Oops!
Last week, I wrote how this yearโs University of Hawaii basketball team had the โItโ factor. And yes, I still believe that even after last weekโs road trip, which resulted in two losses. When it comes to the โItโ factor, well, all I can say is that sometimes โItโ happens. (Sorry, I couldnโt resist. I know some of you will get that.)
But seriously, even though it was a rough week for our team, all is not lost. The โBows, at 5-3, are still in second place in the Big West Conference. Thereโs still a lot to look forward to, and I feel theyโll be fine.
I donโt like to use excuses for a loss or two, but Iโll give this as a reason why they lost both games. Theyโre still missing two starters in Samuta Avea and Bernardo Da Silva. If you take two starters off of any team in the Big West, Iโm not sure theyโd go 3-2. Again, itโs not an excuse, but itโs certainly a contributing factor in those losses.
It wasnโt a bad loss vs Santa Barbara, as the Gauchos are one of the top teams in the league. Amadou Sow, who will be a First-Team Big West player this year, had a rough game here last month, with only 9 points. I had a feeling heโd have revenge on his mind, and he did: Sow had a career-high 30 points, and UH lost to the better team.
I didnโt expect UH to lose to Cal Poly on Saturday, although Poly is 4-0 at home in the conference. It was a tough overtime loss, thatโs for sure. It was good to see Dawson Carper have the best game of his young career, with career highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Justin Webster is showing every game that heโs an important player for this team, hitting big shots, including a big three-pointer in overtime to give a Hawaii a brief lead with a minute left. Iโm confident the losing streak will end as the โBows are back home this week. Itโs better to have these losses in February than March.
As for this week, now the games are more and more important. Hawaiโi will play the last-place and first-place teams in Long Beach State and Cal Irvine. There is still no definitive word on whether Avea and Da Silva will be back, but Iโm hearing itโs more likely that they will.
There are only four home games left for this team, and the crowds have gotten bigger and louder with every game. Saturdayโs contest against Irvine will be on ESPN 2; itโs the first home conference game on national TV since weโve been in the Big West. Itโs a โWhite Out,โ and UH will be retiringย Bob Nashโs jersey number 33. I guess in a way, theyโll be retiringย Bobby Nashโs number as well, as Bobby also wore Dads number 33. Isnโt that even more of a reason to show up on Saturday? Itโll be another special night. The first 3,000 fans will be given a free Bob Nash Hawaii T-shirt jersey. And itโs a battle for first place in the Big West. I predict 7,500 fans will be there. Iโm hoping Iโll be proven wrong, and itโll be over 8,000. Please prove me wrong.
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