UH Men’s Basketball Aims to Enhance Rebounding Against CS Bakersfield

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team faces Cal State Bakersfield in an important matchup at Bankoh Arena. After a recent loss to UC Santa Barbara, the Warriors are focusing on improving their rebounding performance.

Hawaii’s Rebounding Issues

The Rainbow Warriors have been out-rebounded for four consecutive games. Head coach Eran Ganot acknowledged the need to address this issue. He stated, “We’ve lost four straight on the boards,” indicating their historic struggle in this area. Despite averaging a +7.5 rebounding advantage overall, they only achieve a +3.0 margin in Big West games.

• Previous Rebounding Performance: – Currently ranked 57th nationally in defensive rebound percentage at 72.9%.
• Recent Focus: – Increased emphasis on rebounding during practices.

Forward Harry Rouhliadeff mentioned that the team must return to their historical strong rebounding habits. “Once we get a good rebounding game under our belt, we’ll be fine,” he commented.

Free-Throw Strategy

The Rainbow Warriors are also working on drawing fouls. They average 24.4 free-throw attempts per game, placing them 56th in NCAA rankings. Center Isaac Johnson is notably efficient, currently ranked 31st nationally in free-throw accuracy at 89.7%.

Challenges Faced by Cal State Bakersfield

Cal State Bakersfield has faced significant challenges this season. Following the departure of athletic director Kyle Conder and the arrest of assistant coach Kevin Mays, the team saw Rod Barnes resign after 14 years as head coach. Mike Scott, the former top assistant, has been appointed acting head coach.

• Key Player Absences:
  • Dailin Smith: Out in December due to injury.
  • Tom Mark: Missed five games due to injury.
  • CJ Hardy: Suffered a broken foot, out for four to six weeks.
  • Jaden Alexander: Doubtful for the upcoming game due to injury.

Despite these challenges, Scott aims to build a brand of basketball focused on athleticism and physical play. The Roadrunners are shooting 41.8% from the field and 29.7% from three-point range. They average a strong 36.2% of their rebounds off missed shots.

Upcoming Game Details

The game between Cal State Bakersfield and Hawaii is set for 7:05 p.m. tonight at Bankoh Arena. This matchup holds significance for both teams as they strive to improve their standings in the Big West Conference.

Viewers can catch the action on Spectrum Sports or listen on 1420-AM/92.7-FM.