UH-Hilo’s first encounter against a zone defense this season ended well enough, but that doesn’t mean coach GE Coleman thinks the Vulcans are zone killers by any stretch of the imagination.
“If I was coaching against us, I’d play zone against us all the time,” Coleman said.
You may have heard that it’s a game of adjustments.
That makes it Biola’s move Monday night when UHH’s men’s basketball team welcomes the Eagles at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Vuls (9-8, 7-6 Pacific West Conference) are looking for an encore presentation to their rousing win against Azusa Pacific on Friday night, when steal-happy UHH turned on the pressure and ultimately turned off the Cougars for its best win of the season.
“It will be interesting, I know (Biola) will have and adjustment for our (defensive) pressure, and we’ll have to adjust on the fly,” Coleman said.
Speaking of on the fly, somewhat amazingly it took until the Vuls’ 17th game of the season for them to finally face a zone defense.
UHH started modestly enough and lost its lead to Azusa, but Coleman said, “The good news is … they gave us some trouble for about 15 minutes, but we kind of grinded it out and found a way and started getting the ball in the middle of the zone.
“I think if we can take the next step to being able to adjust we’ll be in good shape.”
With nine games to go and the team’s first trip to the six-team PacWest tournament in sight, UHH remains a game and a half in front of Academy of Art in sixth place.
Biola (11-9, 7-7) is actually in seventh place, but the Eagles are ineligible for the postseason this year. They come in off a 65-56 win against Hawaii Pacific on Saturday.
Coleman called Biola an effective half-court offensive team, so job No. 1 for UHH will be try to turn the game uptempo and force turnovers.
“They’re very well-coached and disciplined,” Coleman said. “They execute want they want to do and change it up defensively.”
Those changes will likely include UHH’s second look at a zone this season.
The men’s game tips off at 7:30 p.m. after the women’s game at 5 p.m.
Vuls softball loses
San Francisco State rapped out 12 hits and took advantage of five Hawai`i Hilo errors to claim a 7-3 win in the finale for both teams of the rain shortened Desert Stinger Softball Tournament at Majestic Park.
The Vulcans (1-2) held a 3-2 lead after two innings, thanks to bases clearing double by Kimberly Olivas.
But the Gators (3-0) answered in the top of third with a home run by Brylynn Vallejos to take the lead 4-3, and they would never trail again.
