BCS SYSTEM: WHAT A MESS!

(Dec. 2): I've never been a fan of the BCS system, stating on many occasions that a more accurate description would be the BS system. This week is one of those times.

To be fair, an unprecedented concentration of power in the Big 12 South has created a mess that no one could have predicted.

The human element in the BCS formula – the USA Today and Harris polls -- vaulted Texas into second place with a slight lead over No. 3 Oklahoma.

But the six computer ratings that constitute one-third of the formula, sided with Oklahoma, after the Sooners posted a 61-41 road win over Oklahoma State. What makes this so weird, of course, is that Texas earlier beat Oklahoma 45-35.

Because the Big 12 opted to use the BCS poll as the tie-breaker in the case of a three-way tie for first place in one of its divisions (remember that seventh-ranked Texas Tech beat Texas to create the logjam), that means the Longhorns have been left out of this week's Big 12 title game.

That also means Texas must pray for Missouri to upset Oklahoma to have even a remote chance of playing in the BCS title game. Emphasis on the word remote.

This is not the first time that a highly-ranked team winning a head-to-head game was left out of the national title picture.

Florida State has twice been the beneficiary of such scenarios. In happened in 1993 when the 'Noles lost to Notre Dame but finished ahead of the Irish in the polls and it happened again in 2000, when Florida State lost to Miami and finished ahead of the Hurricanes.

In other words, it's a flawed system. Let's get rid of it.

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HAWAII WILL BE HOME FOR HOLIDAYS

(Dec. 1): It wasn't the prettiest of games. But in a season that started in such ugly fashion, Hawaii's 24-10 win over visiting Washington State was attractive enough.

For one thing, the victory clinched a berth for UH in the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. For another, it enabled Hawaii to finish in a three-way tie for second place with Nevada and LaTech in the WAC standings.

Not bad for a team that lost all of its key offensive players and its head coach, was picked to finish fifth in the WAC and faced four teams that were or are ranked in the Top 25.

In the process, Boise State claimed yet another WAC title – finishing its perfect regular season by erupting for 48 points in the second half in a 61-10 rout of Fresno State. Nevada beat LaTech 35-31 to create the logjam for the runner-up spot.

As a result, Hawaii's date this week with No.13 Cincinnati will serve as an appetizing regular-season finale instead of must-win game against the recently-crowned Big East champ.

Leading Hawaii against Wazzou was Greg Alexander, a JC transfer who started the season-opener against Florida, lost the job, won it back and is now firmly entrenched as the team's QB for the immediate present and the future.

Alexander threw for 315 yards and a pair of touchdowns in addition to rushing for a team-high 43 yards on 14 carries. Defensively, Hawaii held the Cougars to 196 yards as the linebacking tandem of Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard each
registered 10 tackles.

LUNAS OUSTED: Although their school is located literally right down the road from Aloha Stadium, the Radford Rams spent the first two weeks of the state football tournament doing some serious island-hopping.

Thanks largely to a sensational first-half performance by Shawn Putman-Curry, the Rams – following trips to Kauai and Maui -- will be making the shortest of
bus rides for Friday's Division-II championship game against defending champion Iolani, which advanced with a 24-8 win over Campbell.

And, as a result, Lahainaluna – last year's runner-up – will be staying home following a 33-27 loss to the Rams.

Putman-Curry is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior with excellent size, speed and hands. And he put all of those on display Friday night at War Memorial Stadium.

He put in a full night's work in the first half alone, making eight catches for 126 yards and accounting for all three of his team's touchdowns – two on receptions and another on a run – for a 21-7 lead at intermission.

Lahainaluna scored a pair of late TDs on passes by Jake Manning to make things interesting down the stretch. But an onside kick was recovered by – who else? – Putman-Curry and the Lunas closed out their season with a 7-3 record.

In the D-I final, it will be defending champ Leilehua versus top-ranked Punahou. Leilehua, which eliminated Baldwin last week, rallied to beat Kahuku 17-10 in overtime. Punahou barely held on for a 34-28 win over Farrington.

