Maui Invitational

T I PO F F A preview of the EA Sports Maui Invitational • Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

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The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

P Boilermakers have added some size

By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer

U R D U E

Measuring in at 7 feet and 261 pounds, A.J. Hammons is a veteran leader with a large presence for Purdue.

Last season, he averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game as a sophomore. Now, Hammons will have company when he does his big-and-tall shopping in West Lafayette, Ind. Isaac Haas, a 7-2, 297-pound freshman from Piedmont, Ala., arrived this season as the No. 64ranked prospect in the nation by Rivals.com. “Isaac Haas, 7-2,�

Hammons said with a laugh. “He’s very intelligent and picks up on everything very quickly. I’m just trying to help him get used to the physicality and get Haas him ready for the more versatile bigs that we will see this year.

Help him get his footwork ready and just be ready for the season.�

Haas totaled 17 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes in two games this season, both wins, entering Thursday’s matchup with Grambling State. “Going against Isaac helps me, but it hurts me, too. I get beat up in practice,� said Hammons, who blocked eight shots in the first two games of the season while scoring 11 points with seven rebounds.

The Boilermakers, who went 15-17 last season, will face Kansas State on Monday at 9:30 a.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center in the EA Sports Maui Invitational opener. “I’m trying to be a leader, trying to step up and make sure everybody is just in tune because we just have one simple goal: just to win,� Hammons said.

great time just to get away from this cold weather and go against some great competition,� Hammons said. “Really, it’s going to be great. It’s freezing here right now.�

Purdue had a 1-4 record on neutral courts last season. “We are going to see how much mental capabilities we have,� Hammons said. “It’s going to be a great test for our young guys, a great test for our older guys to see all that competition and all those different pressures and everything, just to see if we can do it.�

Hammons knows the tournament will help the Boilermakers develop. “I would say it will make us a better basketball team win or lose, but of course we are coming to win,� Hammons said. “We will be able to see where we are at and where we can improve when we face that kind of competition. I think we are going to be great, we have all the pieces. We just have to stay grounded and play smart.�

Vince Edwards, a freshman, had averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds, both team bests, entering Thursday, while sophomore Kendall Stephens was second in scoring, averaging 17.0 points — he was 9-for-13 from 3-point range.

Purdue has just one scholarship senior this season. “We have a very young team,� said coach Matt Painter. “It’s a great field, so we are going to be challenged. You obviously want to leave there with some wins under your belt, but you want to leave a better team and you have got to get your guys to understand how hard they have PURDUE UNIVERSITY photo A.J. Hammons averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per got to compete to give yourself a chance to win against some of these teams that game for Purdue last season. we are going to play against.�

While playing for his high school team competed on Maui and in China. ■Robert Collias is at rcollias@ at Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, Hammons “I’m very excited, it’s going to be a mauinews.com

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The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

3

K Wildcats bring smaller team to Maui A N S A S

By KYLE SAKAMOTO Staff Writer

S T A T E

Kansas State will bring its version of small ball to the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Wildcats may have an advantage in athleticism on most opponents this season, with a lineup that likely will feature four guards and a 6-foot-7 post player.

“I think that’s what we’ll start with,” coach Bruce Weber said. “We have some bigger guys who we can go to.”

Kansas State finished 20-13 last season and lost in its opening game of the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats are 2-0 this season, and will play at Long Beach State today before facing Purdue on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in a first-round game at the Lahaina Civic Center.

“It’s a prestigious preseason tournament, it recognizes the start of the college basketball season, everybody watches,” said Weber, whose team had the 30th-best point total in this week’s Associated Press rankings.

“This year the field is a tough field.

Hopefully it’ll be exciting for us and all the teams. I’ve been there before (with Illinois, finishing third in 2007). It’s a first-class tournament.”

Kansas State’s top returning player is 6-foot-3 sophomore Marcus Foster, who last season averaged a teamleading 15.5 points per game.

“When he gets it going, he’s as exciting as anybody. He can go and get 10 points in three minutes,” Weber said.

Stephen Hurt, a 6-11 junior, has started both games this season, but getting the most time for the Wildcats so far are Jevon Thomas (6-0 sophomore), Nigel Johnson (6-1, sopho-

more), Justin Edwards (6-4, junior) and Thomas Gipson (6-7, senior).

Edwards sat out last season after transferring from Maine, where he averaged 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in two seasons.

“He has an unbelievable vertical jump, like 44 inches, and he’s improved his shooting ability,” Weber said. “He’s a redshirt junior, so he’s been through it. He has to get used to sitting out a year and the level of competition.”

Gipson, who is listed at 265 pounds, led the team in rebounds (6.5 per game) and was second in points (11.7) last season.

“He’s a big wide-body guy, who is undersized,” Weber said. “He’s very intelligent. He’s learned how to play the game, how to get angles in the post.”

