Happy New Year!
The University of Hawai’i basketball team is off to its best start in nearly a decade, and the Warriors would like that kind of prosperity to continue as the 2014 calendar year begins.
The Warriors have one more non-conference game – 7 p.m. on Friday against Omaha at the Stan Sheriff Center – and then begin Big West Conference games next week.
Hawai’i is 10-3, which is the best start for the program since the 2004-05 season. Omaha, which competes in The Summit League, is 10-4.
We’ll have a more in-depth game preview tomorrow. For now, WarriorInsider.com would like to wish a Happy New Year to all the fans who visited and supported this site in 2013.
Most notable, best wishes and thanks to the primary sponsors of this site: Schmidt family, Pacific Risk Solutions and Valerie Schmidt – Ameriprise Financial. Another mahalo to recent contributors Alan, Kent and Gordon.
May the new year bring happiness, good health and prosperity to all!
Game 14 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai’i (10-3, 0-0 Big West) vs. Omaha (10-4, 0-0 Summit)
When: Friday, Jan. 3, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu
Television: Live on OCSports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: BigWest.tv
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona and KTOH on Kaua’i.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: $26 (lower); $18 (upper-adult); $16 (upper-sr. citizen); $5 (upper-youth, ages 4-HS); UH Manoa students free with validated ID. Parking $6.
Mahalo Dayton and Warrior Insider, the Schmidts, Ameriprise Financial, Valerie Schmidt, Pacific Risk Solutions, and all donors, greatly appreciated. Once again, we are not able to go to live games, so your video updates are wonderful, keeps us connected to UH MBB which we love for decades!
Sure, the same sentiment is felt by the families, fans and friends of coaches, and athletes!
Wish for a great 2014 March towards March madness, as one radio media guy said, hope that UH ends up in one of two Post Season dances that begins with an N. …NIT OR NCAA’s!
Mahalo and thankyou Dayton, WI, and all the forum contributors and sponsors!
Aloha!
Uhfanzonly1. Ohana.
Man oh man, they are blogging away on Reardon’s column about attendance. Gib had very diplomatic, reply, the fan, their money, they choose how to spend. However, the gate attendance, those there live in person, it helps team, motivates them well. Maybe the Big West small kine gyms, where sometimes 400 show up, UH is prepared , more than prepared for them this year.
SSC with about 4000 plus, and on a Friday night, or Saturday night with around 5000 or more, and the team is having a great game against Omaha, and winning, the crowd will be jacked !
Still think, when Jamie Smith can get cleared and on board, he will get the students out, his goal, that 400 student Manoa Maniacs.
Live TV, sort of a two edged sword, if team is doing really well and knocking off the big boys, or playing great, exciting ball, which this team is, fans, casual and die hards will come out. Still think it is the Holiday time, so Hawaii, folks have parties, travel etc. When BWC play starts, and Hawaii is on a 5 or 6 game winning streak , and in first or battling for first place, those 6-7000 plus crowds will show.
This team is good. Have watched several times live, however, balance, with family, kids and watching elderly ohana. If could be there every game I would. The students, jjay, you are right , Ben Jay, has to make it , so they can be in choice lower bowl seats, as well as all the tailgate, promotions, a lot of festive,stuff. I think Ben has to get to work!
Go Rainbow WARRIOR Time!!
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Actually there are choice upper level seats too. SSC was built very well, really all 10300 seats are pretty good!
Go Warriors!
😀
Yes hoops, I believe the start of Fab Five initial season, Dec 1970 till Dec 31, several home games were not televised. Until UH started to win the RBC and some games on the road, then local station picked up live games, The interest was so high, like the 2007 undefeated Colt Brennan led Football team, that it was practically a sell out for every home game, 1970-72.
As Reardon says, and jjay, when UH negotiates TV rights, next time, Ben Jay would have to consider, less appealing games, to be blacked out. That suggestion, of online PPV would make sense to. Not really cable tv quality, however, could generate some extra monies. Either way, if Gib and team progress, if they make it to NIT or better yet NCAA’s, fans will come out. It is an economic, social, and stress related situation for a lot of fans. If they could they would be there if no TV. Myself, I work, so hard to make all games, the ones I went to, were GREAT.
TV or NO TV live, if team Wins, fans will come out, they are playing for Big West championship regular season, and it happens to be Senior nite, should be White Out 9000+ like last year.
The UH team, as uhf, hoops, and others, eagle say, just keep on getting better, and win, home and on road, if you are playing in front of 500 or 8500, do your best, and things will fall in place!
Agreed KEY: UH has to win and be contenders for BWC regular and BWC tournament title winbow.
