No Bluff: It’s UAPB again

Hawaii will open its 2017-18 season against — you guessed it — Arkansas-Pine Bluff. It’ll be Nov. 10 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The breaking news item on it is here. UH released the order of the Rainbow Classic games today, following a field release by Troy last week.

While North Dakota and Troy, NCAA Tournament teams both in 2017, lack in name value, they should be serviceable entries to what the Rainbow Classic is these days. Pine Bluff, well … we’ve seen what the Golden Lions have to offer, and it’s not much.

You might say many watchers of UH basketball, are, for lack of a better term, pining for something else.

In that spirit, here’s the list of all the college-era opening opponents for UH, and how the ‘Bows fared. Exhibitions don’t count, obviously. I went back to 1965 and stopped there, because before that it gets pretty spotty with dates and non-college opponents.

As you can see, there’s only been a few opponents who’ve opened against UH more than once. Well, now Pine Bluff can be added to that list.

In order of quantity:

4 — Montana State, 1988, 1991, 2010, 2015 (W, W, W, W)
3 — Oregon State, 1966, 1971, 1976 (L, W, L)
2 — Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2014, 2017 (W, TBD)
2 — San Francisco, 1980, 2008 (L, L)
1 — Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 2016 (L)
1 — Tennessee State, 2013 (W)
1 — Maryland-Eastern Shore, 2012 (W)
1 — Cal State Northridge, 2011 (W)
1 — Southern Utah, 2009 (W)
1 — San Diego, 2007 (L)
1 — UNLV, 2006 (L)
1 — Michigan State, 2005 (W)
1 — Mississippi Valley State, 2004 (W)
1 — UC Santa Barbara, 2003 (L)
1 — Arkansas-Little Rock, 2002 (W)
1 — Norfolk State, 2001 (W)
1 — Louisville, 2000 (L)
1 — Tennessee-Martin, 1999 (W)
1 — California, 1998 (L)
1 — Indiana, 1997 (W)
1 — Texas-Pan American, 1996 (W)
1 — Dayton, 1995 (W)
1 — St. Bonaventure, 1994 (W)
1 — Portland, 1993 (L)
1 — Tulsa, 1992 (L)
1 — Southwest Louisiana, 1990 (W)
1 — Alaska-Anchorage, 1989 (W)
1 — Vanderbilt, 1987 (L)
1 — North Carolina, 1986 (L)
1 — Cal State Fullerton, 1985 (W)
1 — Pepperdine, 1984 (W)
1 — Hardin-Simmons, 1983 (W)
1 — Hawaii Hilo, 1982 (W)
1 — Lamar, 1981 (L)
1 — U.S. International, 1979 (W)
1 — Brigham Young, 1978 (L)
1 — Santa Clara, 1977 (L)
1 — Oregon, 1975 (W)
1 — Rutgers, 1974 (L)
1 — South Alabama, 1973 (W)
1 — UC Irvine, 1972 (W)
1 — Whittier, 1970 (W)
1 — Washington State, 1969 (L)
1 — New Mexico, 1968 (L)
1 — Miami, 1967 (L)
1 — USC, 1965 (L)