Weber said he expects Nino Williams, a 6-5 senior forward, to step up after averaging 6.2 points and 3.5 rebounds last season.

“He’s a senior who is undersized KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY photo but plays hard,” Weber said. “He’s a rebounder and he’s so aggressive. Marcus Foster was Kansas State’s leading scorer last season, averaging 15.5 He’ll get to the boards and take points per game. charges. He’s a physical guy.”

Weber has led Kansas State to a 49-21 record in his two-plus seasons.

The Wildcats won a share of the Big 12 regular-season title in his first season and finished fifth last season.

“We had a lot of freshmen and newcomers and were still able to make a run and get to the tournament,” Weber said of last year’s squad. “A lot of those guys are back. It’s exciting to be in the (Maui) tournament and see where we’re at as a program.”

■ Kyle Sakamoto is at ksakamoto@ mauinews.com

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The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

A Wildcats’ roster has plethora of talent

By ROBERT COLLIAS

ON THE COVER …

Staff Writer

R I Z O N A

Most signs say Arizona is the favorite to win the EA Sports Maui Invitational this year.

The Wildcats, No. 2 in The Associated Press poll, come to the Valley Isle with three players on the John R. Wooden Award watch list, but Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson are far from the only standouts on the roster.

T.J. McConnell was a Pac-12 second-team pick last season for a squad that went 33-5 and lost by one point in overtime to Wisconsin in an NCAA reJohnson gional final. Kadeem Allen was the national junior college player of the year. Ryan Anderson was an Atlantic Coast Conference third-teamer for Boston College in 2013.

“I think the energy you feel on our campus is unlike any that I’ve Hollisfelt since I’ve been Jefferson here,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said after Sunday’s win over Cal State Northridge.

The Wildcats (3-0) are deep enough that Hollis-Jefferson, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, has not started this season, but is averaging a team-best 16.0 points per game.

Arizona, which needs one more Maui win to become the fifth program to reach double-digit victories in the event, will open against Missouri at noon Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center.

• Kaleb Tarczewski has helped Arizona claim the No. 2 spot in the AP rankings.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA photo

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA photo

Brandon Ashley is one of three Arizona players on the John R. Wooden Award watch list.

Miller is taking a simple approach to distributing minutes.

“We’re just looking for players to make basketball plays,” he said. “The five we put out there we are looking for a great start, taking care of the ball, making free throws. We’re looking for combina-

tions, who does well with each other, who comes off the bench maybe better than starting, but we’re very much in search of some of those answers.

“I don’t mean that in a negative way, but just finding what’s best for us.”

Different combinations are possible at

any time. No player has averaged more than 30 minutes in a game for the Wildcats so far this season.

“People here at Arizona and those who follow our program remember Jason Terry, what he did coming off the bench as a sixth man, and heck, he’s done it in the NBA,” Miller said. “I came from Xavier and one of the great players ever to play at Xavier, James Posey, was that kind of player. When you think of a guy like Rondae you think of James Posey.”

The trip to Maui could help determine who starts and ends games for the Wildcats as the season moves along.

“Everybody likes to start, that’s kind of the nature of sports,” Miller said.

“We have to take a look at it, keep watching our own team and learning what works best.”

The Wildcats are defining their leaders as they prepare to play three games in three days.

“It has to keep evolving and growing,” Miller said. “Our leadership I think is the same — keep evolving and growing. The hardest part about being a leader in basketball is that when you don’t play well yourself, which happens, you’re still in charge. It’s not as if you get a free pass.

Everybody’s a great leader when you’re winning and you’re playing well.

“What separates a great leader is that they can see inside of themselves — despite of how well they’re playing they are still locked in on the team.”

■ Robert Collias is at rcollias@ mauinews.com

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The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

5

M Shamburger returns as Tigers guard

By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer

I S S O U R I

Keith Shamburger ended up having to leave Hawaii to play in one of the Aloha State’s most prestigious events.

The fifth-year senior is part of the EA Sports Maui Invitational as the starting point guard for Missouri — the third college team he has guided after also playing at San Jose State and the University of Hawaii.

“I pay attention to the Maui Invitational almost every year on TV,” Shamburger said. “Last year, all of the Hawaii players, we were thinking, ‘We should be in the Maui tournament,’ because it is such a good tournament. Me, I always wanted to play in this tournament and the same with the other guys on this team. We’re here now and it feels good.”

Shamburger left San Jose State for UH in 2012, sat out a season under NCAA transfer rules and then led the Big West in assists last season, with 5.4 per game, before graduating in May—giving him immediate eligibility for his final season in Columbia.

Shamburger has started all but one of his 97 career games, and averaged 9.3 points per game last season. He is one of two scholarship seniors for Missouri (2-1), which finished 23-12 last season after a second-round loss in the NIT. “He is going to be an important part of our team,” said first-year Mizzou coach Kim Anderson. “I’ve been just really pleased with what he’s done.

