‘Bows in Tip-off Marathon (again)
Once again, the Hawaii men’s basketball team will participate in ESPN’s college hoops hype event, the day-and-a-half Tip-off Marathon.
This is no surprise; the Rainbow Warriors have been in all seven years of the event. ESPN needs the ‘Bows to play at an ungodly hour (less ungodly for UH than it would be any other location on the mainland, but it’s still starting at midnight).
And once again, the finale of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic will be the midnight game, this time vs. High Point.
It’s less confusing to think of it as a 12:01 a.m. tipoff on Nov. 18. It will be televised on ESPN2.
In six previous years, UH is 4-2 in these midnight marathon games. It’s unfortunate that the starting time is no longer 11 p.m., and that it’s been relegated to ESPN2 instead of the flagship channel. That changed last year.
About the opponent in brief: High Point won the Big South Conference regular season in the spring and qualified for the NIT. UH has never met the Panthers.
Yahoo’s college hoops blog, The Dagger, did a ranking of the top 10 matchups in this year’s marathon. Not surprisingly, UH didn’t make that list.
They did include a footnote about the UH-HPU (High Point’s acronym, not the recently rebranded Sharks) game, “Unless you’re an alum of either school or you have a son playing in the game, this is probably a good time for a nap.”
Ouch.
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UPDATE: The eight-team bracket for the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic will be released Tuesday morning. UH has historically been paired up with a tough first-round opponent, and there’s no reason to think otherwise this time around. Some of the better teams in this year’s field are Colorado, Nebraska, Wichita State and George Washington.
We shouldn’t grumble…Any “air-time” is good for our MBB program…Just keep winning and we’ll find ourselves on the air more. I hope we get a decent “big man” to balance our program, as we have a good assortment of PG/SGs.
bowwar:
I think no question, the ncaa thing unresolved slowed down the recruiting for Gib and program. Think he was close to signing either Cousins or Bol, they would have helped. Have to get Sammis in.
You are correct, everyone on the planet knows, UH has so many wings/SF and guards.
We NEED another 4/5… even if a raw athletic guy can develop, ala Vander, however with TEAM attitude.
Agree with you too, like Chow and FB, or Trap and BB, any sport, if YOU WIN, and WIN conf. championships, NIT and NCAA participation regular, the ESPN showcases will come, so will being a top 30 or better team. UH and Gib or whomever HC, just has to win.. and keep winning, .. SOS ,.. can get better too, however, I think , the BCS type power teams, afraid to come to SSC, they will lose now..
bowwar:
Bottom line for any sport. With winning comes the rewards. NIT, NCAA participation, the top 30 consistent MBB program, and UH plays exciting ball, ESPN or NBC, or CBSports, Fox, will pick them up. JUST HAVE TO WIN… that other stuff will come.
Also , totally agree, UH has enough guards and wings, SF’s, Gib has to get a PF/C that can play near rim. protect and score in paint. Think ncaa investigation put that bugaboo, the wrench in signing Cousins/Bol.. well that is Gib and staff challenge, lock up a decent 4/5 guy, and UH will be solid for THIS YEAR..