Heck of a ride
What a team. What a season.
Hawaii’s memorable ride in 2015-16 came to an end Sunday in the NCAA Tournament second round, but moments and memories of this group are sure to endure.
The Big West champs from Manoa won the most games in program history — 28-6 — and busted down the door for the first NCAA Tournament victory, upsetting 4 seed California. They just didn’t quite have it in the 73-60 loss to Maryland, a truly elite team when the Terrapins feel like being one. They felt like one late in that game Sunday night in Spokane.
Are the ImprobaBows/UnforgettaBows the best team in UH history? They’re certainly in the discussion, but don’t forget there have been some pretty dang good ‘Bows squads in the past.
They — first-year coach Eran Ganot, his staff and players — were certainly a blast to cover.
The team’s charter flight is scheduled to arrive at Honolulu International Airport around 2 p.m. today (Monday), for those wanting to greet the team upon their return. I don’t know for sure if they’re coming in on the international or interisland terminal. From there, they will bus back to campus.
The team’s trip lasted just shy of three weeks. They departed for the mainland on March 1, for the final conference road games at UC Davis and Long Beach State. That seems like quite a while ago.
Thank you everyone involved for a great season.. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Love my team and fans and university.
— Mike Thomas (@mc_thomas25) March 21, 2016
Not the way we wanted to end the season but I'm proud of my teammates. I had two amazing years playing at UH & will never forget it.
— Roderick Bobbitt (@Kingbobbitt5) March 21, 2016
A million good memories rush my head when i think about this team.
— Nikola Filipovich (@nikothefreko) March 21, 2016
What a ride! Couldn't have asked for a better redshirt freshman year. Thanks to my teammates for moments and experiences I'll never forget
— Brocke Stepteau (@BStepteau3) March 21, 2016
Not the outcome we wanted but I'm proud to be a warrior for these past 4 years and I wouldn't want it no other way with my brothers.
— dyrbs (@ayedyrbeh10) March 21, 2016
What an honor to coach this special group! Will be remembered forever! So proud of them-made us all believe! #GoBows
— Eran Ganot (@EranGanot) March 22, 2016
Special Mahalo to all who shared in this journey – to the entire state of Hawaii! Could feel the love at home and on road! #GoBows
— Eran Ganot (@EranGanot) March 22, 2016
Special group – special year #thanks pic.twitter.com/tlxcAcUIKJ
— Adam Jacobsen (@coachjacobsen) March 21, 2016
21 days later we've made it back to Honolulu #longroadtrip #success #greattobehome
— John Montgomery (@JohnMontySF) March 22, 2016
Credit to the UH fans who showed up and showed out at the Big West and NCAA Tournaments. The atmosphere was pretty special, especially the ti leaf frenzy for the Maryland game.
For me, I’m about ready to head home after pouring out who-knows-how-many words on these guys.
Feel free to share any thoughts of the team or their recent trip below.
Best season ever, I hope there is some kind of celebration being put together for this team!
Brian,
Thanks for the excellent coverage you provided.
You filled up whole pages of the printed Star-Advertiser with excellent facts and figures, analysis, and feature stories about the players, coaches, and fans.
You too showed up and out for the season and the last three weeks in particular;
you are prime time.
Understandably you need to refresh and go to other interests now but, when you’re up to it, check out tapes of the California and Maryland games as televised;
Doug Gottlieb had excellent and telling comments about “ti” leaves, “dakine,” and, most of all, the NCAA sanctions (he couldn’t say it but obviously he thinks it’s unreasonable and unfair for NCAA to punish innocent student-athletes when it was the administration two coaches ago who committed the abuses of NCAA rules and of fair treatment concepts for the players (hot steamy gym and no nuff ac, no fridge, and no something else in the locker room, no “organization,” and no “structure”), and about the individual players and Ganot.
From everything Gottlieb said, I think the prudent thing for Valdes, Jankovic, and Thomas to do is to not turn pro and to not transfer but to stay and play Rainbow Warrior;
I think Gottlieb thinks they’re getting good coaching from Ganot and staff and will polish their pro prospects here and will get the undying love of the ti leaf waving, dakine frenzied fans.
For sure, Gottlieb would talk talk talk about Valdes/Janks/Thomas’ aloha for Hawaii when he does the Diamond Head Classic this December if he sees them in Rainfow Warrior green.
Mahalo! to everyone for a Great season.
Appreciate the kind words. Will definitely watch the broadcasts of the games when I arrive back home tomorrow.
Someone said CBS does not re-broadcast the games. Thorough coverage and good work by Brian.
Gottlieb probably learned some local slang from Kanoa Leahy on previous telecasts. What a historic season! We want more. Please keep us posted on any recruiting news and any related basketball scoop. Thank you!
What a season! This team did us proud. Sure hope the folks up in Manoa are whipping up a celebration.
Brian, thanks for the excellent coverage all season long. (Wish there was some kind of index to the player profiles.) It was cool to see the alums’ tweets during the tournament, and your summary of the players’ and coaches’ comments above.
How is Hawaii’s appeal to the NCAA sanctions going?
The chief hearing officer of Hawaii’s case is the Xavier athletic director, so when Wisconsin won at the buzzer, all of us should have been jumping up and down.
The Northern Iowa meltdown depressed me more than Hawaii’s inevitable loss to Maryland.
I am so burnt out from post-season basketball.
I watched “Eraserhead” and Ingmar Bergman’s “The Magician” last night.
But by Thursday, my batteries will be recharged, ready to root for Gonzaga. And on Friday: Oregon.
Charles Barkley’s kiss of death praise for the Pac-12 didn’t touch the Ducks.
Gonzaga is probably more dangerous in the underdog role.
In retrospect, I should have clapped harder for Quincy Smith on senior night.
I hope he gets a chance to play somewhere professionally.
I am ready for next season. Bring on the Niko Filopovich/Sherriff Drammeh backcourt. Shock the college basketball world and finish with a .600+ winning percentage.
I believe in our coach.
Doug Gottleib’s references to Hawaii was almost as funny as the “South Park” episode where Butters discovers that he’s from Hawaii.
Watch that episode.
It’s a wicked critique of “The Descendants”.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone obviously spent time in Hawaii.