He’s a guy who is a good basketball player, he’s a team-first guy, he worries more about avoiding turnovers than how many shots he puts up.

“Our team is a little bit offensively challenged here early in the season

because I think we are still trying to find each other. Keith’s a guy who could even be a little bit more aggressive offensively. He’s a guy who scored nine or 10 points a game there at Hawaii and we certainly could use him to do that here at Mizzou.”

Shamburger has scored 22 points in his first three games with the Tigers. Montaque Gill-Caesar, a 6-foot-6 freshman who was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in West Virginia last year as a junior before enrolling early at Missouri, has totaled a team-best 49 points in his first three college games, and is second on the team in rebounds, with 16.

“He’s a guy who kind of plays the wing, shoots the ball pretty well, slashes pretty well, guards pretty well — does everything good,” Anderson said.

“He’s a really young guy who is just going to get better and better.”

Missouri will face Arizona, No. 2 in The Associated Press rankings, at noon Monday at the Lahaina Civic AP photo Center in the first round.

Keith Shamburger transferred to Missouri from Hawaii before this season, and Anderson was on the Missouri was immediately eligible after graduating in May. staff in 1997 when the Tigers finished fourth in the Maui event.

“First of all, it’s a great tournament,” Anderson said. “I think the thing that the (Maui Invitational) does, • Take-off & land directly from the boat especially for a young team like ours, • Fly Single or Tandem with a friend it shows us where we are in terms of what we need to do to get better.”

TWO LOCATIONS • On the beach at Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel “Of the 11 scholarship guys, seven of them are freshmen and sopho• Lahaina Harbor, Slip #15 mores, so for us it will be an opportunity to learn about our team and hopefully we will play well.”

■ Robert Collias is at rcollias@ mauinews.com West Maui Parasail (808) 661-4060

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B R A C K E T

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

The Maui News

SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS Ht. No. Name 0 Skylar Spencer 6-10 2 Kevin Zabo 6-2 3 Angelo Chol 6-9 4 Dakarai Allen 6-5 5 Dwayne Polee II 6-7 10 Aqeel Quinn 6-3 6-2 11 D’Erryl Williams 6-4 12 Trey Kell 6-8 13 Winston Shepard 6-7 14 Zylan Cheatham 6-7 20 J.J. O’Brien 21 Malik Pope 6-10 22 Parker U‘u 6-4 23 Kibret Woldemichael 5-7 24 Ryan Staten 6-2 33 Niksha Federico 6-6 6-6 40 Matt Shrigley Coach—Steve Fisher

Pos. Yr. F Jr. G Fr. F Jr. G So. F Sr. G Sr. G So. G Fr. F Jr. F Fr. F Sr. F Fr. G So. G So. G Sr. F So. F So.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS Ht. No. Name 0 Jon Octeus 6-4 1 Bryson Scott 6-1 2 Jon McKeeman 6-1 3 P.J. Thompson 5-10 5 Basil Smotherman 6-6 11 Stephen Toyra 6-3 6-7 12 Vince Edwards 7-0 20 A.J. Hammons 6-6 21 Kendall Stephens 6-9 23 Jacquil Taylor 6-1 24 Anfernee Brown 30 Neal Beshears 6-7 31 Dakota Mathias 6-4 35 Rapheal Davis 6-5 44 Isaac Haas 7-2 Coach—Matt Painter

Pos. Yr. G Sr. G So. G Jr. G Fr. F So. G Jr. F Fr. C Jr. G So. F Fr. G So. F Sr. G Fr. G Jr. C Fr.

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

CHAMINADE SILVERSWORDS Ht. No. Name 1 De’Von Boyd 6-2 2 Kahanu Pu‘ulei-Auld 5-11 3 James Harper 6-4 5 Lee Bailey 6-0 10 A.J. Mathew 6-3 11 David Ware 6-3 6-3 12 Amu Rosen 6-7 14 Kuany Kuany 6-5 15 Michael Sakazaki 6-9 22 Michael Louder 6-6 23 Kevin Hu 24 Oscar Pedroso 6-4 25 Frankie Eteuati 6-10 33 Kiran Shastri 6-7 42 Chris Johnstone 6-1 Coach—Eric Bovaird

Pos. Yr. G Fr. G Fr. G Jr. G Sr. G Sr. G Jr. G So. G So. F Fr. F Jr. G Jr. G Jr. F Sr. G So. G Fr.

