Let the games begin
Preseason, exhibition, or whatever else you want to call it, is done. The “real” season for the University of Hawai’i basketball team starts this week, and the Warriors will not have time to ease into it.
Hawai’i will open the 2015-16 season under first-year head coach Eran Ganot with three games in four nights at the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic.
The season opener will be against Montana State on Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center. That will be followed by a Sunday late-afternoon game (4:30 p.m.) against Coastal Carolina, and then a Monday late-night game (11:00 p.m.) against Nevada.
Fans who arrive early on Friday and Sunday can watch doubleheader basketball. On Friday, the Hawai’i vs. Montana State game will follow Nevada vs. Coastal Carolina at 4:30 p.m.; on Sunday, the Hawai’i vs. Coastal Carolina game will follow Montana State vs. Nevada at 2:00 p.m.
Here is a brief look at each of those three opponents:
MONTANA STATE
When: Friday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live on OCSports 16
Theme: Green Out (wear green shirts)
The Bobcats finished 7-23 overall last season and tied for 10th place in the Big Sky Conference. They are picked to finish 11th (out of 12 teams) this season in the Big Sky preseason poll.
Montana State has a preseason all-conference pick in Marcus Colbert, a 5-foot-11 senior guard who averaged 13.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. He made 50 3-pointers and had a .424 percentage from 3-point range.
Other key returnees include 6-3 junior guard Stephan Holm (9.8 points per game, 50 3-pointers last season) and 6-8 senior forward Danny Robison (9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds per game).
COASTAL CAROLINA
When: Sunday, November 15, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live on OCSports 16
Theme: Warrior Tattoo Night
The Chanticleers finished 24-10 overall last season, and made their second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. There is not expected to be much drop off, as they are picked to finish second in the Big South Conference preseason poll.
Coastal Carolina returns several key players, including Elijah Wilson, a 6-4 junior guard who was named to the preseason all-conference team. He averaged 11.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, and led the team with 66 3-pointers.
Other key returnees include 6-7 senior forward Badou Diagne (9.5 points, 7.3 rebounds per game), 5-11 junior guard Shivaughn Wiggins (10.0 points, 3.2 assists per game) and 6-7 senior forward Tristian Curtis (4.4 points, 6.3 rebounds per game).
NEVADA
When: Monday, November 16, 11:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live on ESPN2
Theme: Black Out (wear black shirts)
The Wolf Pack struggled to a 9-22 record last season, and is picked to finish ninth (out of 11 teams) in the Mountain West Conference this season.
Similar to Hawai’i, Nevada has a new coach in Eric Musselman, and a nucleus of key returnees. In fact, the top five scorers from last season are back for the Wolf Pack, led by AJ West, a 6-9 senior forward who averaged 12.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game.
The other leading returnees are 6-4 senior guard Marqueze Coleman (9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds per game), 6-3 senior guard Tyron Criswell (9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds per game), 6-6 junior guard D.J. Fenner (8.8 points, 2.7 rebounds per game), and 6-3 sophomore guard Eric Cooper Jr. (7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds per game). Nevada also has 6-4 freshman Lindsey Drew, who was considered one of the top point guard recruits in California last year.
The Wolf Pack already scored two blowout “wins” in exhibition games this month, including 84-53 over NCAA Division II team Alaska-Fairbanks on November 6.
Exhibition is over; Real challenges will be next, which could be very unforgiving!
Regardless how uncertain that w has came…
How well the coaches can adjust and fix, plus TEAM efficiency will dictate the rest of the outcomes!
Hawaii appreciates hardworking winners!
Montana State should be a easy win and that’s a good way to start. Other two might be little tougher but no excuses because all are at home. This team should be 3-0 and hope and pray that will bring the fans out for the rest of the games!!!
Coastal Carolina looks pretty tough from reading the write-up above and are 132 in the Pomeroy Ratings.
With the team at or near full strength for the game against Montana State I would hope that there will be some kind of pressure when MS brings up the ball and the on-ball traps when they go into their half court play. As uhfanzonly1 saying, these are the kind of things that can really throw opposing teams off. This is UH’s strength. We won 22 games because of it. Sure we make mistakes. And I can’t say that all opponents crack from the pressure; but a large percentage do. Take Wichita State. Either they were unprepared for it or they thought they could easily beat us so they did not bother to study us. They should have lost. Only our lackadaisical play at the end cost us the game. Are the coaching staff trying to reinvent the wheel? All they gotta do is tinker a little with what they already got. We don’t need flying saucers.
