Hawaii coach Benjy Taylor is keeping the focus on the court.
Strictly.
While former head coach Gib Arnold offered up an extensive statement on Tuesday, Taylor has thus far shown no interest in weighing in on the content of the NCAA’s notice of allegations, which became public on Saturday.
Taylor, who was not implicated in any of the seven alleged violations and was only mentioned a few times in the 42-page document, declined comment on the three Level I (most serious) allegations and four Level II charges after UH’s 65-50 loss at Long Beach State that day.
He did so again from central California on Tuesday when reached by phone.
"We’re not going to talk about that. … No comment on any of that stuff," Taylor said. "We’re fine, we didn’t play great on Saturday, but you know, we gotta bounce back and we gotta put a full 40 minutes together. That’s the most important thing. We gotta play for 40 minutes."
UH (15-8, 3-4 Big West) plays at Cal Poly (10-10, 3-5) in San Luis Obispo on Thursday, the third game in its four-game road trip.
The contents of the report were released online around halftime of the Long Beach game. Arnold and former coach Brandyn Akana, who were both fired on Oct. 28, were named heavily in the report and account for all three of the Level I violations.
UH has entered into a 90-day period in which it may accept or counter the allegations.
Taylor was asked if his players have been able to keep their focus on basketball and away from the commotion of the report.
"Yeah, we’re just concentrating on playing basketball and trying to be the best team we can be," he said. "Just trying to jell at the right time. That’s our main focus, and all we’re concentrated on."
Former UH guard Brandon Spearman, who graduated in 2014 and now plays in Europe, offered his take on the matter Tuesday.
"Well it’s sad for sure. I hope nothing but the best for the UH in this situation," Spearman said in a message. "The support around the basketball team has been incredible. So the support will continue, stay together and always remain one Ohana. Even through hard times."