BYU COUGARS Ht. No. Name 1 Chase Fischer 6-3 2 Jordan Ellis 6-1 3 Tyler Haws 6-5 5 Kyle Collinsworth 6-6 10 Ryan Andrus 6-11 12 Josh Sharp 6-7 6-5 15 Jake Toolson 6-3 20 Anson Winder 6-8 21 Kyle Davis 6-1 23 Skyler Halford 6-3 24 Frank Bartley IV 25 Jordan Chatman 6-5 30 Dalton Nixon 6-7 33 Nate Austin 6-11 35 Isaac Neilson 6-11 40 Jamal Aytes 6-6 6-10 41 Luke Worthington 6-10 44 Corbin Kaufusi Coach—Dave Rose

Pos. Yr. G Jr. G Jr. G Sr. G Jr. F Fr. F Sr. G Fr. G Sr. F Jr. G Sr. G So. G Fr. F Fr. F Sr. F Fr. F So. F So. C Fr.

and

R O S T E R S

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS No. Name Ht. 0 James Robinson 6-3 1 Jamel Artis 6-7 2 Michael Young 6-9 3 Cameron Wright 6-5 4 Ryan Luther 6-9 5 Durand Johnson 6-6 11 Derrick Randall 6-9 12 Chris Jones 6-6 13 Josh Newkirk 6-1 15 A. Phillips-Nwankwo 6-71⁄2 21 Sheldon Jeter 6-8 22 Joshua Ko 6-1 23 Cameron Johnson 6-7 24 Mike Lecak 6-2 44 Tyrone Haughton 6-9 50 Joseph Uchebo 6-10 Coach—Jamie Dixon

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS Pos. Yr. G Jr. F So. F So. G Sr. F Fr. F Jr. F Sr. G/F So. G So. F Sr. F So. G So. G Fr. G Jr. C Jr. C Jr.

No. Name Ht. 1 Jevon Thomas 6-0 2 Marcus Foster 6-3 5 Tre Harris 6-5 10 Malek Harris 6-8 11 Nino Williams 6-5 12 Mason Schoen 6-3 14 Justin Edwards 6-4 21 Brandon Bolden 6-111⁄2 23 Nigel Johnson 6-1 25 Wesley Iwundu 6-7 32 Evan Beucler 6-5 33 Brian Rohleder 6-3 40 Shawn Meyer 6-3 41 Stephen Hurt 6-11 42 Thomas Gipson 6-7 50 D.J. Johnson 6-9 Coach—Bruce Weber

Pos. Yr. G So. G So. G Fr. F Fr. F Sr. G Fr. G Jr. F So. G So. F So. G Fr. G Jr. G Sr. F Jr. F Sr. F Jr.

MISSOURI TIGERS No. Name Ht. 2 Deuce Bello 6-4 3 Johnathan Williams III 6-9 4 Tramaine Isabell 6-0 5 D’Angelo Allen 6-7 11 Jimmy Barton 5-9 12 Namon Wright 6-5 13 Montaque Gill-Caesar 6-6 14 Keith Shamburger 5-11 15 Wes Clark 6-0 23 Jakeenan Gant 6-8 42 Hayden Barnard 6-10 44 Ryan Rosburg 6-10 45 Keanau Post 6-11 Coach—Kim Anderson

ARIZONA WILDCATS Pos. Yr. G Jr. F So. G Fr. F Fr. G So. G Fr. G Fr. G Sr. G So. F Fr. F Fr. F Jr. F Sr.

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No. Name Ht. 0 P. Jackson-Cartwright 5-10 1 Gabe York 6-3 3 Craig Victor 6-9 4 T.J. McConnell 6-1 5 Stanley Johnson 6-7 12 Ryan Anderson 6-9 14 Dusan Ristic 7-0 20 Kadeem Allen 6-3 21 Brandon Ashley 6-9 23 R. Hollis-Jefferson 6-7 24 Elliott Pitts 6-5 31 Matt Korcheck 6-10 35 Kaleb Tarczewski 7-0 44 Trey Mason 6-2 50 Jacob Hazzard 6-0 55 Drew Mellon 6-6 Coach—Sean Miller

Pos. Yr. G Fr. G Jr. F Fr. G Sr. F Fr. F Sr. C Fr. G Jr. F Jr. F So. G So. F Sr. C Jr. G So. G Jr. F Sr.

The Maui News

H I S T O R Y

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

CHAMPIONS 2013—Syracuse 2012—Illinois 2011—Duke 2010—Connecticut 2009—Gonzaga 2008—North Carolina 2007—Duke 2006—UCLA 2005—Connecticut 2004—North Carolina 2003—Dayton 2002—Indiana 2001—Duke 2000—Arizona 1999—North Carolina 1998—Syracuse 1997—Duke 1996—Kansas 1995—Villanova 1994—Arizona St. 1993—Kentucky 1992—Duke 1991—Michigan St. 1990—Syracuse 1989—Missouri 1988—Michigan 1987—Iowa 1986—Vanderbilt 1985—Michigan 1984—Providence

The Maui News file photo

North Carolina took the 1999 title, and shares the tournament win record with 15.

