Classic title at stake at midnight madness
Just three games into what was looking to be a season of uncertainty, the University of Hawai’i basketball team already finds itself in a meaningful contest.
The Warriors will host High Point in the championship game of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic, just before the stroke of midnight on Monday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The game is scheduled to start at 11:59 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN2 as part of the College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.
Both teams are 2-0, as both defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Bakersfield earlier in the tournament.
“This will be a real fun game,” Hawai’i junior point guard Roderick Bobbitt said. “We don’t want to lose any games at home, so we will adjust. I know there’s only a couple guys that played at midnight last year so we’re going to adjust and get everything right and make sure we have enough rest so we can come out and get the W.”
For comparative purposes, Hawai’i defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 85-57, and High Point defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 74-62; also, Hawai’i defeated Bakersfield 72-65, while High Point defeated Bakersfield, 100-99 in four overtimes.
High Point is based in North Carolina and is a member of the Big South Conference. The Panthers return all five starters from a team that finished 16-15 overall last season and won the Big South regular-season championship with a 12-4 conference record.
Devante Wallace, a 6-foot-5 guard/forward, is averaging 20.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game through the team’s first two games. John Brown, a 6-8 forward and the Big South’s Preseason Player of the Year, had 19 points and four rebounds in the victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Brian Richardson, a 6-4 guard, is averaging 16.0 points per game, and Tarique Thompson, a 6-5 forward, is averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Like Hawai’i, High Point is a relatively small team that likes to play at a fast tempo.
The Warriors have four players averaging double-figure points through the first two games: Aaron Valdes (17.0), Negus Webster-Chan (15.5), Roderick Bobbitt (13.5) and Garrett Nevels (11.5). Valdes is also contributing 7.5 rebounds per game, followed by Webster-Chan at 6.0. Bobbitt leads the team in assists at 7.0 per game.
Monday’s game is being promoted as a “Black-Out,” and all fans are encouraged to wear black shirts.
Tickets are also being offered at a discount price due to the late start – $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. What’s more, all seats are general admission for this game – first come, first seated.
UH students can attend the pre-game tailgate outside the arena starting at 9:30 p.m. Pizza will be served and the first 700 students will receive a glow-in-the-dark shirt. Also, the student with the best ESPN-themed sign at the game will win an iPad.
TONIGHT’S GAME INFO
What: 50th Annual Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic
Who: Hawai’i (2-0, 0-0 Big West) vs. High Point (2-0, 0-0 Big South)
When: Monday, Nov. 17, 11:59 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, O‘ahu
Tickets: All tickets are general admission – $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens. Parking is $6.
Television: Live on ESPN2 – Channels 224 (SD) and 1224 (HD).
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona, KTOH on Kaua’i, and KNWJ in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Promotions: Outrigger Resorts is the tournament sponsor and will distribute 1,000 “rollabannas” each night, beginning one hour prior to each UH game. Also, Outrigger will award up to $2,000 each night during the popular “Shoot for Loot” contest at halftime. Kids can sign up to to be a lucky winner in the Outrigger Keiki & Tween Prize Giveaway. Monday’s midnight game is a “Black Out” and fans are asked to wear UH-branded black shirts, which can be purchased at H-Zone stores at Ward Center and the Stan Sheriff Center.
UH Student Promotions: Monday is a “Black Out” and the first 700 students receive a free black t-shirt. Also, the student with the best ESPN-themed sign will win an iPad.
This should be the biggest test of the year so far. With 5 returning starters High point should put up a good fight.
In this Thanksgiving period, lets express our heartfelt gratitude to our robustious, beyond expectionally provisioning year-round production of updating us with “WORLD CLASS” info/video on our beloved MBB,
the one&only Dayton Morinaga!
Yes, this game should be a good test. High Point might be one of those under the radar teams we will hear about at the end of the year come NCAA Tourney time. Warriors playing with confidence as well. I bet a lot of people out there didn’t even think this team would be 2-0 right now so this team is already proving the doubters wrong.
Midnight is a little bit too late for this old man so I will record it and watch in the morning. Good luck to the Warriors and hope a lot of fans make it out there to cheer them on!
We are smarting from a 2-0 how-to-win lessons over last weekend.
Now well-rested, calmed, sharply focused to give 110% for this long-awaited opportunity to perform –
15Champs:
Let’s go get our #1!!!!
Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows!
Go Rainbow Warriors…team rested…have legs..hold High Point to FG % in 30’s…create more assists to turnovers.10+ steals..max effort , team can take the RBC championships trophy
Thomas…Mike just relax have fun contribute on defense rebounding..focus on offense..just play hoops MT..will be great
maybe Sammis entry? Whatever coach wants..all on team Are Team first
Go Rainbow Warriors !!
🙂
Just wanted to respond to comments regarding the lightsabers on a previous page, as the lightsabers were my idea, and if and if something negative did occur, I would be the one taking responsibility.
