Shawna-Lei Kuehu has probably built an immunity to opening-night jitters by now.
Kuehu has been around for five season openers in her Hawaii basketball career, so the Rainbow Wahine senior has a pretty good handle on how to deal with the nervous energy heading into her sixth.
"I’m glad I’ve had the experience and know what to expect and how to control my emotions," Kuehu said as the Wahine prepared for Friday’s opener at Colorado State.
Kuehu was recruited to UH by Jim Bolla and played her first college game on Nov. 17, 2009 while Dana Takahara-Dias made her debut as UH head coach, scoring 10 points in a win at UC Riverside.
Since then, UH has changed coaches and conferences while Kuehu endured injuries, welcomed a daughter and established herself as an All-Big West caliber player entering her final season with the Wahine.
She was granted a sixth year of eligibility in the offseason and will be part of a seasoned group of returnees helping a sizable class of newcomers adjust to Division I ball entering Laura Beeman’s third season as head coach.
They appeared to blend well in an exhibition win over Hawaii Hilo on Oct. 29. They spent the two weeks leading up to the trip to Colorado further developing their chemistry and honing their defensive sets.
"When we first started the Hilo game you could see the difference between what the returners knew and what the newcomers knew," said Kuehu, a preseason All-Big West selection. "Now, we’re all meshing together and getting on the same page and that just comes with time playing with each other and getting to know each other’s abilities and strengths."
The Wahine departed on a two-game road trip on Wednesday. They jump into another challenging nonconference schedule against the Mountain West Conference favorite Rams, who went 25-8 last season, before taking on Denver on Sunday.
"You always feel like the offseason is so long and there’s so much to do and then you get into game week and it’s like, ‘Wow it’s already here,’" Beeman said.
"We’re exactly where we need to be. Now it’s going to come down to execution."
The Wahine were picked second in the Big West preseason poll coming off back-to-back WNIT appearances. They have experience at the point and on the wings. They’ve also added size to a frontcourt that enters the season light on Division I minutes.
"Hopefully we’ve replicated game days, pace of the game, conditioning, have talked to them about what it’s going to feel like enough so when they walk in they’ll be ready to go," Beeman said.
She’ll have some depth to work with in each of the position groups as the Wahine aim to build on consecutive 17-win seasons.
Point Guards
Returning: Morgan Mason (senior, 5-foot-9, 6.2 ppg, 1.2 apg), Destiny King (junior, 5-10, 8.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.3 apg), Briana Harris (sophomore, 5-6, 3.8 ppg, 1.2 apg)
Having three point guards with significant game experience puts the Wahine “ahead of the game a little bit,” Beeman said. She had high praise for Mason’s leadership in preseason practices and King can play anywhere from point to power forward. Harris can also slide over to shooting guard.
Wings
Returning: Ashleigh Karaitiana (senior, 6-0, 10.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 38.2 3-pt pct), Shawna-Lei Kuehu (senior, 5-10, 10.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg), Marissa Wimbley (junior, 5-6, 1.2 ppg, 0.6 rpg).
Newcomers: Sarah Toeaina (freshman, 5-11), Jasmine Redmon (freshman, 5-9), Justice Toailoa (freshman, 5-9).
While Kuehu is adept at slashing into the paint, Karaitiana led the Wahine with 39 3-pointers last season and can make life easier for the posts by stretching defenses. Wimbley also showed a soft touch from long range in the Green and White scrimmage and against UH Hilo. Toeaina could be a breakout performer.
Posts
Returning: Shawlina Segovia (senior, 6-1, sat out), Angelina Smith (sophomore, 6-1, 7 games, 0.7 ppg).
Newcomers: Connie Morris (junior, 6-4), Dalayna Sampton (freshman, 6-1), Raja Moreno-Ross (junior, 5-11), Breana Jones (freshman, 5-10), Brianna Kennedy (junior, 6-3).
Kamilah Jackson averaged 13.7 points and 10.4 rebounds over the last four years and replacing that production won’t come easy. Morris, who began her career at Utah, gives the Wahine an imposing presence on both ends of the court. Sampton and Moreno-Ross are active rebounders. Segovia could add scoring punch inside after sitting out last season. Jones is a 3-point threat when she’s on the court. Kennedy transferred from Loyola Marymount and will redshirt.
