Disappointed? Of course.
Proud and even grateful? You bet.
Motivated? Count on it.
UH-Hilo men’s basketball team felt an array of emotions Sunday as it gathered at Cronies Bar & Grill and learned it had been left out of the NCAA Division II West Region playoffs.
After splitting a two-game series at Chaminade that including a costly loss Saturday to finish 10-2 in the PacWest Hawaii pod, the Vulcans were leapfrogged by fellow league member Fresno Pacific for the sixth and final spot. The Sunbirds (11-4), eighth in the rankings last week, also passed Black Hills State, which had been sixth.
“I’m certainly disappointed for the guys that we didn’t get the opportunity, because I know we could have gone to (regionals) and represented well,” coach Kaniela Aiona said.
Half of the teams in the field were from the PacWest: No. 3 Biola (9-3) was the automatic qualifier – as voted on by the league’s athletic directors – and Point Loma was fourth.
“I’m happy for the other teams that were able to make it, because this is a really good conference,” Aiona said, “but I told our guys I was proud of them for all their accomplishments this season.”
Despite being left home, the first-year coach used the dinner-time selection show as a party of sorts for the Vulcans to celebrate the program’s first winning season since 2010-11.
“We went undefeated on our home court and went 4-2 against Chaminade, and those things are big deals,” Aiona said. “I’m grateful for the community’s support.”
Because of the pandemic-shortened season, UHH’s seniors, including standout big man Sasa Vuksanovic and starting guard Jordan Graves, are eligible to return. The hope is that by next season conditions allow the Vulcans to play a full PacWest schedule.
Aiona doesn’t think his 2021-22 group will be lacking in inspiration.
“We told the guys to use tonight as motivation for next season,” he said.