People should be careful not to jump to conclusions that something is against the rules because it is innovative and effective, especially if they don’t know the rules themselves. This is the second year we’ve given out free lightsabers at Star Wars Night, and as could be seen from how the students reacted, it was a huge hit. The lightsabers went through a rigerous approval process and were physically inspected. We would not have been given permission to use them if they made a noise or if the lights flashed. If they weren’t legal, the referee wouldn’t have hesitated to take them away. The BigWest’s rules differ, which is why we didn’t plan Star Wars Night during the conference season.
I did not hear of any incident of a lightsaber being thrown at a person or object, however even if this did occur, I would suspect it wouldn’t do much damage as these are not real lightsabers but cheap toys for children of 3+ years of age and are made of light plastic.
For those that are interested in student attendance, the Saturday game of the Rainbow Classic has historically been poorly attended by students with an average of 162.5 students. With this in mind we targeted this particular game back in June for Star Wars Night to draw more students. We do not have official figures yet, however we had over 700 lightsabers to give to students in sections E, F, and G and not every student got one. We also had 1,200 “Every Game’s A Party” T-shirts to give out during this weekend’s games, and these ran out early on Saturday night.
Saturday was such a fun night. Someone overheard some students (probably players or managers) from another team leave the arena on Saturday saying “I wish our school did stuff like this, it would be so fun going to school here.”
Jimmy The Brit: (aka J. Smith)….Welcome Back !! WE thought we saw you in arena past couple of games ! Welcome back to great promoter of fan and Student interest in MBB for past couple of years. A GREAT and GROWING College atmosphere.
Kind of thought that too Jamie , if it were NCAA violation game rule, Officials as soon as they saw it, would have had the sabers turned off or removed. As for anyone throwing things, that is not cool, however, main thing Nobody gets hurt.
Manoa Maniacs and Hawaii MBB Rainbow Warrior Nation Welcome back with Warm Aloha, Jamie Smith, like Dayton Morinaga, The Schmidt Ohana, Coach Taylor and staff and the MBB team , fans, we appreciate their dedication.. what can prove to be exciting and successful year.
Team Goal with help of student fans? Win Every Home Game. Protect Home Court, with the Maniacs,.. can they hit 900+.. why not?
Good Job Jamie, and thanks for clarification.. from The True Source !!
Go Rainbow Warriors !!
🙂
Unfortunately, I am not back. I’m only here on vacation. Just wanted to be here to see the result of the hard work we put in to planning these events over the summer. I leave Hawai’i this week, and will be spending thanksgiving in California before going home at the end of the month.
Please wear black tonight, and make signs for ESPN! 🙂
Hi Jimmy the Brit,
When will you be coming back again? Are you still working on your visa?
Jamie, the student section was awesome. Thanks for all the hard work going into this. It is the kind of blood transfusion UH athletics has needed for a long time. Once it gets going it should have staying power. I certainly hope so since I really enjoy having the students with us. I remember going to Penn State, you paid an activities fee like UH students do now. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the money to court my future wife and now life long BBall fan. Liked the take off on the yellow submarine like the Sounders use. Will be going tonight. You can’t duplicate the excitement and atmosphere that you get at a live event vs. TV tape. Best to you and hope you will be able to return.
Great job, Jimmy the Brit! UH Athletics needs you on a permanent basis.
Also, much aloha & appreciation for both the men & wahine teams! Made this weekend so sweet!!
As we were expressed gratitude to your masterful web-master of your wonderful WI site,
may we doubled ours of the same to you at this time?
Valerie, without your generous support, there would not be any WI site for us to enjoy day after day all year long, off-season is meaningless to many of us!
Jimmy the Brit;
Thanks for your comments. When watching the games on TV, they show the students are into it and really enjoying the experience, waving the light sabers or whatever else depending on the theme. This is a far cry from a few years ago, i think. This is getting to look like the students cheering at some big name schools on the mainland.
Even the players used light sabers with the player introductions which was “cool” and unexpected.
Jimmy the Brit / Jamie,
I agree with what has been shared here above. Great job with getting the students to come out and enjoy for games and give the team a real home court advantage.
You are returning soon right? I think I read or heard somewhere that you will be here for Diamond Head Classic. You are obviously a big asset for this program and have brought fresh and creative ideas. That is something the UH administration has sorely been lacking for decades.
Please tell us you are coming back and not that the UH bumblers and fumblers have messed up your paperwork to get you back. If you haven’t noticed the UH bumbling and fumbling is a sore point with a lot of us here.
Big Game Tonight…versus an experienced team with all starters back…John Brown, 6’8″ Conference MVP…another step up the ladder for our lads. Good luck and continue to play for one another, not for the cameras.
Basketball in Manoa is beginning to be a Party, mahalo nui loa to both Brits. Let’s see them shine for the TV tonight.
I was just looking to see how our former players were doing.
Keith Shamburger, started both game for Mizzou, lost first to UMKC and won against Valpo. Avg. 3 assists per game and 4 TO’s, 6.5 pts in 34 minutes per game. Team is playing the Maui Classic next week.
Ronnie Stevens, former recruit is playing for Nevada after playing at Indian Hills CC. Team beat Cal Poly and he had 5 pts, 4 reb in 14 min.
