Jason Gallic – Opinions in Paradise ove it or hate it, the national media is what it is: a massive machine certifiably capable of shaping a whole country full of thought processes. Well, for the next few days, at least,
Jason Gallic – Opinions in Paradise
ove it or hate it, the national media is what it is: a massive machine certifiably capable of shaping a whole country full of thought processes.
Well, for the next few days, at least, our 50th state will be one of the sports machine’s hot buttons. And so, a group of people who know Hawai’i only as a possible vacation destination will, with their infinitesimal helping of knowledge, sling tidbits of Hawaiian basketball certainty to the rest of the country.
Guys who eat tropical fruit will suddenly know the ins and outs of the Rainbows’ basketball team.
But, in cruising around a couple of the Internet’s top sports sites — ESPN.com and CNN/SI.com — all is not bad if you’re a Hawai’i fan. And, even if you normally couldn’t pick a basketball out of a lineup of athletic equipment, you all ought to be Hawai’i fans this week. Because last week, the Rainbows put on the kind of hoops’ highlight show that has been matched with genuine infrequency as the annals of sports are surveyed. As a number five seed in the Western Athletic Conference tournament, the UH defeated, in successive nights, more-athletic Texas Christian, nationally-ranked Fresno State and tourney-host Tulsa.
The NCAA selection committee granted the ‘Bows a 12th seed, and pitted them against Syracuse, a fifth seed, Friday at 5 p.m. HST.
Back to the Internet sites. The “big boys” of the sports world — ESPN.com’s Ron Buck and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, in this case — seem to like Hawai’i. Though not certain whether the team’s nickname is the Rainbows or the Warriors, Buck thinks that Predrag Savovic has an “NBA body” and that he, “combined with Troy Ostler may have a slight edge against the [Syracuse] big men.” Buck thinks that fact, and another strong outing by freshman Carl English, could “make things interesting in Dayton.”
Buck said all this in an online article he wrote detailing the possible Cinderella stories in this year’s tournament.
Over at CNN/SI.com, Wahl is a bit more confident in your Rainbows. For each region of the Big Dance, the veteran college basketball writer has offered his opinion on the following subjects: Most underrated team; Best first-round matchup; Most likely first-round upset; Best player you’ve never heard of; and Sweet 16 surprise.
Hold onto your macadamia nuts, folks, but Wahl likes Hawai’i in the final category. Here’s his direct quote: “Fearless cosmopolitan bombers will take out Syracuse and then Kansas.”
In case you’re scoring at home, that’s one Big East team and a seasoned Big 12 team coached by one of the living legends — Roy Williams — still working a college basketball sideline.
Is a Rainbows’ berth in the third round of the NCAA Tournament out of the question? Only a fool would say that, considering what the ‘Bows’ 7-1 record over their last eight games; plus, they are quite possibly one of the five hottest teams in the field. But, come Friday, the WAC tournament will be long forgotten. Hawai’i is going to be holed up in a hotel in Dayton,Ohio, of all places. It’s WAC tourney games weren’t even broadcast en masse in the islands. Friday, English’s freshman face is going to gaze into cameras bearing the insignia of CBS Sports.
Needless to say, the scenario is a bit different.
But, hey, if you listen to the media big guns, then ol’ Roy Williams will start hitting his buddy Jerry Tarkanian up for some Hawai’i game film any day now.
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The preseason certainly is serving as a testing ground for Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation baseball teams. Two local tournaments into the year, and I’m still not sure what we’re going to get when the KIF regular season begins March 24.
It seems as though Kaua’i might be the favorite to earn the automatic berth to the state tournament — especially when senior Mark Rodrigues is on the mound. When he’s not, the Red Raiders have been getting a solid effort from Levi Rapozo.
But who knows, really. Kapa’a got strong outings from both Robin Lore and Kyle Neuberger in last weekend’s Waimea High School Invitational. Lore held a potent Mid-Pacific Institute offense to just two runs on six hits. Neuberger had a surprising performance in a 5-4 victory over Kaua’i at the Ron Martin Tournament two weeks ago.
Waimea’s Kalailoa Taniguchi and Chad Rita threw well in its tourney. Taniguchi recorded a 1-0 shutout victory over Oahu Interscholastic Association-member Leilehua, while Rita fired four innings of no-run ball in a 6-0 defeat of the OIA’s Kahuku.
But be not confused. The preseason lends itself to fickleness. Head-to-head matchups mean little. Thus far, Kapa’a has beaten Kaua’i. The Red Raiders then returned the favor and squeaked by Waimea.
Don’t put much stock in it. Rather, just stay tuned.
Sports editor Jason Gallic at 245-3681 or mailto:kauaisports@pulitzer.net
