawaii's home court.  Yesterday, about 200 fans showed up for the Stanford/North Carolina game and about 350 for the Hawaii/Prarie View game.  Hawaii is not New Mexico, apparently, so we won't have to worry about 8000 screaming fans in the pit.  Supposedly, the game will be on the Big West TV network, which might be available here:

http://www.bigwest.org/story.asp?story_id=16359

Hawaii is a fairly good team that played well yesterday in its win over Prairie View.  They are 5-1, with the sole loss being to C.al by 7 after leading them much of the first half of their game--also at home in a different islands tournament. 

Hawaii has a six person rotation, has two 43% three point shooters (5'9" Mason  and 5'6" Wimbley), has a 62% inside presence (6'4" Morris), and has a phenom of a senior guard who has managed to block 8 shots and score in bunches.  She is 5'10" Shawna-Leigh Kuehe, who is from Obama's high school--Punahou.

Looking over the Hawaii C.al game probably gives us the best insight.  Kuehe went 10/23 with 9 free throws to score 29 points against C.al.  This guard also led the way with 15 rebounds--going up against the likes of Reshanda Gray.  Kuehe seems to have broken down the C.al defense somewhat effectively.  She did not take a single three point shot, so it must have been a lot of slashes to the basket that generated a bunch of points and a bunch of fouls.

Hawaii's Ashleigh Karatiana scored 19, going 5/19 and making only 1/8 from three point range.  Mason and Wimbley did not shoot very much--it seems like Karatiana was the designated bomber in that game.

All in all, Hawaii certainly looks like a beatable team, but it looks like a better team than New Mexico, and like NM, we are playing them on their home court.  Tonight's game is not going to be a gimme.  Hopefully Tara can use last night's disappointment to motivate our kids to play hard and to play smart tonight.