Up for grabs

UH coach Eran Ganot is getting after his players in practice this week.
UH coach Eran Ganot is getting after his players in practice this week.

Seven games into an uneven 2016-17 season, Hawaii coach Eran Ganot wants nobody on his 4-3 team to feel secure.

Slow starts against Troy and Arkansas-Pine Bluff have a way of reducing a first five’s job security.

Ganot said as much to local media today, as his team was off from practice but had a weightlifting session.

“Obviously some guys are more set than others, but I think with a young group — I’ve said this from Day 1 — if you earn it, keep earning it,” Ganot said. “If you didn’t have it, you can certainly work your way in there.”

It’s looking like guys like Matt Owies and Larry Lewis Jr. are playing their way into the regular rotation. Owies was slowed at season’s start by a medical issue and some admittedly rough first few games, while Lewis had difficulties with some team concepts in preseason practices. But they are coming off their best performances so far off the bench against Pine Bluff, and Owies in particular has injected himself into the starting discussion.

Forward Gibson Johnson called the last couple of days of practice the season’s most intense so far.

“I think our guys are getting after each other and I think our inability to get off to good starts has presented us with this situation,” Ganot said. “Hey, we’ll see who’s ready to play. You saw that the last couple games. If you’re not, you don’t play.”


It’s getting closer to the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Pearl Harbor Invitational tournament at Bloch Arena. The team has some Pearl Harbor events planned as part of the event starting Sunday.

UH plays Seton Hall (5-2) of the Big East on Tuesday, and Princeton (2-3) of the Ivy League on Wednesday.

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A reminder for fans: General tickets are not available for the UH games at Bloch Arena. Seating is reserved for military personnel and special invitees for each of the four schools (UH, Seton Hall, Princeton, and Cal).

The games (UH slots both days are at 4:30 p.m.) will be televised on Fox Sports 1.

COMMENTS

  1. Ohana Hawaii December 3, 2016 3:08 am

    Danm!. Peoples in Hawaii! He is the best danm coach for University of Hawaii basketball program since Mr. Wallace was the Head Coach. But if you do something like letting him go! It’s really going to show how stupid the athletic department. Plus the AD is to the University! . If they think of doing it? The University of Hawaii AD should let go of all the head coach from football all the down to baseball too!. And even women’s volleyball too!. Because they never win a National title for a long time!. Like football being 6-7 it’s really doesn’t mean nothing at all!. Plus going to a bowl game. That paid the University 150.000 to win. It’s nothing if you think about it!. But winning a season with 28 win means a lot!. You just remember that? The University of Hawaii basketball program is might be banned from playing in the postseason this year!. But he rebuilding a great team for the future to come at UH. So stop talking about putting him on the hot seat this year or other years to come!. But the biggest problem is the games attendance?. Like their say if no one cares why should you do!. Because they’re have to remember? Once it’s announce that? The University of Hawaii have to eliminate all their athletic activities. Because of not enough funds coming into the University. Just don’t cry about it!. It’s really seriously going to be all you peoples fault from Hawaii.


  2. RSYmoney December 3, 2016 6:18 am

    Ohana, What are you talking about? I don’t know of anyone with a brain is calling for Ganot to be fired 7 games into the new season with all the penalties hanging over the team’s head that was caused by Bib and Akana.
    So calm down and support the team.


  3. oldtimer808 December 3, 2016 8:08 am

    Lol Ohana you’ve done it again with your poor grammar. Your thoughts are all over the place to a point that doesn’t make any sense.


  4. oneseason December 3, 2016 6:48 pm

    I was a little disappointed with some of the Sports Animals comments on Friday regarding some of the players. It is not a player’s fault that he is being asked to play a position and doesn’t meet a particular host’s standards. Both the coaches and players are having to deal with the fallout from the inappropriate NCAA sanctions, and pointing the finger (as I saw it anyway) at anyone other than the NCAA and/or former Coach Arnold doesn’t seem fair.


  5. Na Alii Pride December 3, 2016 7:47 pm

    Ohana, as usual writing with your head up your butt. I see you’ve brought your stupidity to Court Sense now? Why don’t you just leave us alone? Everyone knows you’re a bozo!


  6. cappie the dog December 4, 2016 5:39 am

    Owies looked more confident out there against Arkansas Pine-Bluff. But who wouldn’t? Oh, Noah Allen.

    If he emerges as Hawaii’s starting point guard, I think Hawaii can finish in the upper tier of the Big West. Stepteau is not Ron Baker, but he is the most decent walk-on I have ever seen, with the exception of Miah Ostrowski.

    Stefan Jovanovich is averaging 6.3 pts. in 17 minutes at Loyola Marymount.

    I don’t think the move was worth it.


  7. K-Bay December 7, 2016 5:07 am

    TribeVx4?
    Nominee for Best Walkon: ALL Big West Aaron Valdés…


Comments are closed.