Obama rolls with Hawaii
A smattering of national media members have championed 13-seeded Hawaii over 4-seed California in the NCAA Tournament first round on Friday.
Michael Wilbon and Neil Everett (surprise), are among those to throw in their lot with the Rainbow Warriors, while Jay Bilas had some complimentary things to say in cautioning for a possible UH upset while still taking Cal.
As prominent picks go, though, nothing gets more attention than Barack Obama‘s Presidential Bracket.
It’s the first time UH has been in the 68-team field for what’s become an annual tradition since Obama took the presidency in 2008.
In his “Barack-etology,” Obama had Hawaii losing to Maryland in the second round.
Said Obama: “That is a homer pick (over Cal), although if they get hot shooting 3s (in the second round), that’s a possible upset.”
Here was what some members of the team had to say on the pick:
Roderick Bobbitt: “We know he’s a Hawaii guy, so we expected him to pick us. Shout-out to Barack Obama. … He’ll be watching so we’ve got to make him proud.”
Quincy Smith: “Well I mean, our mind-set was to win anyway, so that’s just icing on the cake. You don’t let the President down. We’ll come out Friday ready to play.”
Eran Ganot: “Well, we’re calculated (on using it to motivate players), because the best motivation is self motivation. And these guys have it. We always talk about having a chip with respect. These guys have a chip on their shoulder, they have great belief. They come in with the same mantra every day, the same mind-set about owning the day. Whatever’s going to in the exterior, it’s good, it’s bad, we’re just locked into what we can control. But obviously those are good things, that was nice, obviously the President’s a Hawaii guy, that’s good to hear.”
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Yahoo sports users are taking UH the most among any 13-over-4 upset pick.
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Here’s some other shots from Wednesday.
After practicing at Gonzaga — a huge rival of Ganot’s old school, Saint Mary’s — here what the UH coach had to say: “This is their old arena, where they played their games. I remember when I was first at Saint Mary’s, this is where we played. And then I think maybe 10 years ago they moved into the McCarthy Center, or Kennel II, or whatever it is. I’ve been here quite a bit, Coach (Adam) Jacobsen and our staff’s been here quite a bit. We’re just honored to compete in a great city, a great basketball town for obvious reasons. They’re going to get to see some great basketball again, some great coaches running around, great talents, great teams, great programs. I know people here are excited. I’m used to the weather and guys are getting used to it and acclimated. We’re just very honored to be a part of a great event in a great city.”
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Lastly, here was a radio interview I did the other day with Nick Kapetan at The Sports ReKap.
Learn about Hawaii from beat writer @Brian_McInnis. A team that could shock some people come #NCAAtournament time: https://t.co/XBsxST7ZCu
— Nick Kapetan (@KapN93) March 15, 2016
Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows! Let’s Go Bows!
Rain! —> Bows! Rain! —> Bows! Rain! —> Bows!
I was in Indianapolis last week and in the hotel Maryland was saying that they needed to beat California get into the sweet sixteen. What a surprise if we beat them and then Maryland. Go Bows be the Cinderella for 2016. I felt the trophy in Indianapolis and it was nice to hold while wearing my UH jacket.
It’s destiny.
Hawaii either plays Gary Dickman’s team, or the team that has the same acronym as the team we were supposed to face in a Las Vegas tournament.
SDSU(South Dakota State or San Diego State)
And thank you UC-Irvine for not losing to North Dakota in the CIT.
One and done, I’ve said that from the git-go. But if the Warriors 3’s rain all night, it might even extend past the Terps or twerps and to the second week.
Anybody got the steaming link for Friday’s game?
I’m 1 year younger than the president (the punahou guy) and I’m sure, like me,
his childhood heroes were UH’s “Fabulous 5”. I remember we got to listen to that 1st NIT game in faraway Pocatello, ID in the classroom (Aina Haina Elem). I wonder if the President has ever hosted the Fab5 in the Oval Office.
Best of luck to the current Warriors.