No patsies, no pushovers and no pieces of cake.
If the UH-Hilo men’s and women’s basketball teams are to reach their desired destination at the end of the season, they have heavy lifting to get to at the beginning of the conference campaign.
The road to the Pacific West Conference playoffs for both begins with a three-game grind at home against West Region stalwart Cal Baptist (Nov. 30), former NAIA standout Biola (Dec. 2) and perennial PacWest contender Concordia (Dec. 4).
All 10 home dates for the Vulcans men are PacWest matchups scheduled for Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Coming off a 10-16 season, coach GE Coleman’s men’s team again begins the season in the Pacific Northwest, this time for five games covering three stops.
The Vulcans will play an exhibition at UH-Manoa on Dec. 9, while the UH-Hilo women get their shot at the Rainbow Wahine on Nov. 2.
A week later, David Kaneshiro’s women team – 8-15 last season – will travel to Alaska to face Fairbanks twice. The Vulcans do have one nonconference road game, against Douglas University of Canada on Dec. 19 at Hilo Civic.
Schedules
Home games in caps
*-PacWest game
MEN
Viking Classic
Bellingham, Wash, Nov. 10-11
Nov. 10 Simon Fraser (B.C.)
Nov. 11 Western Washington
Nov. 14 at Saint Martin’s, at Lacey
Oak Harbor Freight Lines Classic
Seattle, Nov. 17-18
Nov. 17 Seattle Pacific
Nov. 18 Central Washington
Nov. 30 CALIFORNIA BAPTIST*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 BIOLA*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 CONCORDIA*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 at Hawaii Pacific*
Dec. 9 at Hawaii, exhibition, 7 p.m.
Dec. 16 at Chaminade*
Dec. 17 Montana State-Billings, at Honolulu
Dec. 18 University of Tampa, at Honolulu
Jan. 3 NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 ACADEMY OF ART* 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 at Fresno Pacific*
Jan. 15 at Notre Dame de Namur*
Jan. 18 at Holy Names*
Jan. 20 at Dominican*
Jan. 27 POINT LOMA*
Feb. 1 FRESNO PACIFIC*
Feb. 3 DOMINICAN*
Feb. 10 at Dixie State*
Feb. 12 at Concordia*
Feb. 15 at Azusa Pacific*
Feb. 17 at Point Loma*
Feb. 22 CHAMINADE*, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 HAWAII PACIFIC*, 7:30 p.m.
Pacific West tournament: March 1-3, Riverside, Calif.
WOMEN
Nov. 2 at Hawaii (exhibition), 7 p.m.
Nov. 10 at Alaska Fairbanks
Nov. 11 at Alaska Fairbanks
Nov. 30 CALIFORNIA BAPTIST*
Dec. 2 BIOLA*, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4 CONCORDIA*
Dec. 7 at Hawaii Pacific*
Dec. 16 at Chaminade*
Dec. 19 DOUGLAS
Jan. 3 NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR*, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 ACADEMY OF ART*
Jan. 13 at Fresno Pacific*
Jan. 15 at Notre Dame de Namur*
Jan. 18 at Holy Names*
Jan. 20 at Dominican*
Jan. 27 POINT LOMA*
Feb. 1 FRESNO PACIFIC*
Feb. 3 DOMINICAN*
Feb. 10 at Dixie State*
Feb. 12 at Concordia*
Feb. 15 at Azusa Pacific*
Feb. 17 at Point Loma*
Feb. 22 CHAMINADE*
Feb. 24 HAWAII PACIFIC*
Pacific West tournament: March 1-3, Riverside, Calif.
