’Bows finish above and beyond expectations

ANAHEIM, CALIF. >> Hawaii basketball’s up-and-down 2016-17 season shared little with the memorable one that preceded it, with one important exception: It exceeded expectations.

Coach Eran Ganot has repeatedly gone to the expression, “Control what you can control” since his hiring in 2015. That was put to the test like never before in recent months, as the program was forced to build anew under NCAA sanctions coming off its most successful season in program history.

“It’s been an interesting couple of years,” Ganot said in a conversation about the season and upcoming recruiting. “We’ve been operating in a fluid situation.”

UH received a favorable response to its appeal of a postseason ban and reduced scholarships back in October, but the drama from the Gib Arnold case dragged on interminably as the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions did not issue a final decision until March 3.

That last-minute boost could not will the weathered Rainbow Warriors to a Big West title defense as the fifth seed. UH’s season came to a close with a loss to Long Beach State in the BWC tournament first round on Thursday, sealing the program’s first losing season (14-16, 8-8 Big West) since 2009-10.

In no small part because of the NCAA’s initial ruling, Hawaii entered this season with 2.5 percent of its scoring back from its 28-win NCAA Tournament team of 2015-16. When forward Mike Thomas redshirted after a preseason wrist injury, it meant UH had a brand-new starting five for the first time in 40 years. Expectations were low; Manoa was picked to finish eighth even in a down year for the Big West.

“It’s been unique to go through back-to-back years of implementing a new style and a culture,” Ganot said. “One, because it’s your first year, and the second year because of the turnover. You continue always, and it’ll never change, to learn how to connect with guys and stay up on the way the game’s being played, the way recruiting is. The landscape changes at our level every year and you’ve got to keep up with it.”

Thanks to the belated NCAA ruling, UH’s scholarships were restored to the full 13 for 2017-18. Ganot and his staff tried to prepare for such a scenario. Some recruits were off the board, but others remain for the upcoming spring signing period. They are looking at a wide array, from high school prospects to junior college and Division I graduate transfers, he said.

Last offseason, UH did the best it could reconstructing almost an entire roster in a matter of months, pulling in players eager for a chance at the Division I level. The biggest short-term get was wing Noah Allen, an under-used graduate transfer from UCLA who had one year to play. After some midseason struggles with confidence, he exploded late and finished with four 30-point games and 13 20-point games en route to All-Big West first-team honors.

UH first tried to use its only returning rotation player, Sheriff Drammeh, at point guard. But it gradually became clear that walk-on Brocke Stepteau was the best option, with Drammeh filling in as necessary. Australian freshman Matt Owies also had to run the show occasionally.

Starting 6-foot-8 forwards Gibson Johnson and Jack Purchase provided a steady if undersized frontcourt, with the junior college champion Johnson a crafty option down low and the Auburn transfer Purchase an essential piece to the offense with his 3-point shooting and floor-stretching capability.

With 72 3-pointers made, Purchase tied for seventh on the UH single-season chart with Tes Whitlock in 1994-95. The sophomore was eighth in attempts at 185, shooting 38.9 percent.

Freshman guard Leland Green’s play became especially important once another freshman recruit, Drew Buggs, decided to redshirt coming off a knee injury. Green, who had little reputation as a shooter, came on strong in Big West play and was second on the team in 3-point accuracy (36.1 percent).

Minus talented pieces like Stefan Jankovic, Roderick Bobbitt and Aaron Valdes, UH could still pick apart opponents when things were clicking in the four-out offense. For the season, the ’Bows assisted on 60 percent of their field goals.

Hawaii operated right around the .500 mark for most of the season. It flirted with a winning record both overall and in conference, winning six of eight to close February and move into top-three position, but then dropped all three of its March games, including back-to-back contests against LBSU. Depth, particularly up front, was an issue as freshmen big men Ido Flaisher and Zigmars Raimo had to play crunch-time minutes.

Along the way, there were some real highlights — most notably back-to-back home wins featuring buzzer beaters from Allen and Green against LBSU and Cal State Northridge.

But UH sorely lacked in the rim protection department; Johnson had 18 blocks, which tied for the lowest for a UH team leader since the stat was tracked starting in 1979-80.

“We want to add a frontcourt player, probably a true 5,” Ganot said. “It’s clear we needed to be bigger and more physical. … (Also) our depth, having true point guards. That’s another. There’s no secret there. We gotta add another point guard or combo guard.”

There are two free scholarships. UH already signed one player in the early period for next season in 6-foot-6 Kahuku wing Samuta Avea. Avea, the first Hawaii high school player to sign a letter of intent with UH since Bobby Nash, was the HHSAA state tournament MVP in helping the Red Raiders to the state title.

The ’Bows also will have Thomas and Buggs coming off redshirt seasons. Allen is a loss, but he is the only one expected.

For the first time in a while, the program’s direction is set. Ganot was granted a two-year extension before the season, taking him through 2019-20.

2016-17 SEASON LEADERS

Scoring

Noah Allen 15.7 points per game 471 points

Rebounding

Noah Allen 5.8 rebounds per game 174 rebounds

Assists

Brocke Stepteau 3.0 assists per game 90 assists

Steals

Noah Allen 1.2 steals per game 35 steals

Blocks

Gibson Johnson 0.6 blocks per game 18 blocks

Field-goal percentage

Gibson Johnson 51.4 percent 129-for-251

3-point percentage

Jack Purchase 38.9 percent 72-for-185

Free-throw percentage

Brocke Stepteau 80.7 percent 71-for-88