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TARHEELS VS. IRISH IN MIT FINAL

The two headline players in this year's EA Sports Maui Invitational will be on
display in today's 5 p.m. championship game at the Lahaina Civic Center.

Tyler Hansbrough, the reigning national player of the year, didn't play at all for
top-ranked North Carolina in Monday's opening romp past Chaminade.

And the 6-9 senior, who has been nursing a couple of injuries, saw limited action
in yesterday's 98-69 semifinal win over Oregon, but still managed to score 16
points in 19 minutes of duty.

Hansbrough did most of his damage from the free throw line, making 12 of 14
attempts.

Luke Harangody, who joined Hansbrough on the pre-season All-America team,
was the pivotal figure in eighth-ranked Notre Dame's dramatic 81-80 win over No.
6 Texas in the other semifinal game.

The 6-8 junior forward finished with 29 points and 13 points as the Fighting Irish
barely held off the Longhorns, whose AJ Abrams nearly won the game on a
running half-court shot that hit the front of the rim as time expired.

That brought to an end to what frankly has been the only close game in the 25th
edition of the tournament.

In yesterday's other games, St. Joseph's pulled away from Indiana, 80-54, and
Alabama dominated tournament host Chaminade 78-56.

In today's other matchups: St. Joe's and Alabama meet at 9 a.m. for fifth place,
Texas and Oregon tangle for third place at 11:30 and Chaminade meets Indiana
for third at 2 o'clock.

All four games will be aired on Maui's ESPN 550.

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FOUR GAMES, FOUR ROUTS

The truth of the matter was that the opening day of the Maui Invitational didn't
produce a single exciting game, as all four ended up with runaway scores.

But that could – and should – change today at the Lahaina Civic Center, particularly
in a pair of semifinal games featuring three of the top eight ranked teams in the
country.

Even with reigning national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough sitting out the
game, No. 1 North Carolina romped to a 115-70 win against over-matched
tournament host Chaminade. Danny Green led the way for the Tar Heels with 26
points.

Hansbrough dressed for the game, but was held out for precautionary reasons. He
is suffering from a shin injury and coach Roy Williams didn't want to take any
chances with his ailing big man in a game that UNC was going to dominate from
start to finish.

But Hansbrough will be in the lineup against Oregon in today's 4:30 semi. The
Ducks pulled away after a slow start for a 92-69 win over Alabama as freshman
center Michael Dunigan scored 18 points and Joevan Catron had 17 points and 13
rebounds.

In the 2 p.m. semifinal it will be a showdown between No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Notre
Dame.

The taller, faster and stronger Longhorns overwhelmed Saint Joseph's 68-50.

And Notre Dame had absolutely not problem against rebuilding in-state rival
Indiana. The Fighting Irish eased to an 88-50 win over a team featuring four
freshman as starters and a total of eight first-year players on the roster.

In today's consolation games: St. Jose's meets Indiana at 8:30 and Chaminade
challenges Alabama at 11 a.m.

The tournament runs through Wednesday, with the championship game set for a 5
p.m. tip off.

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INVITATIONAL FEATURES TOP TEAMS

It's easy to get caught up in the hyperbole surrounding a big event. But in the
case of the EA Sports Maui Invitational, which begins a three-day run this
morning at the Lahaina Civic Center, it's hard to over-state the quality of what's
regularly – and accurately -- described as the nation's premier early-season
basketball tournament.

The 25th edition of the event will feature three teams ranked among the Top Ten
in the country: No. 1 North Carolina, No. 7 Texas and No. 9 Notre Dame.

The tournament also features two marquee plays in reigning national player of the
year Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and fellow pre-season All-America Luke
Harangody of Notre Dame, the returning Big East player of the year.

Today's matchups: Saint Joseph's versus Texas at 10 a.m. and Indiana versus
Notre Dame at 12:30. In the late session, the top-ranked Tar Heels face
tournament host Chaminade at 4:30 followed by Oregon versus Alabama at 7.

BIG WINS FOR UH ON COURT, GRIDIRON

The sixth-ranked Rainbow Wahine won their 11th straight WAC women's
volleyball tournament title by defeating New Mexico State in four games last night
at the Stan Sheriff Center. Next stop for UH: the NCAA tournament.

And the Hawaii football eam now needs just one more victory to become bowl
eligible following a 49-17romp past Idaho on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

UH can clinch a berth in the Hawaii Bowl by defeating Washington State, which
registered only its second victory of the season by defeating winless Washington
in overtime in a game some sarcastic souls were describing as the Crapple Cup.

LEILEHUA OUSTS BEARS; LUNAS HOST RADFORD

There were no miracle comebacks by Baldwin this time. After rebounding from
big early deficits four times en route to a 7-0 MIL record, the Bears again fell
behind early on Friday night.

But Leilehua, the defending state Division-I football champion, were simply too
good of a team to fold after jumping out to a 21-0 lead just slightly more than
eight minutes into the game.

Leading the way for the Mules was junior quarterback Andrew Manley, who
accounted for all of his team's touchdowns in the 34-15 victory by throwing four
TD passes and running for another.

While Baldwin closed out its season with an 8-2 record, Leilehua lived to play
another week. The Mules will meet Kahuku in this Friday's D-I semifinals at Aloha
Stadium, with top-seeded Punahou facing Farrington in the other game.

In D-II, second-seeded Lahainaluna drew a first-round bye and will host Radford
on Friday at War Memorial Stadium. Radford advanced by posting road win over
previously unbeaten Kauai High. On the other side of the bracket, top-seeded
and defending champion Iolani will face Campbell.

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UH CRUISES IN VOLLEYBALL OPENER

(Nov. 21): The nationally sixth-ranked Rainbow Wahine had absolutely no problem in advancing into the semifinals of the WAC volleyball tournament by pounding on Boise State 25-15, 25-16, 25-17 last night at the Stan Sherriff.

Hawaii should face a stronger challenge at 7:30 tonight against Idaho, which swept Nevada 25-20, 25-21, 25-18.

In yesterday's other quarterfinal games, top-seeded New Mexico State swept Fresno State. The Lady Aggies will next meet San Jose State, which rode a 19-kill performance by Colleen Burke to beat Utah State in five sets.

The final is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday.

While the Rainbow Wahine are bidding for their 10th straight WAC tournament title, the UH football team will trying to move closer to bowl-eligibility when it plays host to Idaho on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

Hawaii must win two of its remaining three games – all at home – to qualify for the Hawaii Bowl.

Idaho brings a 2-9 record into the game following last week's 45-10 loss to unbeaten and nationally ninth-ranked Boise State.

A familiar name has made a positive contribution to Idaho's defensive unit. Former Baldwin standout Jojo Dickson is a sophomore linebacker for the Vandals, registering 31 tackles this season.

The UH basketball teams are off this week, hopefully working on improving themselves following dismal starts. The men are 1-2 while the women are winless in three outings.

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MORE SUPER FIELDS AHEAD FOR MAUI INVITATIONAL

(Nov. 20): I'll be the first to admit that I've become spoiled when it comes to the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Year in, year out, there isn't an early-season tournament held on a single site that attracts better fields and provides more quality basketball than does this annual event held within the intimate confines of the Lahaina Civic Center.

This year's 25th anniversary event, which tips off a three-day run on Monday morning, is no exception. In addition to unanimous pre-season No. 1 North Carolina, led by reigning player of the year Tyler Hansbrough, this year's field also includes seventh-ranked Texas and No. 8 Notre Dame, led by pre-season All-America and reigning Big East player of the year Luke Harangody.

And the quality of the competition will remain high for the next two years. The 2009 field includes the likes of Gonzaga, Louisville, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Marland and Arizona. The 2010 field, which was announced yesterday, will feature U-Conn, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Virginia and Washington.

Back to this year's event: All 12 games will be aired on Maui's ESPN 550 and televised on one of the various ESPN networks. The first-round match-ups: St. Joseph's vs. Texas at 10 a.m.; Indiana vs. Notre Dame at 12:30, North Carolina vs. host Chaminade at 4:30, and Oregon vs. Alabama at 7 p.m.

Ho, hum. Just another killer field for the Maui Invitational.

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