Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

#92 Hawaii Rainbows

WAC

 2003-04: 21-12, 11-7, 5^th

2003-04 postseason: NIT

By Joel Welser

The Rainbows were dealt a blow when starting point guard Logan Lee opted not to play next season at Hawaii.  The news came late in the game and gave head coach Riley Wallace very little time to fill the roster spot.  Hawaii is still holding out hope that Lee will return to Honolulu. 

Who’s Out: Logan Lee dished out 3.6 assists per game last year and started most of the year before handing over the starting duties to Jason Carter.  Now with Lee probably gone and Carter running out of eligibility, the backcourt is looking questionable at best.  The Rainbows lose a group of frontcourt players as well.  Michael Kuebler led the squad with 18.1 points per game.  Phil Martin scored 9.5 and grabbed 4.5 boards.  Haim Shimonovich scored seven points and was a force on the boards, grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game.  Paul Jesinskis saw limited time with only 7.5 minutes per game in 27 contests.  That is a lot of frontcourt production not returning.

Who’s In: The staff at Hawaii had the frontcourt in mind while recruiting this year.  Center Chris Botez is the only freshman making the trip to Hawaii.  The 7-0, 225 pound, Portland native is a big body that could see some time.  Botez may be rough around the edges but he should get a chance to improve.  A couple junior college transfers are expected to come in and make an immediate impact.  Power forward Matt Gipson and shooting guard Matt Gibson will be given the opportunity to start.  That’s not a typo and I’d like to send my sympathies to the Hawaii play-by-play announcer. 

Who to Watch: With Julian Sensley on your side, things can never look that bad.  As a sophomore last year, the 6-9 forward averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.  The Hawaii native can also do a little passing, stealing and blocking.  He had seven double-doubles in 33 games and Sensley’s scoring was coming on strong late in the season.  Sensley will have to adjust to being the main scoring threat, but he has the skills and presence to pull it off without a problem.  The scoring isn’t just from under the basket.  The big guy can step outside, draining 29 three pointers last year.  Sensley also shot a respectable 72% from the line last year.

Projected Conference Rank: A lot depends on rather or not Logan Lee comes back to Hawaii.  Even if he doesn’t, Julian Sensley will step it up and lead the Rainbows back to the NIT and a 5^th finish in the WAC.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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