Some scenarios, particularly those of the doomsday variety, are best not to think about. Unfortunately for Hawaii coach Gib Arnold, there is little choice.
Arnold's Rainbow Warriors march into the second Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic tomorrow armed with just one true ball-handler - freshman point guard Bobby Miles - with the news that senior guard Hiram Thompson is all but ruled out for the nationally televised tournament with a stiff back.
UH's first-round opponent in a strong second-year field is Florida State of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a team that deconstructs its foes' offenses like an angry wrecking ball operator. The numbers bear that out: The Seminoles are second nationally in opponent field-goal percentage (33.7) and aren't far behind in points allowed (58.6) and shot blocking (7.6).
Host UH (7-2) follows against either Utah or Butler on Thursday followed by a foe from the other side of the eight-team bracket on Christmas Day."It's a big concern, with one point guard," Arnold said. "You'd like to have three. At the least two, and we'll be down to one, looks like. You know, Bobby's solid, he's a freshman, but he's done a great job and it'll be a big, big opportunity for him to play against the No. 1 defensive team in the country with the ball pressure. So he's going to grow up real fast."
The Rainbow Warriors have performed well since the departure of two reserve guards, with two blowout wins over inferior competition. But combined with injuries to senior captains Thompson and Bill Amis (out with foot stress fracture), UH's depth is, well, kiddie-pool shallow. Eight Rainbows will likely suit up for the next three days against some of the toughest competition they will face all season.
Miles, who is coming off a career-high 10 assists against Chicago State, thinks he's ready to hold the fort. UH's emphasis with Thompson and Amis is getting them back for the Western Athletic Conference season starting Dec. 29 at Utah State.
"Just hoping (Hiram) gets better soon, as fast as possible," Miles said. "(In my career) I always had someone else that the team trusted with the ball and stuff, but right now, for the next game, it's me getting up the court and getting the team involved in the plays."
Arnold said in the event Miles must sit with foul trouble, he will try a ball-handling committee, including guard Zane Johnson and forward Trevor Wiseman. Wiseman was Golden Valley High's point forward last year.
"If they ask me to do it, I'd be glad to do it. I love doing that," Wiseman said. "I've been waiting to do it. That's where I'm most comfortable at, running down the court. I like a fast-paced game."
The Seminoles (9-2) are adept in disrupting that with traps and presses, led by 6-foot-9 whirling dervish/forward Chris Singleton, the reigning ACC defensive player of the year. He leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals.
The last time UH and FSU met, a two-game series in Honolulu in 1971, UH swept the eventual national runner-up. That included an infamous forfeit by FSU in the first game, when they trailed 30-10 and coach Hugh Durham refused to leave the court after being ejected by the officials. The current FSU coach, Leonard Hamilton, had no knowledge of it, and was more concerned with the progress of the current 'Noles.
"We feel that we have a ways to go. Our defense has been solid," Hamilton said. "We're a team that's trying to continue to keep winning games while we develop. And hopefully we can develop a little more while we're in this tournament."
Arnold's Rainbow Warriors march into the second Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic tomorrow armed with just one true ball-handler - freshman point guard Bobby Miles - with the news that senior guard Hiram Thompson is all but ruled out for the nationally televised tournament with a stiff back.
UH's first-round opponent in a strong second-year field is Florida State of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a team that deconstructs its foes' offenses like an angry wrecking ball operator. The numbers bear that out: The Seminoles are second nationally in opponent field-goal percentage (33.7) and aren't far behind in points allowed (58.6) and shot blocking (7.6).
Host UH (7-2) follows against either Utah or Butler on Thursday followed by a foe from the other side of the eight-team bracket on Christmas Day."It's a big concern, with one point guard," Arnold said. "You'd like to have three. At the least two, and we'll be down to one, looks like. You know, Bobby's solid, he's a freshman, but he's done a great job and it'll be a big, big opportunity for him to play against the No. 1 defensive team in the country with the ball pressure. So he's going to grow up real fast."
The Rainbow Warriors have performed well since the departure of two reserve guards, with two blowout wins over inferior competition. But combined with injuries to senior captains Thompson and Bill Amis (out with foot stress fracture), UH's depth is, well, kiddie-pool shallow. Eight Rainbows will likely suit up for the next three days against some of the toughest competition they will face all season.
Miles, who is coming off a career-high 10 assists against Chicago State, thinks he's ready to hold the fort. UH's emphasis with Thompson and Amis is getting them back for the Western Athletic Conference season starting Dec. 29 at Utah State.
"Just hoping (Hiram) gets better soon, as fast as possible," Miles said. "(In my career) I always had someone else that the team trusted with the ball and stuff, but right now, for the next game, it's me getting up the court and getting the team involved in the plays."
Arnold said in the event Miles must sit with foul trouble, he will try a ball-handling committee, including guard Zane Johnson and forward Trevor Wiseman. Wiseman was Golden Valley High's point forward last year.
"If they ask me to do it, I'd be glad to do it. I love doing that," Wiseman said. "I've been waiting to do it. That's where I'm most comfortable at, running down the court. I like a fast-paced game."
The Seminoles (9-2) are adept in disrupting that with traps and presses, led by 6-foot-9 whirling dervish/forward Chris Singleton, the reigning ACC defensive player of the year. He leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks and steals.
The last time UH and FSU met, a two-game series in Honolulu in 1971, UH swept the eventual national runner-up. That included an infamous forfeit by FSU in the first game, when they trailed 30-10 and coach Hugh Durham refused to leave the court after being ejected by the officials. The current FSU coach, Leonard Hamilton, had no knowledge of it, and was more concerned with the progress of the current 'Noles.
"We feel that we have a ways to go. Our defense has been solid," Hamilton said. "We're a team that's trying to continue to keep winning games while we develop. And hopefully we can develop a little more while we're in this tournament."
