The best way to find University of Hawaii basketball coach Eran Ganot is to follow the paper trail.
In his office, car or home, Ganot is always near a yellow legal pad.
“I take comfort in the legal pad,” said Ganot, who scribbles ideas, suggestions, plans and random thoughts.
Ganot made sure he packed accordingly for Tuesday’s departure for a 10-day road trip. The ’Bows play Utah in Thursday’s opening round of the three-game Wooden Legacy tournament, and face current No. 17 UCLA next week. Ganot said he brought three legal pads.
“I’ve got the double(-sized) ones, so it’s almost like six pads because they’re twice the size of what I used to use,” Ganot said.
Ganot has always been a diligent note-taker. “You put it down on paper, you remember,” Ganot said. “While you’re writing it down, it’s a reminder for you.”
He began to further hone that skill in 2002, his first year as a volunteer coach at Saint Mary’s. “Randy Bennett was big on it, too,” Ganot said of the Gaels’ head coach. “We had all these notes (on legal pads). The day of the scout (meeting), you get it down to one sheet.”
Sixteen years later, Ganot fills pads with notes on everything from offensive sets to the program for the postseason banquet. Think of a new wrinkle to a play? Write it down.
“It comes down to what people are better at,” Ganot said. “For me, I like to write things and do things to continue to remind myself. And it helps me. It’s a routine. It’s year 16 for me (as a coach). Stick with it.”
His office has stacks of pads. At home, Ganot, who is an admitted night owl, often analyzes basketball video into the wee hours, jotting observations on legal pads. He recently began keeping a pad on his beside table. He said it is insurance against trying to remember an idea the next morning.
“I never want to be in that situation where I ask myself, ‘What was I thinking last night?’ ” Ganot said. “Anything that comes into my head late, so I don’t forget it, I’ve got to write it down. That’s a good way to not forget it and get some rest at night.”
For Tuesday’s flight to California, Ganot said, “You’ll see me with the computer there and the yellow pad there. I’ve got my little system of how I get organized. I’m sure everyone has their own.”
He also found a way to easily make amendments.
“I have an erasable pen now,” he said, smiling. “It’s the best. When you’re doing plans, you can erase it. I like pens versus pencils. A couple years ago, we found this great erasable pen. So I ordered the same pens.”
He said some of the notes are kept for long-term use, some have a short shelf life.
Ganot recalled when his daughter, Zeza, tried to emulate his habit.
“She wrote a play diagram and came in to show me it on the yellow pad,” Ganot said. “I had to get that away from her. I don’t know if I want her to be like me in that regard. I like that she’s good on technology. I haven’t quite made that leap.”
Ganot said his wife, Barbea, has tried to modernize his approach.
“Barbea got me an iPad,” he said, “and it still sits there. It’s right in the box. It’s probably been there for about a year and unopened. The yellow pads are good.”
2018 WOODEN LEGACY
>> Hawaii (3-1) vs. Utah (2-1)
>> When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
>> Where: Titan Gym, Fullerton, Calif.
>> TV: ESPN2
>> Radio: KKEA, 1420 AM
