You have undoubtedly seen the ubiquitous AT&T commercials across several fields of endeavor — a surgeon, babysitter, tattoo artist, brake mechanic, etc. — where we are reminded that, “Just OK is not ‘okay.’ ”
Increasingly, these days, it is a perception also cited by and hitting home with those who follow University of Hawaii men’s basketball.
After the 28-6, NCAA Tournament wonder season of 2015-16, you’d have to say the Rainbow Warriors have been “just OK” in the Big West Conference, as we were reminded with the latest flame-out.
For the third year in a row, the Rainbows finished in the middle of the nine-team conference in the regular season and then went one-and-done in the Big West tournament, swiftly sent packing, their once-hopeful season ended with a thud in a sparsely attended arena.
A close loss, 68-66, Thursday night to Long Beach State to be sure, but an especially painful and revealing one.
Overall, the Rainbows have gone 18-13 (2018-19), 17-13 (2017-18) and 14-16 (2016-17). In the Big West they have been 25-26, counting tournament losses, in that span.
Give them a pass on the 14-16 (8-8 conference) campaign, coming as it did after the turnover in coaches and wholesale roster changes amid the threat of NCAA sanctions. But these past two seasons, especially the most recent one, where they dropped four of the last six games, have been disappointments.
It might be a minority opinion in the wake of the dissolving early 18-point lead over The Beach, but four seasons into a tenure that UH has guaranteed by contract through April 19, 2023, Eran Ganot has generally shown himself to be a good X’s and O’s coach, a capable motivator of his players and a teacher of the program’s history. He’s brought in players who have been good students and citizens and will graduate.
And, he’s gotten the most out of them, which hints at the overlying problem: bringing in players who can help UH be more than “just OK” and win at this level.
With what UH would seem to have going for it with the best facilities, biggest fan base and most TV opportunities in the Big West, the Rainbows should be winning or closely competing for league titles every year. Not making a habit of going home on the first flights out.
This isn’t the Western Athletic Conference of yesteryear packed with accomplished head coaches, sprinkled with future NBA players and cursed with brutal travel at altitude and in the elements, or even the Mountain West of present day. It is the Big West, which ranked 23rd among 32 conferences heading into this weekend. Home to four 20-loss teams.
When the renovated, $8 million “Gym 2” practice facility was being finished up in the fall and formally opened in January, visitors praised it and UH officials grandly declared it as a “game-changer.” With months to sell it, you hope it will make a difference in the current recruiting push.
And it needs to, because with the departure of seniors Jack Purchase, Brocke Stepteau and Sheriff Drammeh, UH stands to lose nearly 40 percent of its scoring and much of its leadership. Stepteau, in particular, provided a pound-for-pound toughness and resilience that will be missed and hard to replicate.
Though initially a walk-on, Stepteau was the last holdover from the previous regime and, as such, underlines this is Ganot’s team, lock, stock and jock. From here on out “Just OK” should not be deemed “okay.”
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.
