’Bows comfortable with game on the line

Nearing the end of most Hawaii basketball practices, coach Eran Ganot will stand at the top of the key and stare hard at the unfortunate souls arrayed along the baseline.

One by one, he will call their names, beckoning them forward for a trial from 15 feet.

Missed free throws in this simulated pressure situation means the whole team runs the length of the court, and the process repeats. Sometimes, it more closely resembles a conditioning drill.

As the Rainbow Warriors struggled with their foul shots early in the nonconference season — they did not top 70 percent for the first eight games — the UH coaching staff made it a point of emphasis to do these “free throes” nearly every day.

“We do as much as we can in practice, but they do extra work,” Ganot said. “They have pride. They know what was going on early in the year, and they made the adjustment. They didn’t pout, they didn’t wither away.”

Gradually, there were signs of improvement; UH shot in the 70s for all three games of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

But UH went into Wednesday night’s Big West opener against Cal Poly shooting just 63.9 percent at the line overall, second-worst among nine teams in the conference.

In a physical battle with the Mustangs, UH worked its way to the line repeatedly. And on that night, a weakness became a weapon.

The Rainbows moved up to 65.8 percent this season after beating the Mustangs 86-73, thanks to a 34-for-42 effort (81 percent) at the line.

They had season highs in attempts, makes and efficiency. They were one off the team record for makes, against UAB in 2000.

“It’s big time. We all had our little struggles, individually,” said forward Stefan Jankovic, a 70.1 percent foul shooter this season. “Every day after practice we make sure that as a team in pressure situations we knock down either two in a row or go around (different) baskets, knock down five in a row. You know, it pays off after you do it every day. So it’s good, we need to maintain that.”

UH (12-2, 1-0 BWC), off to its best start since the NCAA Tournament season of 2001-02, caps a 10-game homestand against UC Santa Barbara (6-7, 0-0) on Saturday.

The Rainbows will shoot for their first 2-0 start to Big West play since their first season in the league, when they began 3-0 in 2012-13.

Free-throw conversion figures to remain a big factor in college basketball this season, as teams have sometimes struggled to adjust to new hand-checking rules and faster pace of play with a shorter shot clock. Physicality only tends to increase in conference play, as Wednesday’s game demonstrated.

“Our penetrators have been able to get to the line,” Ganot said. “But the reality is, we need to convert. And that created separation (vs. Cal Poly). … This thing has been coming on for a little bit.”

Point guard Roderick Bobbitt has emerged as the team’s closer at the line. He made five of six late against Poly to finish 12-for-14, raising his average to 81.3.

Other ’Bows, most notably off guard Quincy Smith (34.8 percent), could still use some work. The pressure free throws (and running) in practice don’t figure to stop anytime soon.

“A great go-to is to go back to work,” Ganot said.

CSUN bans itself from 2016 postseason

Cal State Northridge announced it has self-imposed a 2016 postseason ban for its men’s basketball team, according to a media release from CSUN athletic director Brandon Martin.

The decision stems from academic violations from the 2014-15 season. CSUN sat six players that whole season for potential rules infractions.

The ban means the other eight teams in the Big West, including Hawaii, will automatically make the conference tournament in March.

UH announced Wednesday it will appeal its own postseason ban, for the 2016-17 season, laid out by the NCAA on Dec. 22.

The Matadors were also banned by the NCAA from the 2012 postseason for APR shortcomings.