The Hawaii men’s basketball team’s finish last season, which included a run to the Big West final, left many fans wanting more.
The Hawaii men’s basketball team’s finish last season, which included a run to the Big West final, left many fans wanting more.
The Rainbow Warriors aren’t only back, but they’re back with a vengeance with three games on tap the next four days at the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic.
Inheriting a team that won 22 games last season, coach Eran Ganot makes his debut Friday against Montana State at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. The 7:30 p.m. tipoff will be broadcast on OCSports.
“We talk a lot about setting the tone early, do your work early,” Ganot said.
The Rainbow Warriors didn’t accomplish that objective in their lone exhibition game Nov. 5 as they were pushed to overtime before beating Division II Chaminade.
Hawaii was selected to finish third in the preseason Big West poll, and junior guard Aaron Valdez was selected all-league after averaging 13.6 points per game in 2014-15.
Hawaii faces Coastal Carolina on Sunday and finishes with Nevada in an 11 p.m. tipoff Monday on ESPN2.
“It’s pretty difficult to prepare for, but a lot of guys have been here a couple of years and are used to it,” Valdez said.
Said forward Stefan Jankovic: “We go hard in practice and we practice harder than in the game, that’s for sure.”
Rainbow Wahine: Opening their season Friday at Grand Canyon, the first of a two-game stretch in Arizona, the Rainbow Wahine look to take the next step under coach Laura Beeman.
Beeman has taken Hawaii to the WNIT in each of her her first three seasons, and the Rainbow Wahine return nine letterwinners, including preseason all-Big West selection Ashleigh Karaitiana, a senior guard.
UH, which plays Northern Arizona on Sunday, also was tabbed to win the league title.