In constructing a 4-2 record, the Hawaii basketball team has used different materials.
“The one positive I’ll take from this team,” acting head coach Chris Gerlufsen said, “there have been some games where we haven’t necessarily been pretty, but we figured out ways to win.”
It was that way in Sunday’s victory over New Orleans, when the Rainbow Warriors overcame a less-than-aesthetic first half. “Sloppy,” Gerlufsen corrected. “You kind of find out as the game goes on. That’s where you make in-game adjustments, and, obviously, halftime is a great time to do that. We had a nice, stern talking-to at halftime, and I thought we were much better in the second half.”
The ’Bows face an imposing challenge in Friday’s game against 7-0 San Francisco in the Stan Sheriff Center. The Dons are noted for a rat-a-tat pace and prolific 3-point shooting. The ’Bows, in turn, are mixing-and-matching styles and lineups.
“I think it’s going to be that way until we get into conference play,” Gerlufsen said. “There are a lot of unknowns with our group. A lot of guys who still don’t have a lot of game reps, game experience. A lot of times a matchup is going to dictate who plays. And who’s playing well factors into that, too.”
Gerlufsen said the constants are point guard Drew Buggs, shooting guard Eddie Stansberry, wing Samuta Avea and post Zigmars Raimo. But even Raimo’s role is flexible. Raimo usually opens at the four, where he can slide to the top to set screens, pass to cutters, or launch medium-range jumpers. He has hit 53.3% of his shots. For now, he has abandoned 3-point aspirations.
“I never give up on that, but we have to be realistic,” Gerlufsen said. “I’m not trying to put handcuffs on anyone. We’re never gong to tell (Raimo) not to shoot (3-pointers). It’s whatever’s best for the team. And the flow of the game, obviously, dictates that a lot of the times.”
Raimo also can play the five when the ’Bows want to add a wing into the lineup. Dawson Carper, who played well against Illinois two weeks ago, and Mate Colina, who made a game-turning steal against Pacific, are 7-foot centers. Freshman Bernardo da Silva also has been used on the block.
“They’ve all kind of taken their turn in terms of helping us win some games,” Gerlufsen said of the candidates at the five. “But no one has really put a stake in the ground and said, ‘this is my position.’ Until that happens, it could be multiple guys, it could be one guy more on a given night.”
Gerlufsen said the hope is the center will be a reliable low-post scorer while being active in rebounding and defending. “With the guards they have around them, if they just focus on those things, they can be a positive attribute to our team,” Gerlufsen said.
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RAINBOW WARRIOR BASKETBALL
At Stan Sheriff Center
San Francisco (7-0) vs. Hawaii (4-2)
>> When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
>> TV: Spectrum Sports (Channel 16/1016)
>> Radio: 1420-AM / 92.7 FM
