Respect, like rail projects, builds in creeping increments.
The Hawaii basketball team dressed for practice Monday as a 20-win operation, one of 36 teams in the country to reach that station so far this season.
“We’re doing our part, we’re winning games. … As far as the rankings part, we can’t control that.”
Quincy Smith
UH basketball co-captain
The high 30s are also where UH (20-3, 9-1 Big West) is projected in the national polls, even after trouncing former league leader UC Irvine by 22 on Thursday and following it up with a double-digit win over lowly Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.
UH players were excited about the prospect of cracking into the Top 25 earlier in conference play — and again after sweeping last week’s homestand — but that optimism has given way to a determination to prevail despite a lack of national respect.
“I think we should (be ranked), personally, but that’s how the people vote out there,” wing Aaron Valdes said. “They don’t really see us play a lot here with the time difference. I think the style that we’re playing … at the level we’re playing at, we should be Top 25. But that’s how they feel.”
The Rainbows depart for the mainland today and will put their unbeaten Big West road record (4-0) to the test at Cal State Northridge (9-16, 4-7) on Thursday and Irvine (19-7, 8-2) on Saturday.
In the Associated Press Top 25, UH’s voting points increased only from three to five, giving the ‘Bows the 38th-most points. Three of 65 voters included Hawaii on their ballot, with a high of No. 23 (worth three points) by author John Feinstein. UH’s season high in that poll is nine, before it lost at home to Long Beach State on Jan. 30.
In the USA Today Coaches Poll, the Rainbows went from no points to seven, a season high, also putting them 38th in points.
“I think it’s just our conference,” co-captain Quincy Smith said. “The people we play, they don’t respect the conference. We’re doing our part, we’re winning games, but I just think if we win these last six (regular-season) games, win the three games in conference (tournament), it’ll work itself out as far as the (NCAA) Tournament part. As far as the rankings part, we can’t control that.”
The Big West rated as high as 12 among conference RPI rank earlier this season but has settled in at 15. It is not considered a multi-bid league to the NCAAs, despite four teams — Irvine (74), Hawaii (85), Long Beach State (88) and UC Santa Barbara (95) — placing in the top 100 of RPI as of Monday.
There was a significant jump for UH in one poll. The Mid-Major Top 25 poll, operated by CollegeInsider.com, had the Rainbows jump to 8, a season high, up from 13.
UH coach Eran Ganot wasn’t sweating national perception.
“I know there’s a lot of good teams, a lot of teams that should be in the mix,” he said. “We’re glad to be looked at more. I know there’s more votes every week, and that’s a great thing. The reality is, it’s not real. At the end of the year, we’ll see how we shape up. I’m just proud of what the guys have done to get to this point right now.”
Also Monday, LBSU forward Gabe Levin beat out Valdes for Big West Player of the Week honors. Valdes nearly averaged a double-double in the wins over UCI and CSF, but his bid to become the fourth Rainbow to receive the honor this season was denied.