TEAM RECORDS The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Syracuse was last year’s EA Sports Maui Invitational champion, with C.J. Fair (far right) earning MVP honors.

and

R E C O R D S

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Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS 2013—C.J. Fair, Syracuse 2012—Brandon Paul, Illinois 2011—Ryan Kelly, Duke 2010—Kemba Walker, Connecticut 2009—Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray, Gonzaga 2008—Ty Lawson, North Carolina 2007—Kyle Singler, Duke

2006—Darren Collison, UCLA 1998—Jason Hart, Syracuse 2005—Adam Morrison, Gonzaga 1997—Steve Wojciechowski, Duke 2004—RaymondFelton,NorthCarolina 1996—Raef LaFrentz, Kansas 2003—Keith Waleskowski, Dayton 1995—Kerry Kittles, Villanova 2002—Bracey Wright, Indiana 1994—Mario Bennett, Arizona St. 2001—Mike Dunleavy, Duke 1993—Travis Ford, Kentucky 2000—Michael Wright, Arizona 1992—Bobby Hurley, Duke; Anfernee 1999—Joseph Forte, North Carolina Hardaway, Memphis St.

1991—George Gilmore, Chaminade 1990—Billy Owens, Syracuse 1989—Doug Smith, Missouri 1988—Glenn Rice, Michigan 1987—Iowa team 1986—Will Perdue, Vanderbilt 1985—Dell Curry, Virginia Tech 1984—Patrick Langlois, Chaminade

RECORDS Maui games only Individual Points—43, Adam Morrison, Gonzaga, vs. Michigan St., 2005.

Rebounds—20, Jeronne Maymon, Tennessee, vs. Memphis, 2011.

Assists—15, Brandon Granville, Southern California, vs.

Memphis, 1999.

Steals—10, Jeff Trepagnier, Southern California, vs. Utah St., 1999.

Blocks—7, Ray Gromlowicz, UNC-Charlotte, vs. Chaminade, 1986; Dan Godfread, Evansville, vs. Missouri, 1989; Arne Alig, Chaminade, vs. Providence, 1991; Jelani McCoy, UCLA, vs. Santa Clara, 1995; Earl Barron, Memphis, vs.

Chaminade, 1999; Lonny Baxter, Maryland, vs. Dayton, 2000; Tommy Smith, Arizona St., vs. Utah, 2002; Zach FinThe Maui News file photo ley, Princeton, vs. Duke, 2007.

Dan Godfread of Evansville Field goals—16, Dell Curry, Virginia Tech, vs. Michigan, Everick Sullivan, Louisville, vs. Chaminade, 1989. blocked seven shots in a 1985; Free throws made—21, Kaspars Kambala, UNLV, vs.

1989 game against Missouri. Louisville, 2000.

3-pointers—10, Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame, vs. North Carolina, 2008; Christophe Varidel, Chaminade, vs. Baylor, 2013.

Turnovers—13, Maurice Houston, Tennessee Tech, vs.

Texas, 1993.

Team Most points—162, Loyola Marymount, vs. Chaminade, 1990.

Fewest points—37, Arizona St., vs. Minnesota, 1991.

Rebounds—70, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.

Assists—37, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.

Steals—20, Oklahoma, vs. BYU, 1992.

Blocks—13, Maryland, vs. Dayton, 2000.

Field goals—57, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.

Free throws made—36, Iowa, vs. Kansas, 1987.

3-pointers—19, Loyola Marymount, vs. Chaminade, 1990.

Turnovers—32, Northeastern, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990; Santa Clara, vs. Loyola Marymount, 1990.

GO TEAMS!

Maui records only 2014 participants in bold Duke 15-0 1.000 Syracuse 9-0 1.000 8-1 .889 Connecticut North Carolina 15-3 .833 7-2 .778 Dayton 9-3 .750 Illinois Michigan 10-4 .714 Kentucky 10-5 .667 Gonzaga 8-4 .667 Michigan St. 8-4 .667 Vanderbilt 8-4 .667 Iowa 6-3 .667 Missouri 6-3 .667 Ohio St. 6-3 .667 Marquette 4-2 .667 Purdue 4-2 .667 Alabama 2-1 .667 Ball St. 2-1 .667 Butler 2-1 .667 Cincinnati 2-1 .667 Clemson 2-1 .667 Florida 2-1 .667 George Washington 2-1 .667 Georgia Tech 2-1 .667 Hawaii 2-1 .667 James Madison 2-1 .667 New Mexico 2-1 .667 Charlotte 2-1 .667 Rice 2-1 .667 Toledo 2-1 .667 Tulane 2-1 .667 Utah St. 2-1 .667 Wichita St. 2-1 .667 Arizona 9-6 .600 Arizona St. 9-6 .600 Indiana 9-6 .600 Kansas 9-6 .600 Providence 3-2 .600 Texas 7-5 .583 Villanova 7-5 .583 UCLA 7-5 .583 Louisville 5-4 .555 Santa Clara 5-4 .555 Virginia 6-5 .545 Maryland 6-6 .500

