In with the new

With so many fresh faces from new places, the old routine had to change, too.

A new lineup of events at tonight’s Ohana Hoopfest signals the start of official practices for the new-look Hawaii men’s and women’s basketball teams. Among the activities on the bill: a dunk contest for the Rainbow Warriors and an intrasquad scrimmage for each team. The festivities at the Stan Sheriff Center start after the UH volleyball match vs. Cal State Northridge, estimated at 9:15 p.m. Admission is free at that point.

The celebrity games of the past couple years are out, but celebs will still be involved as judges and referees.

"This year’s a little different," said men’s assistant coach Brandyn Akana, who’s coordinated UH’s version of the nationwide "Midnight Madness" for the third straight year.

To kick things off, third-year men’s coach Gib Arnold and first-year women’s coach Laura Beeman will introduce their teams with the usual fanfare. What’s not usual is the newcomer count: eight on the men’s team and six on the women’s, not including last season’s redshirts.

"I really want to put a face with the name," Beeman said of her newcomers. "Let the crowd see who we are and what we’re trying to do. Really get some crowd involvement, first and foremost. This is about them. That, I hope, really comes through."

Top-secret introductory performances from both teams are still very much a part of it. Polynesian dances were involved the past two years, but something different could be in the works this time. The coaching staffs could get in on the action, too.

"It’s going to be epic. Outrageous," junior center Davis Rozitis said. "Cultures colliding. I’m pretty stoked."

It won’t be all fun and games today; the ‘Bows will have their first official practice of the year in the afternoon. (The Rainbow Wahine started practices at the start of the month.)

"It’s good to finally get official practice started," freshman forward Isaac Fotu said. "There’s been a lot of open gyms and conditioning. So I’m excited to get ready. I know everyone else is, as well."

They’ll have to save energy for the Freshmen Challenge, a 10- to 12-minute scrimmage between the Rainbow Warriors’ seven or eight available freshmen against seven healthy upperclassmen. Senior center Vander Joaquim, the team’s top returning player, is out rehabbing a torn MCL.

"It’s supposed to be fun, but I know there’s too many competitive guys on the team for it to be fun," Fotu said. "It’ll be a good game to watch. Hopefully we’ll get them."

Familiar faces are at a premium. Only four ‘Bows who suited up last year are back.

"We feel we have enough talent that everybody’s excited to see," Akana said. "I think our freshmen are pretty darn good, going against the upperclassmen. So we’re going to throw it out there. … I know a lot of people are excited about that. And we have some pretty good athletes who can do some stuff as far as dunking. We want to showcase that too, and we haven’t done it since we’ve been here."

There hasn’t been a UH dunk contest since the first of Bob Nash’s three years as coach in 2007-08. Junior guards Garrett Jefferson and Brandon Spearman are expected to compete. Other possibles are newcomers Fotu and Ozren Pavlovic, as well as the athletic Aaron Valdes, if he is cleared by the NCAA in time.

"I don’t have a go-to, but I have a couple I know I can do that are pretty good dunks," said Jefferson, the most athletic player on last season’s 16-16 team. "I’ll try and save those (for the dunk finals)."

There will be a student halfcourt-shot contest. To end the night, players from both teams will sign autographs.

Both teams play their regular-season openers on Nov. 9 — the ‘Bows at home against Maryland-Eastern Shore and the Wahine on the road at San Francisco.