With heavily accented English, new Hawaii center Ido Flaisher bellowed, “You can’t dunk on me!” to a team manager — or whoever else would listen — on the court of a mostly vacant Stan Sheriff Center.
Armed Forces Classic tickets on sale
Tickets for the 2016 Armed Forces Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center go on sale at 9 a.m. today.
The powerhouse, ESPN-televised doubleheader — Indiana vs. Kansas and Arizona vs. Michigan State — takes place the same day as UH’s season opener, Nov. 11. Upper-level tickets are $30 for the Armed Forces event, which does not include the UH game. Lower-bowl seating is reserved for military personnel.
The public may purchase tickets at etickethawaii.com or the Sheriff box office, or by calling 944-2697.
The gangly 6-foot-10 freshman from Israel wore a happy expression that infected observers, several of whom struggled to stifle laughter.
“Big Goofy. That’s what we call Ido,” said Noah Allen, a graduate transfer from UCLA. “He’s hilarious.”
The start of full practices for the 2016-17 season is a week away as of today, but the process of assigning nicknames and locker room roles is fully underway for the completely new-look Rainbow Warriors.
With a few weeks of team workouts (limited skills training with coaches) and open gym sessions (free play with teammates) in the books, they’re pretty sure name tags are no longer required. It wasn’t too long ago that UH’s 10 newcomers met each other, and five returnees, for the first time.
“It is weird having a lot of new guys come in, but everyone’s jelled pretty quickly,” forward Jack Purchase said. “Everyone enjoys each other’s company and we all get along really well. So it’s been good.”
Purchase counts as a returnee, but even he will show up in a UH box score for the first time in a matter of weeks, as he sat out game action last year as a transfer from Auburn.
UH coach Eran Ganot was forced to build up the roster from near scratch after the NCAA-spurred mass exodus following a breakthrough 28-6 season. The Rainbows are still banned from the coming postseason, barring a last-minute reversal from UH’s appeal to the NCAA made months ago.
The most notable returnee, co-captain Mike Thomas, watched an open gym this week with his right wrist wrapped in a cast and offered occasional encouragement. Thomas underwent surgery for a sprain recently and will miss the season, meaning Ganot must plug in a new starting five.
The ’Bows don’t have much going their way in terms of returning production — sophomore Sheriff Drammeh was ninth last year at 1.7 points per game — so they’ve counted on some fast chemistry to make up for it.
The Australian duo of Purchase and freshman Matt Owies has helped keep things light.
“I feel like we have a great team with great guys,” said guard Leland Green, who recently arrived from Redondo Union (Calif.) High. “They just welcomed me and brought me in like I was their little brother. Some of the freshmen, we just automatically bond getting here.”
Drammeh benefited from a larger role for Sweden in the FIBA Europe U-20 championships this summer, and has embraced extra responsibility on his college team as well. When newcomer Drew Buggs heaved a halfcourt ball that rolled slowly to a stop on the far corner of the court — potentially in the way of oncoming traffic — Drammeh left no doubt he wanted the freshman to retrieve it.
The wiry Drammeh, interestingly, has been working out at point guard. Owies and walk-on Brocke Stepteau are the other early candidates to run the show.
Allen, a 6-foot-7 small forward, is the most experienced Division I player on the roster, having played three full years (albeit in a reserve capacity) with the Bruins.
“They just have a really strong support system (here),” Allen said. “People already knew who I was, that was something I wasn’t used to. It’s a real community-oriented program, and state really, so I love it.”
UH opens the season on Nov. 11 against SIU-Edwardsville in the Rainbow Classic.