Baylor BYU California Minnesota Georgetown Notre Dame San Diego St. South Carolina UNLV Wisconsin Virginia Tech Memphis Arkansas Utah Oklahoma Kansas St. DePaul LSU Stanford Boston College Massachusetts Southern California Tennessee Arkansas St. Colorado Evansville Houston Iowa St. Long Beach St. Loyola Marymount Nebraska Northeastern Oklahoma St. Oregon Seton Hall St. Joseph’s Tennessee Tech Texas A&M VCU Washington Chaminade Davidson Central Michigan Lamar Mississippi St. Princeton Pittsburgh

3-3 3-3 3-3 3-3 3-3 3-3 3-3 3-3 3-3 3-3 1-1 7-8 4-5 4-5 5-7 2-3 4-8 3-6 3-6 2-4 2-4 2-4 2-4 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 7-81 0-2 0-3 0-3 0-3 0-3 0-0

.500 .500 .500 .500 .333 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .500 .467 .444 .444 .417 .400 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .333 .080 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000 .000

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The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

C Silverswords among PacWest favorites H A M I N A D E

By BRAD SHERMAN Sports Editor

Chaminade will of course be an underdog in all three of its games in this year’s EA Sports Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center.

That’s not to say, though, that the Silverswords aren’t beginning this season having earned some respect.

Chaminade was picked to finish third in the Pacific West Conference preseason poll, and Lee Bailey was a first-team conference selection.

“Everybody wants to start at the top,” said Bailey, whose team has opened the season 2-0. “In our league, we’re kind of starting at the top, near the top. It’s inspiration to keep working harder and keep getting better.”

Bailey averaged 17.1 points and a team-best 4.5 assists per game last season for the Silverswords, who went 19-13 and won the PacWest tournament title for the first time before losing in the NCAA Division II tournament’s first round.

“People are starting to realize that this is a team that is consistently getting better year by year,” Bailey said.

Chaminade is to face Pittsburgh in a 4 p.m. first-round game Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center. The host school has not won on the Valley Isle since defeating Texas in a first-round matchup in 2012. Bailey was part of that team — he scored seven points against the Longhorns, and has averaged 12.8 points in nine Maui games.

“I’ve kind of been there before,” Bailey said. “I think I’m a little more ready to not have the deer-in-the-headlights thing when I get out there in the bright lights on the big stage.”

Bailey isn’t the only player on this season’s Chaminade roster who has experienced a Valley Isle victory — Kevin Hu

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Among the other notable returnees is Kuany Kuany, who averaged 14.0 points and a team-leading 8.0 rebounds last season — he had a school-record 22 rebounds in a game against Azusa Pacific.

Also back are Kiran Shastri, who averaged 13.8 points, going 93-for-213 (43.7 percent) from 3-point range; and James Harper, who averaged 7.3 points and was 45-for-97 (46.4 percent) on 3-pointers.

Shastri made 13 starts last season, and Harper started the final 12 games. The Silverswords were forced to make some lineup changes after injuries to seniors Rhys Murphy and Christophe Varidel, who scored 42 points in a loss to Baylor on Maui last year.

“A lot of guys got opportunities they probably wouldn’t have gotten,” said Chaminade coach Eric Bovaird. “We were able to insert a couple of inexperienced guys, and it turned out to be a great year for them. We were disappointed when we lost Christophe and Rhys, but luckily we had a lot of guys step up. I’m pretty confident in those guys this season.”

The tallest player on the Silverswords’ roster is 6-foot-10 Frankie Eteuati, who had a team-leading 32 blocked shots last season despite averaging just 11.2 minutes in 30 games — he was called for 79 fouls.

“He’s come a world away from last season,” Bovaird said. “He’s going to play as many minutes as he can.”

Mike Louder, a 6-9 transfer from Jacksonville State, also provides some size. David Ware has been added to the backcourt after averaging 15.1 points for CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY photo Chaminade’s Lee Bailey, a Pacific West Conference preseason first-team Everett (Wash.) Community College last season and earning North Region allpick, has averaged 12.8 points in nine EA Sports Maui Invitational games. defensive recognition. and Amu Rosen were also part of the win game last season, while Rosen appeared ■ Brad Sherman is at sports@ over Texas. Hu averaged 9.5 points per in four games. mauinews.com

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The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

9

P Panthers making early adjustments I T T S B U R G H

By BRAD SHERMAN Sports Editor

James Robinson was going to have much expected of him this season no matter what, but the junior guard’s contributions may be especially important for Pittsburgh during the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Panthers could be without Cameron Wright for the games on the Valley Isle — the team’s top returning scorer from last season is recovering from a broken foot.

