UH’s performance should force NCAA’s hand

Did anyone out there dare to believe the University of Hawaii’s men’s basketball team would still be in contention in the Big West in February?

Well, there was that one person who voted the Rainbow Warriors No. 1 in the preseason poll. Probably didn’t realize UH lost nearly all of last year’s conference championship squad to graduation and the specter of a postseason ban, courtesy of the NCAA. He or she can step forward now and not look too foolish.

After Thursday’s 74-65 victory over Cal Poly, UH is 6-4 in the conference and tied for third in the standings, two games out of first. That brings us to another question:

Before the season, did anyone circle UH’s upcoming game Saturday, against UC Irvine, as a potential key matchup to help decide the regular-season championship?

“If someone had said that in October, I’d have taken it,” UH athletic director David Matlin said. “We’re in the hunt.”

A challenge remains for the Rainbow Warriors, however, in addition to the remainder of the schedule that starts with the date with the Anteaters, who pounded visiting UH 84-56 on Jan. 7.

And that problem is the NCAA, which has yet to rule if Hawaii will be eligible for postseason play.

The tournament in Anaheim, Calif., starts March 9.

“Every day that goes by it gets harder,” Matlin said. “Tougher, less time for people to plan.”

Transportation, accommodations … and not just for the team.

“Hawaii provides a lot of the fans,” Matlin said.

Despite nearly all expectations, this team is hot. Sure, the Big West is not much of a conference. But as the coaches like to say, you can only play who they put in front of you. And recently, UH has beaten everyone put in front of it.

Four wins in a row, including two on the road. Six of the past eight.

This team was supposed to struggle to hit double-digits in the win column overall. Now it is 12-11 with six left to play — and, if the NCAA gets off its butt and takes the 10 minutes needed to make a decision — maybe more.

Coach Eran Ganot said he tries not to think about it.

“Honestly, sometimes it’s in the back of my mind, but our program is really locked in,” he said. “The reality is sometimes you have a peaceful moment and think about it. As quickly as I can I get back to how can I help our guys get better. There’s nothing I can do (about the NCAA).”

Matlin has done what he can, as had Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell.

“They are very aware of our situation,” Matlin said of the NCAA.

Maybe Hawaii’s rise in the standings will catch their attention.

It became evident early on that if Hawaii was going to lose Thursday it would be at the free-throw line.

UH came out shooting hot, and the Mustangs, who are normally careful with the ball, turned it over eight times in the first half and tied their mark for the season with 16 for the game.

After taking a 38-31 halftime lead, the Rainbows fought off a barrage of Cal Poly 3-pointers to start the second half that gave the visitors their only tie (they never led).

Earlier in the season, UH might not have withstood that kind of surge.

“It’s just experience and getting used to playing with each other,” said senior wing Noah Allen, who scored a game-high 21 points. “We have the confidence that if things are not going well to stick together and pull it out.”

There were also no jokes about Jack Purchase not being able to buy a basket, and his third three at 10:24 of the second half gave Hawaii a double-digit lead, 56-44.

And, if you’ve been watching all season you know freshman Ido Flaisher is already a legend. His game is catching up to his work ethic, and Flaisher’s fan-favorite status grows with every game.

On Thursday, Flaisher scored 10 points, a high for him in conference play.

“We gotta keep him pure,” Ganot said of Flaisher’s growing popularity. “He’s the youngest guy, just turned 19, great attitude. Works hard. If he makes a mistake, it’s not a lack of effort or attitude. It’s because he’s trying too hard.

“I’m proud of the improvement all the guys are making,” the coach added.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quickreads.