An inconvenient subplot lingers over the proceedings in the Thunderdome when Hawaii takes on UC Santa Barbara today.
There’s a strong likelihood that one of these teams will be absent from the Big West tournament next month in Anaheim, Calif. If UH is out, it’ll be because the Rainbow Warriors never got their appeal of their postseason ban resolved with the NCAA in time, or had their appeal denied by the Committee on Infractions. If it’s the Gauchos, it’ll be because UH got in — and subsequently bumped ninth-place UCSB out of the eight-team tournament.
“I’ve never heard of the NCAA making a reversal within two weeks of postseason play. So it’d be a very unique situation in my eyes,” UCSB’s 19-year coach Bob Williams said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Granted, there’s a little more time — nearly three weeks — before play begins at the Honda Center on March 9. But Williams said he has not discussed contingencies with UCSB’s fan base. There’s been much bigger concerns in Isla Vista with the Gauchos (3-20, 1-10 Big West) staggering toward the finish line, threatening to set the program record for fewest wins.
“I pay no attention to it, to be honest with you. None whatsoever,” Williams said of UH’s appeals process. “If we’re in (the tournament), we’re in it. If we’re not in it, then we don’t deserve to be. And when you’re 3-20, you don’t deserve to be.”
He gave a sardonic chuckle.
UH (12-12, 6-5) blasted UCSB 78-56 at the Stan Sheriff Center on Jan. 28 behind a career-high 34 points from Noah Allen.
Since then, things have only gotten worse for the poor Gauchos. They lost team leader Gabe Vincent (14.8 ppg) to an ACL tear on Feb. 2, their third starter down for the season. Williams has called it “a nightmare.”
The fourth-place Rainbow Warriors dropped a game to league contender UC Irvine on Saturday, snapping their four-game winning streak, but are shooting for a third consecutive road win. If they claim it, they’ll have done that in four of five seasons of Big West play.
The ’Bows drove up to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles on Wednesday and got in a practice in Rob Gym, UCSB’s volleyball gym.
“This is always a tough trip. Once you get (to L.A.), and then the long bus rides,” UH coach Eran Ganot said of the swing up California’s central coast to UCSB and Saturday’s opponent Cal Poly. “Two teams that we played recently. The second time around is a battle.”
The Gauchos have lost eight straight since beating Cal Poly 58-53 on Jan. 14. Their program record for fewest wins is six; Williams has never won fewer than 11.
But they’ve been competitive with some of the better teams in the league: within four of UC Irvine on Jan. 12; within five at Long Beach State on Jan. 19; and within three of UC Davis on Feb. 4. Last week vs. Cal State Northridge, they were within two with 10 minutes to play before losing 77-55.
“This is a program that’s been a staple of our conference for a long time,” Ganot said. “You got the dean of the coaches, one of the winningest coaches in the history of our conference there. So I think that’s why you’ve seen a lot of their games have been battles. They’ve been better at home than on the road and they’ve had a week to prepare for us.”
UH guard Leland Green is expected to be back in action today from a three-game illness absence.
“Our talk has to be great in the game, because there’s a lot of ball screens, a lot of staggers, Green said.
Williams will try to get his players to corral Allen (15.0 ppg, 18.6 in Big West), whom he believes is a first-team all-conference player. He shot 11-for-14 in the first meeting for one of his three 30-point outings.
“He can put 30 on the board in a variety of ways,” Williams said. “Good at getting to the foul line, good at getting to the rim, has mid-range game. And when he shoots the 3 well, he’s got the whole package going.”
As for battered UCSB, Williams has senior guard guard Eric Childress surrounded by a host of young players and former walk-ons.
“You try to be resilient,” Williams said, “but everything you do is forward.”
UH has won four straight against UCSB.
UH BASKETBALL TIPOFF
at the Thunderdome, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Hawaii (12-12, 6-5 Big West) at UC Santa Barbara (3-20, 1-10), 5 p.m.
TV: None
Streaming video: BigWest.TV
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
Series: UH leads 10-8
Projected starting lineups
UCSB
G 1 Eric Childress 6-0 190 Sr.
G 3 Clifton Powell Jr. 6-5 171 Fr.
G 23 Christian Terrell 6-5 195 Fr.
F 0 Jarriesse Blackmon 6-7 212 So.
F 12 Alex Hart 6-10 228 Jr.
When UCSB has the ball
The Gauchos are running out of viable scoring options at a rapid pace. Leading scorer Gabe Vincent went down with a season-ending ACL tear on Feb. 2. Childress, the team’s lone senior, is also the only player to start all 23 games. Ten others have started at least two. Childress, the leading playmaker, now must operate as the top scoring option at 8.3 ppg.
Hawaii
Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.
PG 2 Brocke Stepteau 5-9 160 So.
SG 0 Leland Green 6-2 175 Fr.
SF 32 Noah Allen 6-7 215 Sr.
PF 12 Jack Purchase 6-8 200 So.
PF 21 Gibson Johnson 6-8 220 Jr.
When Hawaii has the ball
Rebounding has been a concern in Big West play, particularly after UH was held to a season-low 22 caroms — and a minus-17 margin — in a 14-point home loss to UC Irvine on Saturday. The ’Bows have out-boarded Big West opponents just three times in 11 games, whereas they outperformed nonconference opponents in eight of 13 games.