Pitt is also adjusting to the loss of Durand Johnson, whose season-long suspension, for an undisclosed reason, was announced hours before the team’s opening game.

Robinson has made his presence felt right away, totaling 16 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds as the Panthers have gone 2-0, earning votes in The Associated Press poll, heading into today’s game against the University of Hawaii at War Memorial Gym in Wailuku.

“We have to get a lot better as the season goes along,” said Robinson, whose team will make its Lahaina Civic Center debut Monday at 4 p.m. against Chaminade.

Robinson averaged 7.6 points per game last season, as well as 4.1 assists — tops among returnees from a team that went 26-10 and won an NCAA tournament game.

“James, he’s steady, and he’s an improved player, quicker, more athletic,” said Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, a former assistant coach at UH. “With his weight being down, body fat being lower, he’s looking good.”

The Panthers were expecting to have Johnson back after he was sidelined for the final 20 games of last

season due to a torn knee ligament — he had averaged 8.8 points. Pitt had an 11-9 mark in the games Johnson missed after being hurt.

Wright averaged 10.5 points per game last season and was the team leader in steals with 66.

In the Panthers’ two games this month, five players have scored in double figures at least once.

“It’s a little bit of a feeling-out process right now, but we have a lot of different lineups we can use,” Robinson said. “One thing that we want to do is play harder than the other team every night. We want to execute our plays.”

A good deal of those plays could involve getting the ball to 6-foot-9 Michael Young near the basket. He has scored 27 points this season on 13-for-18 shooting from the field, with 12 rebounds.

“He’s taken a big step as a sophomore,” Dixon said. “His body, he’s maybe grown since he was a freshman. He’s more of a face-up guy.

We’ve really worked with him on imCHARLES LECLAIRE / USA TODAY Sports photo proving his scoring around the basket, his post moves. I think he’s really James Robinson averaged 7.6 points per game for Pittsburgh last season worked on his game, his low block game. He’s an excellent free-throw shooter for us, too.”

Young was 67-for-82 (81.7 percent) from the foul line last season.

Also returning are Jamel Artis, Since 1976 who averaged 4.9 points and 2.9 reCoffee, Cigars & Unique Holiday Gifts bounds in 15.4 minutes per game in 2013-14, and Josh Newkirk, who Featuring 100% Kona & Hawaiian coffee was 23-for-53 from 3-point range by the pound & half pound! and averaged 4.6 points. Artis has scored 26 points this season, and Stop by the shop for FREE coffee samples Newkirk has 17.

Sign up for our monthly specials at sirwilfreds.com ■ Brad Sherman is at sports@ 707 Front Street, Lahaina, Maui mauinews.com 808.661.0202 • 800.343.7654 • www.sirwilfreds.com

10

The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

B Haws, Cougars hope to send message R I G H A M

By ROBERT COLLIAS Staff Writer

Y O U N G

Tyler Haws has done a lot in his first three seasons at Brigham Young, but never anything quite like the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

“This is a big opportunity for us — a big part of our season — and we’re really excited about it,” said Haws, who was the sixth-leading scorer in the nation last season, an Associated Press honorable mention All-American and West Coast Conference Player of the Year. “We have been looking forward to it this whole offseason, lots of big-time teams there. You grow up watching the Maui Invitational. It’s one of the biggest preseason tournaments and we’re ready to win some games there.”

The Cougars will face San Diego State, ranked 16th by the AP, in the final game of the first round at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center. It could prove to be the matchup of the day despite not involving any of the tournament’s five teams from power conferences.

“For sure, there’s a chip on our shoulder, you have to prove yourself,” Haws said. “Every year, we really feel like we belong, could be in one of those (power) conferences. It’s just about us going out and proving that. Everyone in the locker room believes that, that we can beat anyone on any night.”

The Cougars finished 23-12 last season after a round-of-64 loss in the NCAA tournament. They have started this season 3-0, averaging 95.7 points per game — Haws is averaging 17.3.

“I think that we can be one of the best teams ever to come from BYU, with our experience and our talent and our depth,” Haws said. “And guys are hungry to win and to get off to a good start, so hopefully we can be ready to go for

on our team, lots of really good scorers and one thing I really like is that we share the ball,” he said. “We make the extra pass and the challenge for us is to continue to do that.”

Haws’ starting backcourt mate, Chase Fischer, has averaged 15.3 points, going 8-for-19 on 3-point attempts, and eight players have reached double figures at least once.

“Chase Fisher, a transfer from Wake Forest, is just a deep threat from the outside,” Haws said. “And then we have some really great freshmen that are stepping up and can really score the ball. We have guys who have been around for a while, guys that have played a lot of games, have a lot of experience there who know what it takes to win.”

Kyle Collinsworth is back after averaging 14.0 points last season. Collinsworth, who suffered a knee injury in last season’s WCC tournament, had what coach Dave Rose said was a planned absence from Wednesday’s victory over Southern Virginia after appearing in the Cougars’ first two games.

