Beeman: Compete, or someone will take your job

No one’s job is safe in the pursuit of progress.

The Rainbow Wahine basketball team opened 2013-14 full practices on Tuesday with most of the core intact from its rousing turnaround team of last season. Second-year coach Laura Beeman was unequivocal in her message to her established players: Show me you still belong there.

"Absolutely, no one’s position is safe," Beeman said. "I want competition on this court; that’s the only way we’re going to get better. … If my seniors have an edge to them where, ‘Hey, we’re seniors, we want to get on the floor,’ I couldn’t want anything more than that."

Among UH’s five seniors are All-Big West Conference first-team selection Kamilah Jackson (she switched her name back from last year’s Martin), BWC Sixth Woman of the Year Shawna Kuehu and Defensive Player of the Year Sydney Haydel.

Each was instrumental in helping the Wahine to a 17-14 overall record, including 13-5 in Big West play, good for a tie for second place. UH lost in its first game in the conference tournament but still qualified for the WNIT for the first time in a decade and finished with a winning record for the first time in six years.

"There is a buzz going around," Kuehu confirmed of team expectations. "I don’t look at it as pressure or whatnot. … We have to move forward from where we ended last season, and not take a step back. We have to be more accountable this year, and attempt to be more coachable."

Jackson in particular has been a fixture under the basket, with three straight seasons of averaging a double-double or close to it. She is one of 16 1,000-point scorers in program history, and can join the late, great Judy Mosley as the only players to lead the team in scoring and rebounding four straight years.

"I know people are going to think this is crazy when they read it, but if someone can knock Mia out of the starting position, then we’re in really great shape," Beeman said. "She’s a woman who can set new records this year. And if I can have someone take her spot away and Mia really champs at the bit and becomes even more skilled and even more resilient and resolved in what she’s trying to do, I’m happy to coach around."

Jackson stayed in the islands with a handful of teammates in the offseason and participated in a stepped-up training regimen.

"It was definitely harder. I mean, the strength and conditioning was really a step up from last year," Jackson said.

"I just think we have to build off of last year," she said. "And just get better every day and keep working hard and listen to what the coaches tell us. We saw that when we did listen, we were successful. So I just think we have to buy in to what they’re telling us."

Five newcomers got to work Tuesday, including guards Morgan Mason and Briana Harris, who are in the running to replace the departed Monica DeAngelis for the starting point guard job.

A sixth newcomer, center Ashley Burchfield from Mt. San Antonio College, was not present. UH’s preseason release indicated she would be available for the spring semester, but that is still unclear.

UH plays an exhibition at the Stan Sheriff Center against Hawaii Hilo on Oct. 30 and opens the regular season at Arizona State on Nov. 9.