Back in business, offseason edition

Hey Hawaii basketball fans, I figured it’s time to dip back into the realm of basketball blogging.

In recent weeks I had to take a leave of absence for family reasons. But I’m back now! (At least in a limited capacity.)

First and foremost, today was a momentous day in the UH basketball office. Team secretary Bobbie Omoto retired after 20-plus years with the athletics department, helping men’s basketball specifically.

Bobbie was a constant through numerous regime changes and hundreds of players. She was the lone link between the head coaching tenures of Riley Wallace, Bob Nash, Gib Arnold, Benjy Taylor and Eran Ganot.

After more than 20 years with #HawaiiMBB it's the final day for Auntie Bobbie. Mahalo for everything and enjoy your retirement! pic.twitter.com/OVN1IVftvI

— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) July 1, 2017

You’ll have seen her if you ever poked your head into the UH basketball offices on the the third floor of the main lower campus athletics building. More than one person with the team struggled to describe the totality of what her absence will mean; there were so many odd jobs she handled that will now need delegating.

In addition, she assisted for years with the College Summer League in Manoa with scheduling and roster sheets. She’s relinquishing those duties as well.

“Auntie Bobbie” was pretty much universally loved among former players and staffers (and media). She’ll be missed, though of course she’ll still be around UH basketball games.

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Speaking of the summer league, no returning or new UH basketball players will be playing in it this year — barring a change.

With fairly full-fledged summer team workouts a greater emphasis than in past years, and some recent injury history with UH players in the summer league, the UH players and coaches were pretty unanimous in foregoing the action in Manoa Valley this year.

Sorry to bear that bad news to anyone holding out hope to catch an early look at the roster there.

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All UH players are expected to be in by Sunday, in time for the start of the second summer school session, according to associate coach Adam Jacobsen.

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Meanwhile, there’s still a full assistant position to fill with the departure of Chris Acker to Boise State. In addition, the ‘Bows lost their most experienced graduate assistant in Zane Johnson, who wrapped up his degree.

Other pressing matters include:

>> Filling out the 2017-18 schedule. The only confirmed stand-alone nonconference games so far are Nevada Nov. 24 and at Utah Dec. 2, though you’d think most of the other games are close to being official.

>> Rounding out the roster. There is still one scholarship available. It’s sounding like UH might try to fill that one with an overseas prospect, possibly similar to the late-offseason pickup of Ido Flaisher last year.

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Keep a lookout for UH alums Stefan Jankovic and Noah Allen in the upcoming NBA Summer League. Janks is playing in Orlando with the Magic — play there begins Saturday — while NA latched on with the Golden State Warriors for the Vegas league starting July 8.

Some of the games will be broadcast on NBA TV.