Fotu playing in Spain, has yet to dress.
Christian playing in Germany, leads his team in points & steals. 2nd in Rebounds.
Rozitis is playing in Latvia, 1st in blocked shots, 3rd in rebounds, 4th in FG%.
Michael Harper is starting for Simon Fraser in Canada, shooting over 58% and averaging about 16 minutes per game.
Caleb Dressler is starting for Central Washington.
Manroop Clair is playing for Seattle U. but has yet to play this year.
Let’s Turn that D up tonight and play loose…you are beginning to turn heads!
GO BOWZ
Backbeat thanks for the research on the past players and players that were once affiliate with the program like Stevens. I never understood why Rozitis didn’t get more playing time or have a better role carved out for him with his height and ability. They just used him in that gimmick point zone and another body to hack Mamadou.
BACKBEAT, thanks for the update on the former players.
There are differences in the styles of Gib & Benjy. Do like how Benjy allows them to play giving them enough space to do what they need to do and not barking too much from the sidelines which can be distracting to the palyers. Teach in practice and guide them during the game.
Not an Expert: yes, some comments from media, Benjy seems to be players coach, let them play despite mistake or two, For some, they want to do so well, if they get too emotional, he will pull them out, let them settle down, the teammates do great job, real family in telling the guys,,it will be okay, go get em next play, and in a few minutes the guys are back battling on the court.. Love, how, 5 guys are diving for the ball, or 4 guys diving, and one guy guarding the rim.. JUST THE EFFORT.. is great.. ..Have to think when Sammis, Jawato, and Jankovich ready, how much more depth. then can keep the attacking defense and relentless rebounding.. Have to get Niko and Dyrbe on board too, The way UH MBB will win and have success this year.. All the dressed 13 or so, just have to leave it all on the floor.. I believe, UH by BWC time, just might have the type of guards and wings, to finally slow down, the BWC all star guards from going straight to the basket.. Williams and Mamadou, will get theirs, however, UH MBB will stop and disrupt a lot… who knows… ..As Much Effort as Any UH MBB team, undersized, yet playing hard , smart and together will , if they grind and get better and rehab and stay healthy.. Anything possible in March.
Not An Expert…. You Sure You not K. Leahy? Just joking .. you are great fan, have been reading the posts and the banter.. you have spoke up in behalf of fixing things in Hawaii down through UH campus, and of course, Valerie Schmidt, and Ohana, sponsors, for having this site, that goes worldwide!!
Not An Expert: always expert.. comment.s
Go Bows…. Warriors!!
🙂
It’d be a sad thing if Jamie Smith couldn’t come back. What an asset to the program! Anyone know why he can’t just stay here for however long he wants? I really don’t understand the work visa program. Hope he’s back soon!
Sound off, who’s going to be in the stands tonight???
Nice to see Dressler get back on the court after his back problems at UH. Also happy for Harper that he’s getting playing time. At UH, he was just buried behind a deep group of athletic guards.
Not sure how well Shamburger is going to do at Missouri. He’s got game but I don’t think he’s quick enough to make up for his size, especially when they get into SEC play and their bigger, more athletic guards. Much different athletes than the Big West has to offer at PG.
ROB T:
As always, we bring 4 loud and proud.
Thanks Backbeat for the player updates.
Jamie has created a true college atmosphere. Atta boy J.
Go Bows!!!!!!!!!!
Sham is doing ok they lost there first game to a no name team but came back to beat Valpo the other day. Sham is a starter and played 37 minutes in that game. Don’t forget black out tonight.. don’t believe the season ticket holders arround me will be going tho.
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Unfortunately, Mike T was apparently stung while riding his moped yesterday, per his twitter.
Sammis and Jawato may play at least by Wednesday, per Gary D. Wednesday is vs. Hilo .
Looks like Jamie not coming back ?? he didnt say definitively one way or other but it doesnt sound good if he’s not coming back before thanksgiving, something must have gone stink . We really appreciate Jamie’s efforts and hope the marketing dept can learn from Jamie and apply it , make the student section better than ever ! Tonight is crazy midnight game , get the students out and raise some H-e-L-L. lol
Will there be a charge for parking tonight? While I’m on the subject about parking does anyone know why it takes the hired police that help with the traffic lights when the games are done take so long to get started? It’s like 4 to 5 minutes after the game and they are not ready. I doubt they only get paid for 1 hour, so if they are getting paid for basically doing nothing for most of the time why can’t they start a little early!
High Point #0 had several SportsCenter plays last year . See Video links in his writeup.
http://www.highpointpanthers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5552&path=mbball
I think on BM jamie might be back dec . 19 by DHC time..?
Jamie vacation not work so no need work visa..what a first class guy see how theme they worked on so hard was okay..think he trained others what to do..
I hope Jamie does come back even on vacation..then 1000+ students at SSC can give him standing ovation !!
🙂
warriorhaw enjoy games..this team will alawys go strong!!
Go Bows !!
I think always had at least 2000 in attendance for espn late/early game since 2008
Rock the Stanley guys !!