Coastal Carolina will be the toughest of the three and they are 132 in Pomeroy, but lets not forget that we are 94 in Pomeroy! That’s a pretty good advantage. Also have to remember that they are flying all the way from Carolina but I don’t know if North or South.
Looking over the schedule again, very good chance that UH should be 8-0 entering the Diamond Head. Sheriff Arena will be rocking if North Iowa is also undefeated!
Chuck… Traveling west is easier to adjust to than traveling east, according to some studies, but Coastal Carolina is located in South Carolina or about 4,789 miles from Honolulu. They play only two games here and get a day off between their two games.
Servante, n2o4joy….Today’s newspaper article said there are changes in defensive responsibilities this year. Roderick said the defense is harder to adjust to than the offensive side “because we’re playing completely different from last year, defensive wise.”
Every assistant coach dreamed to be the HEADMAN; Every 1st time HC not necessarily is every fans’ dreamed headman!
Coach Ganot painted himself as ‘the man with a plan’, happy, low-key, patient, diligent…
His blueprints for his team to follow and absorb are complicated sets need time for maturity.
Many factors involved in game execution might went one way or another!
Strong royal fan support will enhanced the chance for seasonal progress/success.
“Rome wasn’t built in one day”!
finally is right ! Now for us die hard UH MBB hoops fans.. UH just go for it ! close losses, like horseshoe toss, doesn’t count.. just missing mark. team just get well real soon and season is setup for UH to get 20 plus wins. if eran does not get , with healthy and working the system right, maybe 23 wins and NIT or NCAA bid.. kind of disappointing. main thing.. the Juniors and the 3 seniors. go out with a great post season run..
Go Bows..
Hey servante , n2joy, Chuck, islandman, we ready for some Basketball UH MBB Rainbow Warrior style.. funny how, when games begin, no matter whatevers.. we get excited.. just win Baby !!
🙂
Coastal has some good 3 pt shooters, Wilson,39.1 Three-Pt FG %; Diagne,43.3 %; Wiggins, 34.7 %, last season.
Janks injured in today’s practice –
Brian McInnis @Brian_McInnis 14m14 minutes ago
” Stefan Jankovic appeared to hurt his left ankle in practice. Walked back out on the floor in a boot and on crutches. Will be evaluated. “
Geez, the injury bug strikes again. Last year it was Nevels, now Janks is hurt before we even get to the first tip-off. Mike Thomas has the knee issue and I heard Quincy was being treated for a wrist problem. I hope none of the injuries is too serious.
Hope the injuries are not too bad The one thing a coach must take responsibilty for is team welfare and managing fatigue and injuries. I am sure the coaches will manage their players to ensure they can each have maximum input. Best teams use all players in different combinations to disrupt oposition and keep players in peak condition
Did anybody listen to Call the Coach show tonight. I don’t know if just me but I really thought Booby Curren was rude in putting down a lot of the players. I think he trying to be funny but its really not when he say stuff about Janks not being tough and Isaac being a And1 playground player.
Yah, puts down players too much. Before he said Q couldn’t shoot that well, but he didn’t point that out this time. Did say sometimes that he is strong to the basket and on defense. Said the whole team can’t shoot that well from outside, other than Valdes and Janks, i think he said. Also used to say Janks should step in closer to shoot. Today said Fleming sometimes makes moves to the basket but ends up in the same place. Well Isaac may have a reason for doing that, he had a very high shooting percentage for two pointers, 61.2 %.
Chuck and islandman: remember Bobby said, UH no real chance to beat Pitt last year? and a certain interim HC, said, Bobby I really think we have a shot, we can beat em, Pitt. Bobby: Really.. almost sarcastically.. after the Maui win by UH over Pitt. that interim coach points towards. Bobby, his UH team, without several big guns from previous year, and short handed until Janks. upsets pitt.. bet that coach, rubbed it in big time to Bobby.
hey fellow fans, all that matter,however UH does it. just win Baby ! and go NIT or NCAA that is what we talking about !
talk is cheap, just have to do it. one more point than other team at the buzzer= wins !
Go Bows..
update, Quincy wrist injury, trying to play through, Mike T. with that MCL strain coming back a little at a time, and now huge one with Janks in walking boot, whoa, sounds like last few years. team so thin in depth.. man any, funny I think I mentioned on several forums same thing, as several hundred fans know. if key guys, say 2 or 3 go down for awhile to injury. tougher than last year to win some games..
hope guys ready by DHC at least.. injury bugaboo,,part of sports. however.. if UH had 15 guys who were even in talent, 2 deep at every position . not too bad. hope the best.
Get well guys..