Sports Update
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Saturday, March 8, 1997
Not that the former UCLA women's athletic director still chairs the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament selection committee, but her name continues to send a chilling message whenever one puts two other words together. Hawaii and postseason.
"If they need a reason to keep us out of the tournament, they'll find one," said Hawaii coach Vince Goo after his team was eliminated in the WAC Tournament semifinal Friday by San Diego State, 74-48.
"If they're going to look strictly on wins and losses, then we're in at 21-8. Based on our RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) and how far we got in the tournament, then we'll go.
"I don't think the season's over for us. Today's score might hurt but then they'll have to go back and look at every single score for every single bubble team. They may say it's because we lost four of our last seven but (in 1993), we were 28-4, won 26 of our last 28 so that's a bunch of baloney. They always come up with reason."
In 1993, Holland was on national television, discussing the tournament teams. She said Hawaii had a weak schedule in a weak conference.
But that was a 32-team tournament then. With the expansion to 64, Hawaii could be one of three or four invitees from the WAC.
He is ironing out some details with the contract offer and hopes to reach an agreement by Monday.
"We're still in the negotiating phase," Wallace said. "I should know more by Monday. This is something I want to do. Taking a head coaching job would be a step up for me."
Wallace has been a part of the highly successful Wahine volleyball program since 1988, when he served as UH head coach Dave Shoji's graduate assistant. The 39-year-old was promoted to associate coach in 1990.
"I know Howard was offered the job, but I don't believe he's accepted it yet," Shoji said last night.
"He let me know after the season was over that he was interested in finding a head coaching job. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
The Matadors (4-6 in the MPSF Mountain Division, 7-7 overall) defeated the Rainbows, 7-15, 15-8, 13-15, 16-14, 15-12, in a contest that lasted an excruciating 2 hours and 53 minutes.
Hawaii will face the Matadors in a nonconference match Saturday at 7:30 at the Special Events Arena.
The Rainbows (6-6, 8-7) appeared en route to a 3-1 victory with a 6-1 lead in the fourth game. But that was when the listless Matadors began to get feisty, drawing the attention of the officials.
After a disputed point gave Hawaii an 8-5 lead, senior outside hitter Collin Smith vigorously objected by rattling the net near the referee's perch. He was warned.
After a Cal State-Northridge sideout, senior Jason Hughes seemed to tell the referee to shove that one in his ear. He was flashed a yellow card.
The Matadors made the next point (8-6).
But it was a defiant gesture by burly, wild-eyed senior Dan Nash after he rejected an Aaron Wilton delivery that seemed to be the defining emotional moment for Cal State Northridge.
After scoring the point that made it 10-8, Nash made a kicking motion toward the Hawaii side that the referee took as unsportsmanlike and flashed him a yellow card.
It served as an adrenaline injection for Cal State Northridge and the biggest contribution of the night by Nash, who had only one kill. The Matadors went on to outscore Hawaii, 8-4, to take the game.