Hawaii men’s basketball: Ganot teases 100th season; Jacobsen joins Cal Baptist

From Day 1 on the job as Hawaii men’s basketball coach, Eran Ganot championed the program’s past as one of its greatest selling points.

Over the course of the 2019-20 season — the 100th in program history going back to 1912 — UH plans to honor that past in a variety of ways.

Ganot teased some of those methods this week as he stood in front of the NCAA and NIT tournament plaques he had custom made for the hallway outside the team’s locker room.

Eran Ganot spoke this week about the upcoming 100th season of #HawaiiMBB and teased some ideas to honor the past. pic.twitter.com/I7uGgB8mXr

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) August 20, 2019

UH did not play every year in its fledgling years, with two World Wars interrupting things, hence the 100th season taking place in 2019 and not 2012.

UH is asking fans to use the hashtag #HawaiiMBB100 on Twitter to share their favorite moments in program history.

Season tickets went on sale Monday. UH plays 20 home games this year, starting with Florida A&M in the Rainbow Classic on Nov. 8.

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Even as Ganot spoke in the hallway, some of the finishing touches were being applied to the Sheriff court around the corner. It will be done in time for the 25th season of the arena; UH women’s volleyball plays its opener there on Aug. 30.

The hardwood paint job looks similar to the previous incarnation, but the lettering of “Stan Sheriff Center” in either halfcourt is a bit different, as is the green hardwood trim surrounding the court.

The new court in the Stan Sheriff Center is just about done. #HawaiiMBB #HawaiiWBB pic.twitter.com/4caog387NG

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) August 19, 2019

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Former associate head coach Adam Jacobsen is joining Cal Baptist as an assistant coach under Rick Croy. Jacobsen, who hasn’t been officially announced, is listed on the Cal Baptist staff directory. HoopDirt.com also reported that Jacobsen is headed to Cal Baptist.

Cal Baptist of the Western Athletic Conference, located in Riverside, Calif., is entering its second year as a transitional Division I program. The Lancers, formerly of the Division II PacWest, went 16-15 with an appearance in the CBI in 2018-19.

UPDATE: Jacobsen spoke to Hawaii Warrior World in a phone interview from Riverside on Tuesday afternoon.

Jacobsen mentioned proximity to where he grew up, and his three brothers and father being within an hour’s drive as factors. He also expressed excitement about Cal Baptist’s potential as a D-I school.

He’d spoken previously about his goal of becoming a head coach someday and responded positively to a question about whether his four years at UH helped him toward that end.

“Oh, for sure. Yeah, I really enjoyed the four years at UH and in Hawaii. It was really hard to leave,” Jacobsen said. “The hardest part was telling the players. But then even all the great relationships you have, whether it’s in the athletic department or in the community. So that part, a lot of people that my family and myself will miss in Hawaii.

“But I definitely think the experience I had there really helped me grow. I think one thing for me, I was at Pacific for so long, before, I really didn’t want to do that again where I’m 10 years at the same spot. I told Eran I hope he’s there forever as a head coach. For me I think this is a good step, not only for my family to get back to Southern California, but to be involved in another great program.

“But my time at Hawaii was great and I feel like I left with, not only with some of the boosters and people in the community, good relationships, but with Eran, Dave Matlin, and some of the people in the athletic department that were really special that I really appreciate the time we had together.”

With the home-heavy fashion in which Cal Baptist schedules — the Lancers have 20 home games in 2019-20, like UH — the chances are slim that the two programs will bump into each other anytime soon, he said.

UH has yet to announce its replacement assistant hire for Jacobsen.