huskeraddict
All-Conference
December 23, 2014
12am CT - ESPNU
Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI
DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC
Nebraska Cornhuskers 6-3 (Last: 56-55 W vs Cincinnati)
vs
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 8-3 (Last: 94-63 W vs Chaminade)
Head Coaches
Nebraska Tim Miles (323-254, 40-34 at Nebraska)
Hawaii Benjy Taylor (74-112, 8-3 at Hawaii)
Injury Report
Nebraska
F - Moses Abraham - Broken hand - 2-4 weeks
F - Leslee Smith - Knee - Out indefinitely
Hawaii
No injuries to report
Scouting Hawaii
Hawaii comes off final exams with a 7-3 record heading into a Dec. 19 game against Chaminade. The Rainbow Warriors won 20 games in 2013-14 - the program’s highest total in a decade - but have endured a tough offseason. Head Coach Gib Arnold was removed in late October, and Benjy Taylor, who was an assistant for the past four seasons, was named acting head coach. The Rainbow Warriors also lost junior Isaac Fotu in the fall, as he signed a professional contract. Fotu, a teammate of Tai Webster’s on New Zealand’s national team, was an All-Big West performer who averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 2013-14.
This season, the Rainbow Warriors have gotten off to a solid start with wins in seven of their first 10 games, including a 74-70 win over Pittsburgh in Maui on Nov. 21. Hawaii is averaging 72.9 points per game while holding opponents to 69.1 points per game. The team is led by sophomore Aaron Valdes, who is averaging team bests in both points (16.2) and rebounds (7.4) while shooting 58 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3-point range. Senior guard Garrett Nevels joins Valdes in double figures with 12.8 points per game. Roderick Bobbitt has been a factor in his first season averaging 9.7 points while pacing the ‘Bow in assists (5.7 per game) and steals (2.8 per game). As a team, Hawaii is averaging 9.0 steals per game. This week, Hawaii also gains the services of Stefan Jankovic, a 6-foot-11 forward, who had to sit out the first semester after transferring from Missouri.
