Getting close
Where did the offseason go?
The start of NCAA men’s basketball full 2014-15 practices are nearly upon us. To this writer, at least, it seems Hawaii’s gut-wrenching overtime loss to Cal State Northridge in March was just a few weeks ago.
It goes without saying (well, I guess I’m now saying it) that there was plenty to talk about this summer with the Rainbow Warriors, between the still-unresolved NCAA investigation, and some staff and schedule changes. Early player turnover was relatively light this summer, with the caveat that one of the premature losses was starting point guard Keith Shamburger.
Official practices begin on Oct. 3 — that’s next week Friday. Meanwhile, UH is conducting its preseason workouts, both on-court and off.
Almost immediately, fans will get to see Gib Arnold‘s latest roster in action. The Green & White scrimmage at the Stan Sheriff Center is on Saturday, Oct. 4, featuring a couple of 20-minute halves and a dunk contest. Aaron Valdes won it pretty handily last year.
That display is about a month out from UH’s season tune-up exhibition against Hawaii Pacific on Nov. 6. Teams have a bounty of preseason practice time these days.
Burning questions (of the on-court variety) include: Who inherits Shamburger’s job?; Are there enough capable big men beyond Isaac Fotu?; Will Roderick Bobbitt be ready to go coming off a serious broken arm injury?; and will Missouri transfers Negus Webster-Chan and Stefan Jankovic provide a much-needed instant impact?
I just returned from vacation, so I’m reasonably refreshed and ready to go. How about you? What other questions come to your mind?
Just my imagination, I don’t think so. The Media print and online blogs, by op-ed writers, Sports dept. editor in chief, and beat, have been not the greatest source of encouragement for Gib Arnold and His team. Great group of young men, with a hard core group of fans, from followers from 50 yrs to recently 10 yrs., always hoping best. There is that core of maybe throughout the 7 major islands, at least 7000 that follow the Rainbow Warriors through good and bad. Wish that SA, and their writers, would hilite more positive than negative. That is why , there are not 30 or 40 to 50 posts, on this blog, while other sites, will have up to 100.
Keep highlighting the good, and when need correction, report it, however, always be a supporter of UH Athletics, good or bad, since it pays your bills.
looking for a big year from the basketball Warriors. will be at the first scrimmage after the volleyball game. can’t wait to see the new players and what they can do.
It is not the Star-Advertiser’s job to be a “source of encouragement” for Gib Arnold and his basketball program. Their responsibilities are to report the facts and provide analysis. The coaching staff fas no one to blame but themselves for the bad pub.
They are journalists not cheerleaders
I agree with runbows that the SA articles on the basketball teams are primarily negative in nature. If not, why even speculate on whether Isaac or Vander will be returning to play the upcoming season. Both returned to play for the Bows. As for the NCAA investigation, all of the infractions mentioned are small ones. Compared to what North Carolina has been accused of – players having their exams taken by others, what UH is accused of is nothing. I would be surprised if any penalties result from the NCAA’s investigation based on the list of infractions listed in a SA articles. Headlines on the front page? Give me a break!
The person in UH’s Compliance Office should be grilled about why they reported a non-infraction when no infraction had been committed. Yes, a form was doctored by a member of the coaching staff but, the form was never submitted to anybody outside of UH. That is not different with someone completing their tax return improperly but not submitting it to the IRS. There was no infraction committed! It was an internal matter that was discovered before it became an infraction!
If you want to hear good stuff about the basketball program you need to listen to the radio programs. The only thing you get in the SA is old or negative reporting. Look basketball is starting next week and no stories yet. Most of the loyal basketball fans are waiting to hear something rather than hear excuses from a lame duck football coach. Too bad we only have one paper to chose from.
we need more info updates on status of new players, latest on upcoming scrimmages, and of course latest on investigation. reporting is reporting ,editorializing ,opinions are done by the columnists.Warrior Basketball will take our minds off the dismal football season.