First place could well be up for grabs tonight in the Stan Sheriff Center.
Two of the three conference contenders with a single loss at the Big West quarter pole, UC Davis and Hawaii, will hash out their differences at 7 p.m. The third one-loss team, Cal State Fullerton, plays at Long Beach State and the result should be known by halftime of UH’s game.
At the very least, someone leaving the Sheriff will have sole possession of second. Three more two-loss teams wait in the wings, ready to dive in for leftovers.
“I’m not sure there’s going to be much separation when we get to 16 games, either,” Davis coach Jim Les said. “It’s gonna make for an interesting season and an interesting tournament, that’s for sure.”
UH BASKETBALL
>> Who: UC Davis (12-6, 3-1 Big West) at Hawaii (12-5, 3-1)
>> When: Today, 7 p.m.
>> Where: Stan Sheriff Center
>> TV: Spectrum Sports
>> Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
>> Series: UH leads 8-5
The Rainbow Warriors (12-5, 3-1 BWC) are coming off a one-point home win over UC Santa Barbara a week ago, moving the 2017-18 ’Bows to 4-0 in games decided by five points or fewer. They’ve trailed for just 31 combined seconds during their three-game winning streak.
To keep it going, they’ll have to overcome a program made legit by its first NCAA Tournament appearance last March.
Davis (12-6, 3-1) emphasizes similar qualities as Hawaii — defense, rebounding, playing inside-out. It has a player of the year candidate in 6-foot-6 forward Chima Moneke.
Les said it’s “actually a little scarier” to prepare for UH this year compared to last, when the ’Bows had Noah Allen compiling some monster games right around now.
“They’ve got a number of guys playing at a high level. Not the eye-popping numbers like last year with Noah, but certainly a lot of guys who are capable,” Les said. “And that puts a lot of pressure on your team defense.”
These two allow the league’s fewest points, with 66.7 against UCD and 68.8 against UH.
But the Rainbows’ starting lineup may change, as guard Brocke Stepteau hasn’t practiced with contact all week after fracturing the middle finger on his right (shooting) hand vs. UCSB. UH described him as a game-time decision. Meanwhile, second-leading scorer Sheriff Drammeh tweaked a foot on Friday but is probable to play. Leland Green and Brandon Thomas could see increased roles.
“Our strength of our team is our depth,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “We’re not all about one guy. Other guys step up when something like that happens.”
Davis is coming off a nine-point home win over LBSU on Wednesday.
Moneke averaged 14.6 points and 9.5 rebounds in his first active Division I season. He’s up to 19.0 and 9.9 with 10 double-doubles, and was averaging nearly 20 and 10 before fouling out with six points and seven rebounds against LBSU.
“You have a preseason player of the year who’s lived up to his billing, and then some,” Ganot said. “Not many players in the country are going 20 and 10. He bursts on the scene last year, but now he’s a known commodity and he’s continued to perform.”
UH forward Zigmars Raimo has received backup minutes of late and is coming off a season-best five-point outing. He’ll have some responsibility as part of a team cover on the bouncy Australian.
“He’s a nice guy. He’s athletic, he can seal, he can post, he can do a lot of things,” said the physical Raimo. “We just need to be smart, we need to play as a team and we just need to hit first.”
The Aggies, who lost four starters from last March, have a new point guard in 5-foot-9 junior T.J. Shorts II (12.9 ppg, 3.8 apg). They’ve elevated quicker than expected with the new cast around Moneke.
“I think the difference maker has been T.J.’s ability as a point guard, coming out of junior college, to adapt to our system and pick it up quickly,” Les said. “He’s a very cerebral guy.”
Junior guard Siler Schneider (13.4 ppg), last year’s Big West sixth man, has stepped into the perimeter scoring role formerly occupied by Brynton Lemar. He scored a career-best 29 points with six assists against LBSU.
UH co-captain Mike Thomas (12.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) has been molten hot, averaging 16.8 points on 83.3 percent shooting (25-for-30) in Big West play.