Hana Hou in Hawaiian means ?encore? or ?one more time.? It?s a popular phrase locals say ? well, passionately shout ? when something awesome just happened and they want to see it again.
When the final buzzer sounds in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic between third ranked Oklahoma and upset-minded Harvard, only three teams from the field of eight will leave the Aloha State with two straight victories under their belts, the BYU men?s basketball team would love a ?hana hou? performance of their blowout win against New Mexico when they take on perennial giant killer Northern Iowa on Friday in the fifth-place game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, but surely a one-point win would do as well.
While Christmas is the season of giving, if BYU wants to claim their ninth win of the season, their biggest gift to date, they will have to do all they can to take it.
All that stands in the way of BYU from salvaging a 2-1 showing and the huge boost of confidence that will come with it heading into the Cougars? West Coast Conference clash with St. Mary?s on New Year?s Eve are the Panthers of Northern Iowa.
UNI rebounded from a 16-point loss at the hands of host Hawaii with a 63-59 victory over Washington State despite being outshot from the floor.
Senior guard Paul Jesperson led the way with 18 points in the win against the Cougars. Other players to watch are senior high-flyer Wes Washburn and junior guard mate Jeremy Morgan, coach Ben Jacobson?s best on-ball defender. The two in-state products have put forth double-figure scoring efforts in both tournament games.
The Panthers, recognized nationally as the new modern day mid-major Cinderella, boast wins against former No. 1 North Carolina and then fifth-ranked Iowa State already this season. However, UNI has looked relatively underwhelming with a 6-3 mark since beating the Tar Heels on Nov. 21. The Panthers' average margin in defeat has been a whopping 16 points.
BYU has played solid basketball in Hawaii and given Rose a chance to solidify his team?s identity in 2016 since its lethargic start in the Harvard game.
While Kyle Collinsworth has been equal parts smart and savvy whether it be creating for teammates or scoring, Kyle Davis has been nothing short of consistent down low. The two games in Hawaii have also showed the emergence of the defensive brawn and physicality of Nate Austin and Jamal Aytes.
Austin, who played admirably in limited minutes against Harvard, was up to the task in a starting role versus New Mexico. Aytes, who missed four games prior to the Diamond Head Classic with an ankle injury, on the other hand, has made a strong case to join Corbin Kaufusi as one of BYU?s top reserves in the front court averaging 20 minutes of action so far.
?Jamal looked good,? Rose said following the team?s 30-point trouncing of New Mexico. "He actually got up and got some rebounds. He can be a real find for us if he becomes an everyday player. I hope he can and will make the team a whole lot better.?
Steady shooting from the trio of Chase Fischer, Nick Emery and Zac Seljaas should keep Panther defenders on their toes. If Northern Iowa players are on their heels, Fischer and Emery, specifically, have shown that taking the ball to the basket is a great option.
Seljaas, who made both of his 3s on Wednesday, is 16 for 22 (73 percent) from behind the arc in his last four games and Fischer and Emery are coming off their best shooting efforts of the season.
Even if their shots don?t fall, the threat of their long-range bombs clears space for the offensive-minded Davis. Drive and kick opportunities could prove to be equally concerning to opponents.
?I think we have some grit. We have some fight,? said Fischer. "I think we are really going to get on a roll this middle part of the year. It?s tough in nonconference when things don?t go your way.I think we got some grit we got some fight and we?re a really good team.?
After a 10 a.m practice, it?s ?Ohana? time in Waikiki and a chance to revive and reboot a bit for the Cougar basketball family who made the journey to Oahu.
?We?ve got a big dinner planned for the whole group that?s come over,? said Rose. "We are going to have a great Christmas Eve and then let?s see what kind of Christmas we?ll have from the result of the game.?
When the final buzzer sounds in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic between third ranked Oklahoma and upset-minded Harvard, only three teams from the field of eight will leave the Aloha State with two straight victories under their belts, the BYU men?s basketball team would love a ?hana hou? performance of their blowout win against New Mexico when they take on perennial giant killer Northern Iowa on Friday in the fifth-place game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, but surely a one-point win would do as well.
While Christmas is the season of giving, if BYU wants to claim their ninth win of the season, their biggest gift to date, they will have to do all they can to take it.
All that stands in the way of BYU from salvaging a 2-1 showing and the huge boost of confidence that will come with it heading into the Cougars? West Coast Conference clash with St. Mary?s on New Year?s Eve are the Panthers of Northern Iowa.
UNI rebounded from a 16-point loss at the hands of host Hawaii with a 63-59 victory over Washington State despite being outshot from the floor.
Senior guard Paul Jesperson led the way with 18 points in the win against the Cougars. Other players to watch are senior high-flyer Wes Washburn and junior guard mate Jeremy Morgan, coach Ben Jacobson?s best on-ball defender. The two in-state products have put forth double-figure scoring efforts in both tournament games.
The Panthers, recognized nationally as the new modern day mid-major Cinderella, boast wins against former No. 1 North Carolina and then fifth-ranked Iowa State already this season. However, UNI has looked relatively underwhelming with a 6-3 mark since beating the Tar Heels on Nov. 21. The Panthers' average margin in defeat has been a whopping 16 points.
BYU has played solid basketball in Hawaii and given Rose a chance to solidify his team?s identity in 2016 since its lethargic start in the Harvard game.
While Kyle Collinsworth has been equal parts smart and savvy whether it be creating for teammates or scoring, Kyle Davis has been nothing short of consistent down low. The two games in Hawaii have also showed the emergence of the defensive brawn and physicality of Nate Austin and Jamal Aytes.
Austin, who played admirably in limited minutes against Harvard, was up to the task in a starting role versus New Mexico. Aytes, who missed four games prior to the Diamond Head Classic with an ankle injury, on the other hand, has made a strong case to join Corbin Kaufusi as one of BYU?s top reserves in the front court averaging 20 minutes of action so far.
?Jamal looked good,? Rose said following the team?s 30-point trouncing of New Mexico. "He actually got up and got some rebounds. He can be a real find for us if he becomes an everyday player. I hope he can and will make the team a whole lot better.?
Steady shooting from the trio of Chase Fischer, Nick Emery and Zac Seljaas should keep Panther defenders on their toes. If Northern Iowa players are on their heels, Fischer and Emery, specifically, have shown that taking the ball to the basket is a great option.
Seljaas, who made both of his 3s on Wednesday, is 16 for 22 (73 percent) from behind the arc in his last four games and Fischer and Emery are coming off their best shooting efforts of the season.
Even if their shots don?t fall, the threat of their long-range bombs clears space for the offensive-minded Davis. Drive and kick opportunities could prove to be equally concerning to opponents.
?I think we have some grit. We have some fight,? said Fischer. "I think we are really going to get on a roll this middle part of the year. It?s tough in nonconference when things don?t go your way.I think we got some grit we got some fight and we?re a really good team.?
After a 10 a.m practice, it?s ?Ohana? time in Waikiki and a chance to revive and reboot a bit for the Cougar basketball family who made the journey to Oahu.
?We?ve got a big dinner planned for the whole group that?s come over,? said Rose. "We are going to have a great Christmas Eve and then let?s see what kind of Christmas we?ll have from the result of the game.?
