Live TV is just too easy an alternative to buying tickets and showing up.

As I looked around the Stan Sheriff Center on Monday night, I wondered where all the University of Hawaii fans might be. You’d think more than 4,000 might make it out to the arena for a home team that has fashioned a 10-3 record, and done so in exciting fashion, playing solid up-tempo and team basketball.

OK, the opponent was Norfolk State, not Duke.

That shouldn’t matter. And it’s not like the Spartans are chopped ake. Norfolk State started this season 8-3 before a long road trip took its toll, and is actually a strong program coming off of back-to-back seasons of 20-plus wins, including a huge upset of Missouri in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

But even if the Rainbow Warriors were playing against a park league team they deserved more than a less-than-half-full arena after winning seven of their previous eight.

It’s now eight of their past nine, as UH took care of Norfolk 77-66.

This UH team is legit, as coach Gib Arnold addressed last year’s backcourt deficiencies with good recruiting and has finally put together a team with all the parts.

They might falter on the road in the Big West, but right now they are a great watch at home, with an 8-2 record at the SSC.

Most of the fans think of them as a great watch at home, too — but on their TVs, in their own homes.

Arnold was diplomatic when asked about the topic after Saturday’s practice.

"The fans have the right to spend their money how they choose to spend it," he said. "I think the product is good enough that they’re going to come and anybody that comes and spends some time here leaves here thinking it’s fun, and a good value.

"As an athletic department I see the importance of being able to have that up-front money (from TV rights for live telecasts). We need it to operate. I like the fact that our fans, especially our neighbor island fans, can see us play. People know this team even if they can’t come.

"Would I like this place to be packed? Yeah. Would it help us be even a better team? Yeah. So there’s a bit of a catch-22 there. I’m hoping that enough people come that realize it’s a better game in person and it’s a fun place, it’s a fun team."

Future TV contracts must give UH flexibility to protect and enhance its attendance; if the TV partner loses a live broadcast because a small crowd is anticipated, compensate it with a cut of the increased attendance not going live brings.

"In the future we have to look at the number of basketball, volleyball and baseball games that we are televising," athletic director Ben Jay said. "Games against lesser-known teams are not heavy attendance draws."

Some say live TV helps the gate for future games because it serves as a marketing tool. But apparently not fast enough to get folks off the couch yet for this team, one that deserves it.

I’m off from work Friday and will buy tickets and watch the Rainbow Warriors play from the stands. Who is the opponent? Can’t remember off the top of my head. Doesn’t matter.

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Reach Star-Advertiser sports columnist Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com, his “Quick Reads” blog at staradvertiser.com and twitter.com/davereardon.