IN future, or even next year, if Ben makes a pitch to put together season ticket packages, for seniors, youths, even youth teams, after 2013-14 miracle run into late Post Season. If UH MBB, starts selling 5-6000 season tickets, as was mentioned, winbow, along with pre sales , maybe guaranteed tickets sold for 18 or 19 home games, of near 8000, then live TV is good too.
I think the Oceanic rights, they have deep pockets, so can do what they want, UH, and Ben Jay, jjay, if they are selling, or presold tickets for next year, 7500-8000, they could probably do both, Live TV and promotions. As winbow, jjay, servante, DK, Derek, Eagle, Palolo, warriorhaw, akuhead2 say, if UH is playing well, and the win, fans will come out and support, maybe not 10300 every night, a crowd of 7500 would be excellent.
UH students have to come out. and Jamie Smith , if come on board very soon, can start that, Maniac feeling again, He is so great at stirring up interest via theme nights, the young students, at least a couple of hundred will come out!
Go Rainbow WARRIORS!
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Just for Sake of Discussion,
i would Target an 8,000 Minimum by Next Season
(Just to Simply Out-Distance Blaisdellʻs 7500 Capacity)
Especially IF that Means getting Everybody ON-Board EARLY
Some are Still Waiting for BW/Road Collapses or Conference Long-Haul Fizzles
This Morningʻs Paper pointed out that ʻThe Last 10-3 UHMBB Team Fizzled to 7-11 inThe WACʻ
WithThis Teamʻs Depth AND Road Performance to Date,
I Would be Surprised IF They Could NOT WIN at least Half their Road Games…
AND Most, Preferably ALL (Tough to NOT Ever Catch Some Team on An ʻUn-Consciousʻ Night, But i think This Team has Displayed Enough Skill, Intensity and Discipline to Pull Through)
BUT Knowing The Coachʻs Ability to ASSESS His Own Team And Deliver
Neither the Conference, Oceanic, HSAor The UHAD Should Get Caught
[…and Preferably WIN ALL Home Games…]
…NOR UHAD should get Caught Flat-Footed Next Season…
Promote the Roof Off (Literally, with The Legislatureʻs $488M Surplus) of The Stan Sheriff…
“SHOULD” Have a Solid Conference Track Record
Probably An NIT-RUN
OR (IF The Players Are ʻRIGHTʻ and Refuse to Lose in Anaheim)
Maybe the Programʻs First NCAA Tourney WIN(s)…
Eagle: Good points as always! I think that extra 4000 fans, to make it 7500-8000 per home game, they are taking a Wait and See approach, besides the economic, health, age, and challenge of parking , concessions etc,
In other words BWC play, It is the Real Season, NOW, when it counts, win the Regular Season , guaranteed the N post season play, little dance, NIT, which is not bad at all.
Secondly, play well, get seeded high even if don’t win regular season title, win those 3 games in Anaheim, Honda Center, and first time since , was it 2001 or 2002? That UH goes to NCAA, with hopefully a shot to win some games, which would be historic.
Only concern, the road games, Eagle, that first swing, if somehow, UH swept the first two, would really put them in the drivers seat for top of conference, as Gib says, that is how BWC scheduled, so have to deal with cards dealt. In my opinion, first 5 games, 2 road, 1 home, then 2 road, then back for about 3 or 4 games at SSC. UH would have to, at minimum go 3-2, and they are doing not bad, go 4-1, excellent, off on a beginning of season 5-0 record, awesome. Gib , and coaches have tons of work to prep guys for BWC play, those Davis, Poly, Fullerton, Riverside teams, will be tough in those small gyms. If Hawaii can go 4-4 road, and 8-0 at home, finish at least 12-4, or at worse 11-5 conference before tournament, they will be in good shape!
Hope Ben Jay, and I think he is playing the Wait and See approach for MBB too, see if they can make NIT or NCAA’s, We like this team, hard workers, and two of their better scorers, have played very well at Mizzou and N. Arizona, Christian and Garrett, now Fotu, and the rest, including Jawato, who will be key, UH needs firepower, a weak area for now, off the bench, Enos, Valdes, Brandon J. have to provide points off the bench, along with that great D. Because, UH takes care of the ball, and plays great pressure D, I like their chances!~
As you say Eagle, Do it, and guys PROVE IT, to yourselves,the families and fans, Hawaii, and the world, you are Champions!
Go Bows!
😀
INFO:
i wonder IF Oregon State Goes UP in Power Ratings?
Just Watched OSU On ESPNU, On the Road Give #20 Nationally-Ranked Colorado All they Could handle —
Four-Point Game with less than a Minute;
OSU Was 8 for 12 on Threes (UHMBB Three Defense IS Probably Still Improving…)