Haws is fifth in scoring in school history, and needs 603 points to surpass the BYU record of 2,599 set by Jimmer Fredette from 2007 to 2011.

“You try to build your team with real balance, but Tyler has been so consistent for us over the years, I think we will rely on him,” Rose said. “Hopefully he will be as consistent as he’s been the last two seasons, but I do like the possibilities of our team, the depth of our team. Every year you go into this with very high expectaJAREN WILKEY / BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY photo tions for your other players, but the thing Tyler Haws is the fifth-leading scorer in Brigham Young history, and earned is when you have got a guy returning Associated Press honorable mention All-American honors last season. that’s already done it, that’s big. That’s that tournament.” necessary this season on a team that in- where Tyler is for us.”

Haws averaged 23.2 points per game cludes five seniors and four juniors.

■ Robert Collias is at rcollias@ “I think there’s lots of talented people mauinews.com last season, but thinks that may not be

The Maui News

TIPOFF • EA SPORTS MAUI INVITATIONAL PREVIEW

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

11

S Fisher expects good season for Aztecs A N D I E G O S T A T E

By KYLE SAKAMOTO

ON THE COVER …

Staff Writer

Steve Fisher has been in the coaching business for quite some time, yet it’s all still fun and exciting to him.

It’s been that way for the 69-year-old, in his 16th season at San Diego State, because it has never really felt like a job.

“I think if you do something that doesn’t feel like work, it’s easy to keep going,” said Fisher, who on Wednesday signed a three-year contract extension.

“Age is just a number and I’m in good health and I have a great staff. I give responsibilities to others in the program, it’s not a one-man band. I get the other coaches involved in what we do. I love what I’m doing. I do everything with enthusiasm and with positive energy. When it feels like work I’ll say, ‘Sayonara, I’ve had enough.’ ” The Aztecs, 2-0 entering Thursday’s game against Cal State Bakersfield and 16th in The Associated Press poll, will play in the final game of the first round of this year’s EA Sports Maui Invitational, against Brigham Young at 6:30 p.m.

Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center.

San Diego State went 31-5 least season and reached the NCAA tournament Sweet 16. Three of its top four scorers return, including Dwayne Polee II and Winston Shepard, both named to this year’s Mountain West Conference preseason first team.

“We expect to have a good team,” Fisher said. “We’re proud of the fact others now across the country have recognized us and say we have one of the better programs in the country. People expect us to be good. We’ve been to five straight NCAA tournaments and sold out our building — season-ticket sales — four straight seasons now.”

Shepard scored in double figures in 14 of 18 conference games last season. This

• San Diego State’s Dwayne Polee II made the Mountain West Conference preseason first team.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY photo

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY photo

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher has guided two teams to third-place finishes in the EA Sports Maui Invitational — San Diego State in 2003, and Michigan in 1994.

season, he has totaled 20 points through the first two games.

“He’s played well, started every game last year, played a lot as a freshman,” Fisher said. “He’s had steady, continued growth. That’s what we want.”

The Aztecs’ recruiting class was ranked No. 17 by Rivals.com, but two of the four freshmen won’t see action on Maui — Zylan Cheatham has a foot in-

jury, and Malik Pope has a leg injury.

The two other freshmen — Kevin Zabo and Trey Kell — are vying for the starting point guard spot.

Angelo Chol, a 6-9 junior who sat out last season after transferring from Arizona, was voted the conference’s preseason Newcomer of the Year. J.J. O’Brien averaged a team-best 12.5 points in the first two games.

The Aztecs will be without Matt Shrigley until at least next month because of a broken bone in his left elbow.

Fisher has experience in the Maui Invitational, having coached two teams to third-place finishes — San Diego State in 2003, and Michigan in 1994.

“We as coaches, families, players and our entire basketball fan base are extremely excited to be participating in this year’s Maui Invitational,” Fisher said. “The Maui Invitational is the No. 1 most prestigious, most highly watched and competitive non-NCAA tournament event in the country.”

One of Fisher’s most special moments on Maui had nothing to do with basketball. While on vacation in August of 2001, he and son Mark reeled in a huge marlin.

“Our whole family went and we chartered a boat,” Fisher said. “My older boy and myself went. We were right in Lahaina. … We went out 30 minutes in the boat, so we couldn’t have gotten too far.

Mark was in the chair. It took over two hours to get that 441-pound marlin.”

Fisher said the fish was going to be released, but got wrapped up in the line and died.

“We took it to the pier and asked the guy what I should do with it,” Fisher said.

“He said, ‘Do you want to mount it?’ I said, ‘No, you take it.’ He said, ‘Within 30 minutes it’ll be in every Safeway on the entire island.’ ” ■ Kyle Sakamoto is at ksakamoto@ mauinews.com