ANAHEIM, CALIF. >> Before he could totally devote his time and energy to offseason recruiting, Hawaii basketball’s Eran Ganot was hounded by three siblings known to reside near the Honda Center: Shoulda, Coulda, and Woulda.
But the second-year coach was able to send those pests packing just as most of the Rainbow Warriors prepared to depart Los Angeles back to Honolulu on Friday night.
His players, he reasoned, had given him all they had left in a 73-62 loss to fourth-seeded Long Beach State in the Big West tournament quarterfinals the night before. Fifth-seeded UH, challenged by depth issues all year, gave up a 19-2 run late and finished the season at 14-16, prematurely ending its title defense.
“When you’re coaching, you always have that (second-guessing), win or lose,” Ganot said. “You’re constantly evaluating yourself.”
Per his custom in a loss, he credited LBSU for a well-played game. But he could not deny the cumulative effect that a hobbled starter (Jack Purchase) and an absent role player (Larry Lewis Jr.) had on his group against a highly motivated and bruising 49ers squad.
“I think there’s been a trend the last couple games of the year with (us) wearing out,” Ganot said. “There’s only so much you can do with our current situation, with our depth. We had basically 71⁄2 scholarship players last game with Larry not being around (because of a death in the family) and Jack being not full strength (with an ankle sprain). But do I regret our guys giving everything they have? No. Way.”
A pay-to-play postseason event like the College Insider.com tournament — which sometimes accepts teams with records below .500 — was ruled out this year, athletic director David Matlin said Friday.
UH’s fatigue and a focus on getting players back to school and righting recent seasons’ APR issues were brought up as factors. Ganot had no qualms with it; he’s anxious to get to recruiting with two scholarships restored last Friday at the same time UH’s postseason ban was lifted by the NCAA.
Ganot and assistant coaches Adam Jacobsen and Chris Acker are remaining on the mainland with an eye on the upcoming spring signing period.
Hawaii’s fans numbered a few hundred in the Honda Center, a fraction of what appeared in the championship run last March due to a combination of reduced expectations and the late notice of the lifted ban.
“Shoot, I appreciate the group, the contingency that was able to make the trip on such short notice,” Ganot said. “It would be difficult for anybody to make that kind of trip on last several days’ notice. You could tell, it was different than what it had been. But there’s a reason for that and we just appreciated the people who did make the trip and tried to be as loud as they could. I know it meant a lot to our team.”
Noah Allen finished his UH career with his 13th 20-point game of the season, while Gibson Johnson closed his junior season with 18 points.
It was UH’s first quarterfinal Big West tournament exit since 2014, when it lost 87-84 in overtime to Cal State Northridge.
Hoops banquet set April 11
The Rainbow Warriors’ 2016-17 postseason banquet has been set April 11 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.
Individual tickets are $150. For more information call 956-6501 or email Bobbie Omoto at bomoto@hawaii.edu.
