Warrior Insider

Coastal Carolina never warmed up, shooting wise, in Hawai’i on Friday. If the Chanticleers can remain cold on Sunday, that would be just fine with the Universtiy of Hawai’i basketball team.

The Warriors will host Coastal Carolina in an Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic game at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawai’i (1-0) is coming off an 87-76 victory over Montana State on the opening day of the tournament on Friday; Coastal Carolina (0-1) lost to Nevada, 73-56.

The Chanticleers shot just 30 percent (18 for 60) from the field and 57.1 percent (16 for 28) from the free-throw line in the loss to the Wolf Pack.

However, Coastal Carolina is a team that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2015, and Hawai’i head coach Eran Ganot is well aware of the Chanticleers’ capabilities.

“We’re playing an NCAA Tournament on Sunday, a team that’s been an NCAA Tournament team two years in a row and is picked to win their league, returns everybody,” Ganot said. “If this (Hawai’i) team wants to be where it wants to be, this is a great opportunity and a great challenge for us.”

Coastal Carolina’s top returning player is Elijah Wilson, a 6-foot-4 junior guard who was named to the Preseason All-Big South Conference Team. He shot 2 of 13 from the field in the loss to Nevada, and finished with six points and seven rebounds,

Badout Diagne, a 6-7 senior forward, led Coastal Carolina with 15 points in the Nevada game. Marcus Freeman, a 6-8 senior forward, contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.

Ganot watched some of the game between Coastal Carolina and Nevada, and noted “it was a physical battle.”

He added that Coastal Carolina finished in the top 10 in the nation last season with 39.3 rebounds per game.

This was Coastal Carolina’s starting lineup on Friday: Jaylen Shaw (6-1, So. G, 13 points, 4 assists), Elijah Wilson (6-4, Sr., G, 6 points, 7 rebounds), Colton Ray-St. Cyr (6-5, Sr., G, 2 points, 3 rebounds), Michel Enaga (6-5, Sr., F, 6 points, 8 rebounds), Badou Diagne (6-7, Sr., F, 15 points, 7 rebounds).

Hawai’i’s starting lineup was: Roderick Bobbitt (6-3, Sr., G, 10 points, 14 assists), Quincy Smith (6-1, Sr. G, 9 points, 2 rebounds), Aaron Valdes (6-5, Jr., F, 18 points, 9 rebounds), Mike Thomas (6-7, Jr., F, 7 points, 2 rebounds), Stefan Jankovic (6-11, Jr., C, 15 points, 11 rebounds).

HAWAI’I VS. COASTAL CAROLINA
When: Sunday, November 15, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live on OCSports (Oceanic channel 16 or 1016)
Radio: Live on ESPN1420 AM
Audio Webcast: Live on www.espn1420am.com
Live Stats: www.hawaiiathletics.com
Tickets: Lower Level – $26; Upper Level – $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens (65 and older), $5 for students (age 4 through high school)
Parking: $6
Theme: Warrior Tattoo Night (all fans encouraged to wear face paint)
NOTE: Another Rainbow Classic game between Montana State and Nevada will begin at 2:000 p.m. Tickets are good for admission to both games.