Warriors can clinch Big West’s top seed this week at home
The University of Hawai’i basketball team can now clinch at least a share of the Big West Conference regular-season championship AND the No. 1 seed for the Big West Conference Tournament by winning two of its final four games.
Might as well try and do it at home this week.
The Warriors can credit UC Irvine with an assist. The Anteaters beat Long Beach State, 90-67, on Wednesday night in a battle for second place. Luke Nelson scored 25 points, including 6-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, and Mamadou N’diaye had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the Anteaters, who were coming off a loss to Hawai’i just four days earlier.
Hawai’i has an 11-1 Big West Conference record with four games remaining. The Warriors will host UC Riverside on Thursday, then CSUN on Saturday, and then will finish with two road games next week.
UC Irvine is now 10-3 in conference and alone in second. Long Beach State dropped to 9-4.
Thus, two Hawai’i wins would assure at least a tie for first place with UC Irvine and eliminate Long Beach State from the regular-season chase for the title. Even if Hawai’i were to finish tied with UCI at the end of the regular-season, the Warriors would get the tie-breaker for the top seed at the Big West Tournament, by virtue of a sweep of the Anteaters.
Long Beach State is not yet eliminated from the No. 1 seed, but the 49ers would need Hawai’i to lose at least three games over the next two weeks to have a chance. Hawai’i will end the regular season with a road game at Long Beach State.
As has been mentioned previously, Hawai’i has won only two regular-season conference championships in its 38-year history of conference affiliation.
For what it’s worth, the 1997 Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship team got to clinch its title in that season’s home finale before a sellout crowd against San Jose State. The second WAC regular-season title came in 2002, but that team clinched it on the road.
Wednesday’s Big West Results
at UC Irvine 90, Long Beach State 67
Thursday’s Big West Games
Cal State Fullerton at Cal Poly
UC Santa Barbara at CSUN
UC Riverside at Hawai’i
Saturday’s Big West Games
UC Riverside at Long Beach State
UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Fullerton
UC Irvine at UC Davis
CSUN at Hawai’i
I hope the game plan for the coach and staff is to just win all four regular season games.
They can win it all!! Just need to want it more!!
Lets go Bows!!
Mamadou was doing his impression of Janks’ shooting during the game today.
Mamadou imitating Janks?
Practicing shooting over an 8′ 4″ player? Have one player sitting on shoulders of another player? Would like to see that !
What was the purpose of having 5-8 guard Bibbins lining up for the jump ball with 7-6 Ndiaye ? I thought because Bibbins had the hops but he didn’t even jump.
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Mamadou showed a fall away and a shot from near the foul line.
It all comes down to Senior Night… Win the regular season crown, clinch the NIT, then send off Bobbitt, Quincy, and Derbe Enos with the biggest aloha they’ve ever seen.
And Sai !
Btw, due to a mix up, i have two extra tickets to the Riverside game. Upper B, middle row, about halfway up. i paid 20 a piece (after fees), so both are yours for 25. They’re senior tickets, but they shouldnt check as long as you dont look 20. Seats are next to each other.
Let me know if you want them, willing to negotiate. I would like someone to use them. I can email them to you.
No question warriors get these last 2 home wins for fans
Next week sweep last 2 road games finish at 15-1 ready
to win 3 in Anaheim for ncaa bid! Enjoy warrior
nation! Congratulations to coach Ganot and our
mighty enduring warriors!