Warrior Insider

A lot of things can change overnight in Vancouver.

When the Hawaii basketball team awoke on Saturday, the sun was shining (athough temperatures were still in the 30s) and the skies were clear.

At the Rogers Arena, the Warriors stepped on to a seemingly new basketball court for their pre-game shootaround on Saturday morning. The court was nice and dry, the logos were placed on the court, and the bright lights of the scoreboards were turned on.

“It’s cold still, but it’s a lot better (today),” senior guard Zane Johnson said of the arena conditions.

On Friday, when the Warriors first practiced at the arena, the court was slick due to condensation from the ice beneath it, and the logos were not yet put in place.

The Warriors went through their final preparations for the game on Saturday morning, and the emphasis continued to be on aggressive defense.

“We have to play physical, that’s the bottom line,” Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold said. “This is one of the most physical teams we’ll see all year, and we have to be ready to match them.”

The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (Hawaii time) and will be televised on ROOT Sports, which is available only through select satellite cable providers. It will be live on radio (1500 AM) and several sports bars will make it available, including Side Street Inn on Da Strip (Kapahulu Avenue).