Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, Rainbow Wahine start 2020 basketball season this weekend
JAMM AQUINO / JAN. 25
Hawaii head coach Eran Ganot instructs his team from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against the UC Davis Aggies on Jan. 25 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii held on to win 76-75.
The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team will open its season Friday with a non-conference game against Hawaii Pacific at the newly renamed SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.
The Rainbow Wahine will open their season against HPU Sunday at 5:05 p.m. at the Center.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA’s start of the 2020-21 season was delayed until Nov. 25. Both UH teams scrambled to find non-conference games to fill their schedules.
For the men’s team, this year’s relocation of the eight-team Diamond Head Classic has left a significant hole in the early schedule. The tournament was to be played Dec. 22 through Christmas Day at the SSC.
Both teams will now begin Big West play against Cal Poly on Dec. 27, with the Rainbow Warriors at home and the Rainbow Wahine on the road.
The Rainbow Warriors will have a smaller active roster for Friday’s game. Guard/forward Samuta Avea has decided to opt out of playing this coming season. Post player Bernardo da Silva is recovering from an ailment that was aggravated three weeks ago.
Both games will be televised by Spectrum Sports, with radio broadcasts on ESPN Honolulu.
