Gameday: Princeton

After today, Hawaii will either feel much better about itself going into a lengthy break from games, or effectively the opposite. UH will probably still feel there is much to be improved upon regardless of a win or a loss against Princeton in Bloch Arena.

The Rainbow Warriors (4-4) take on the Tigers (2-4) at 4:30, or about 30 minutes after Cal and Seton Hall wrap up in Wednesday’s Pearl Harbor Invitational opener. Seating is still reserved for military personnel and a limited number of invited people from each school, but you can watch it on Fox Sports 1 or listen on 1420-AM.

UPDATE: Seton Hall held on to defeat Cal 60-57. Golden Bears had a halfcourt heave to tie rim out at the buzzer. UH tipoff will be at about 4:45 p.m.

UH’s lineup could change again on the short turnaround from Tuesday’s 68-57 loss to SHU. Sophomore Brocke Stepteau shot it well (5-for-8 FGs, 3-6 3PT) en route to a career-high 17 points off the bench, although he also had just one assist against three turnovers in a team-high 36 minutes.

Stepteau didn’t handle his only start to date, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, very well. But he looked plenty confident by the end against the Pirates and you’d expect him to come out better if he does, in fact, get the nod today. And if he does, how much does he take charge instead of Sheriff Drammeh?

It’s also possible Eran Ganot will go with Leland Green again, but Green struggled in his return to the first five, going 1-for-5 for three points.

UPDATE: It’s Stepteau getting the start for the second time this season.

Getting Noah Allen going is paramount. The senior had season lows in points in each of his last three outings (12, seven, zero).

UH has been outscored a combined 28 points out of the gate in its last three games. The last time the ‘Bows went on the board first was against UH Hilo.

Princeton’s incredibly balanced offense features four double-digit scorers by average, although none at more than 12 points per game. The Tigers are a very experienced, senior-laden group. Their roster lists a full 20 players, although not all will be on the bench.

The Ivy League team is favored by 10 points in the schools’ first meeting in men’s hoops. Princeton has played a pretty tough schedule to this point, with losses to BYU, Lehigh, VCU and Cal.

UH does not play again until the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Dec. 22.

The day’s festivities in Bloch began with a World War II veteran, Peter DuPre’, playing the Star Spangled Banner on harmonica. It was a touching moment that clearly moved some of the many servicemen and servicewomen in attendance.

Here was Fox Sports 1 video of it: