LAHAINA » Few scenarios exist for getting blown out by 20-plus points three times in three days … and then feeling good about it.
For Division II Chaminade, the EA Sports Maui Invitational is the exception.
As happens most years, a stacked 2011 field let the host Silverswords have it. Following lopsided losses to UCLA and Georgetown, this season’s Maui trip concluded with Tennessee laying an SEC football-style smackdown on the overmatched hosts, 86-60, in the seventh-place game on Wednesday morning.
There would be no final-day upset to glow about, a la the Silverswords’ defeat of Oklahoma last year, led by the since-departed Mamadou Diarra, Shane Hanson and Steven Bennett.
That group led Chaminade to the 2010-11 Pacific West Conference championship. These ‘Swords were finding their way together as a completely reshaped team with a new and optimistic coach, Eric Bovaird.
Bovaird wasn’t about to use the overturned roster — half of the ‘Swords are newcomers, and few of the rest had prominent roles until now — as an excuse for the blowouts. He sees plenty to be optimistic about heading into D-II nonconference play and then the PacWest season, for which his team was predicted to finish fourth.
"This is part of the reason I decided to come out here," the former West Liberty (W.V.) assistant said of the Maui Invitational. "In Division II, you rarely get the chance to play against this level of competition. Usually you might get one exhibition game. These three (games) are going to help us a lot through the course of the year."
His Thanksgiving blessings start with true freshman Lee Bailey. The confident point guard from Detroit has already emerged as a vocal leader and topped the ‘Swords in scoring on Maui at 11.7 points per game.
Bailey fell into Bovaird’s lap when he decided not to play football at Dayton.
Michigan takes third by running away from UCLA
LAHAINA » Zack Novak scored a career-high 22 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 and No. 15 Michigan rolled over UCLA 79-63 on Wednesday for third place in the Maui Invitational.
Michigan (5-1) made 15 of 23 shots in the second half and hit 62 percent overall.
Travis Wear had 16 points, Joshua Smith and Jerime Anderson 12 each for UCLA (1-4).
Georgetown 91, No. 8 Memphis 88
Jason Clark hit a big 3-pointer in overtime and scored 26 points, helping the Hoyas (4-1) hold off the Tigers (2-2) in the fifth-place game.
Henry Sims had 24 points and eight rebounds for Georgetown.
Will Barton led Memphis with 22 points and Joe Jackson added 20.
— Associated Press
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"He should be our starting point guard for the next four years," Bovaird said.
Several other players — namely senior forward Matt Cousins, junior guard Waly Coulibaly, senior forward Rickey Clayborn and junior guard Bennie Murray — are capable of production.
Clayborn said during the tournament that the difference with this year’s team is, "We play as a family out there. As a matter of fact, everybody’s got heart, and that’s the difference between the two teams."
Chaminade brought that all-for-one mentality to bear in its Monday opener against UCLA. But even the Bruins, who have struggled in the early season, hammered Chaminade 52-22 in the second half after the upstart, undersized ‘Swords had the audacity to keep it within two points at halftime.
On Wednesday, the Volunteers led from the outset and never allowed Chaminade to entertain thoughts of its seventh victory in the tournament’s 28 years. But the Silverswords (2-3 overall) walked off with their heads high.
"I just want to say that I was really proud of our team and the effort we put forth," said Cousins, one of five seniors. "Just really excited about the year. Obviously, it’s a little disappointing coming up short. You always have high hopes that you can pull out an upset in one of the tournaments, but other than that I feel very proud of everyone, and I can’t wait for the rest of the season."
