’Bows’ opponents need to adjust to UH’s versatility

When Joe Callero looks at the box score from Hawaii’s 94-59 win Saturday over Howard, the Cal Poly basketball coach might wonder if it’s got a mistake or two.

And he might wish that were so. What the Rainbow Warriors did to the Bison in the blowout at the Stan Sheriff Center might complicate his game-planning as the teams meet at the same arena Wednesday in the Big West opener for both.

Roderick Bobbitt splashing seven of 11 from 3-point land?

Aaron Valdes dealing 11 assists?

Quincy Smith with 15 points, shooting 64 percent from the floor?

In the two games the teams split last year, Bobbitt made zero 3-pointers, Valdes produced three assists, and Smith totaled two points.

Callero might wonder if they’re the same guys. It’s obvious they’re different players than a year ago, with expanded skill sets.

“If they’re the same players as last year, we’re in trouble,” first-year coach Eran Ganot said, when asked about the improvement of individuals that were a big part in UH winning 22 games last season. They were 12-4 headed into conference play last season, 11-2 now.

Bobbitt shot just 25 percent from 3-point land last season, making less than one per game. This year he’s at 43 percent and needs just three more makes to match last season’s total of 27.

Valdes, with Saturday’s career high in helpers, averages nearly three a game this season compared to 1.2 last year. His scoring (13.7 to 16.8) and rebounding (5.3 to 6.1) have also improved.

Smith’s output in points in 21 minutes Saturday matched his total for the previous four games, in which he played 85 minutes. He’s the least of UH’s scoring threats in the regular rotation, but those 15 points might have Callero thinking, too.

One of the things people said about the Rainbows last year at this time was that they might have a more difficult time in conference play than the nonconference games because of opponents’ familiarity with personnel and style of play. That was somewhat correct as Hawaii went 8-8 in the league, then won two games in the conference tournament before falling to UC Irvine 67-58.

Then, Hawaii’s signature was its suffocating defense. Now, the team, like its individual players, is more well-rounded.

You can even see that at times in Stefan Jankovic, the 6-foot-11 post player who given his preference would rather shoot 30-footers than battle on the boards. He didn’t play well in the first half Saturday, but came back with resolve after intermission and played tougher in the low post.

If Jankovic reaches his potential, he and the Rainbows will be that much more difficult to prepare for, because of his versatility.

“He’s a hybrid five. He’s not a banger five,” Ganot said. “What’s good about that is he can play inside and outside. Different games we can use him different ways and he has to adjust in the game. He has to, because teams are gonna go after him on both ends.”

The way most of the Rainbows have developed their versatility, conference opponents will need to do their share of adjusting as well.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.