A lot can happen in 12 days.
A lot needs to happen in 12 days, UH-Hilo men’s basketball coach GE Coleman said.
Holding off Simpson at home is one thing, but trips to Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade at the end of the month are quite another.
“We have to get a heck of a lot better in the next couple of weeks,” Coleman said Saturday after the Vulcans downed the NAIA Red Hawks 76-71 at Hilo Civic.
UHH (2-1) built a 16-point lead midway through the second half on a 3-pointer by Jordan Graves, then avoided what could have been disastrous meltdown – and a two-game sweep at the hands of Simpson – overcoming an “ugly” stretch offensively by making just enough free throws and getting just stops on the defensive end.
It’s a start, Coleman said.
“We have three games we can watch on film, correct all of our mistakes and correct all of our weaknesses, and build on our strengths and get ready for this PacWest grind,” Coleman said. “We come out of the gates playing two of the best teams in our league on the road.”
Considering all of the Vuls new faces, Coleman had long been looking forward to hitting the pause button after three games and taking stock of just where the program stood:
• He’s liked his point guard play so far. Freshman Damani Whitlock converted two free throws late to make it two-possession game Saturday, and he scored in double figures off the bench twice against Simpson. Graves, a junior transfer, posted season-highs off 11 points and four assists Saturday.
“Damani, the last two games has been playing really well,” Coleman said. “I thought Jordan Graves set the tone … really was the settling figure for us offensively.”
• Senior transfer James Griffin has been as advertised with a pair of 23-point games, and he’s also the team’s second-leading rebounder behind reserve Kupaa Harrison.
• On the other side of the coin, the Vuls could use better balance, as Griffin (19.3 points per game) is the only UHH player averaging in double figures on the short season. Guard Larry Bush, a senior transfer, provided instant offense in the opener, but he had a off-shooting night in the first game against Simpson, a 78-75 loss, and he put up only three shots in 31 minutes Saturday, though he did contribute four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
• Big men Devin Johnson and Denhym Brooke have yet to really get on track. Johnson, the team’s top returning player, hasn’t played more than 19 minutes in a game. Brooke has come through with nine blocks on the interior, though UHH could use an uptick in rebounding.
• Coleman has to be happy with his bench. Cleo Cain, Jalen Thompson, Whitlock and Harrison have been solid.
• Coleman thought the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s contest were the best his team has played defensively so far, and he didn’t sound too concerned by scoring spree put on by 5-foot-9 freshman point guard Tiyon Martin, who finished with 21 points, including 12 in the final 6:34 of the game as he tried to bring Simpson back.
“We’ll have to adjust to that and we probably should have got the ball out of his hands and just denied him,” Coleman said, “but again that’s something we’ll learn and take care of.
“We are still learning how to win.”
There is time, but also a hint of urgency
The Vuls open PacWest play in Honolulu against Hawaii Pacific (Nov. 29) and Chaminade (Dec. 1), then they return home to play Fresno Pacific on Dec. 3).
Honor for Navarette
UH-Hilo women’s 6-foot post Allie Navarette on Monday was named to PacWest defender of the week.
The sophomore picked up 15 defensive rebounds with five blocks and three steals as the Vulcans held NAIA foe Multonomah twice, holding the Lions to 52.5 points per game.