Hawaii Info
Head Coach: Benjy Taylor
Location: Honolulu, HI
Conference: Big West
Nickname: Warriors
Last time out: Beat Chaminade
Typical Rotation Depth: 8-9 players
Tempo: Fast Paced
Offensive Style: Attacking fast break
Defensive Style: Smoke and mirrors
Opening Line: Nebraska by 6.5
Hawaii Connection 1: Tai Webster's father Tony was a standout for Hawaii and was all-WAC in 1983
Hawaii Connection 2: Jim Molinari's son David is a walk-on for DePaul
Hawaii Connection 3: Christian Standhardinger finished up his college career at Hawaii last season.
Other Previews
Huskers.com - http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=209815099
Warrior Insider- http://www.warriorinsider.com/2014/12/warriors-hope-to-be-at-full-force-for-diamond-head/
Player to Watch
Roderick Bobbitt: Hawaii has a lot of different pieces and should be at full force this year with Forward Negus Webster-Chan returning from injury and 6-11 Mizzou transfer Stefan Jankovic becoming eligible. Juco transfer Bobbitt is leading the team in minutes, assists, steals, and FT attempts. The biggest weakness for the lightning fast guard has been his 19% 3pt shooting.
The Skinny
Hawaii is an evolving team. They lost leading shot taker and Nebraska legend Christian Standhardinger to graduation. Next second leading shot taker and New Zealander Isaac Fotu decided to go pro (after being ruled ineligible). The Fotu fiasco lead to the firing of Coach Gib Arnold and assistant Brandyn Akana. Former Chicago St. coach Benjy Taylor is currently running the team until the end of the year on an interim basis. Clear as mud?
Hawaii owns a win over Pitt this year and has been taking care of lesser opponents. Their 20 point loss vs BYU was a fairly close game until a shorthanded Warrior squad folded at the end. The Warriors will want to run in this contest and pace should dictate the winner. Hawaii is an offense that feeds on turnovers and fast breaks.
Overall this is a good matchup for the Huskers: a team that doesn't shoot the 3 well and could put Nebraska at the line 20+ times this game. If the Huskers can play their defensive game they should be in a good position to win.
Other factors to keep in mind will be the pressure and zone defense the Warriors will throw at the Huskers. Can the Huskers hold onto the ball? Will they set up David Rivers in the middle of the zone to knock down shots?
Prediction: Nebraska 71 - Hawaii 66
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