Warrior Insider

The summer fun and games are over for the Hawaii basketball team.

The real work for the Warriors begins on Friday, Oct. 14 – the first day of official practices for the 2011-12 season.

“We’ve been doing our individuals (workouts) … but it will be fun to get out on the floor for three to four hours at a time and get a lot of stuff done,” Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold said.

In truth, a whirlwind of preseason activities has prepared the Warriors for the upcoming practices. It started with a summer trip to Asia that included exhibition games against professional teams in China and Japan.

More recently, the Warriors have been training with strength and conditioning coordinator Chris McMillan, and also experienced unique workout sessions at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and on Waikiki Beach.

“We’re further along than, definitely, we were last year when everybody was new,” Arnold said. “Some of the foundations are already in. That will just help us to put a little more in before our first game.”

Many college teams across the country will celebrate the opening night of practice in style, but the Warriors will wait for a week. The ‘Ohana Hoopfest will take place on Friday night, Oct. 21, to coincide with homecoming festivities.

The ‘Ohana Hoopfest will be the official introduction of the 2011-12 Warriors to the public, and Arnold said it will mostly be a night of fun activities. There will not be an intrasquad scrimmage, but the Warriors will participate in a “celebrity game.”

At last year’s Hoopfest, the UH players and coaches did separate versions of the haka dance. Arnold said there could be something similar this year, but he said fans will have to show up to the Stan Sheriff Center on Oct. 21 to see for themselves.

“I know the coaches definitely did a phenomenal job; the players were just okay,” Arnold said. “I’m sure there will be a little bit of competition with that again this year.”