Hawaii men’s basketball: Black Bears are Maine event at Sheriff on Dec. 29
Hawaii’s first-known nonconference opponent of the 2019-20 season — aside from Ball State in the previously announced Diamond Head Classic pairings — is Maine of the America East Conference.
The Black Bears put out their nonconference schedule on Monday. Lo and behold, UH was listed as an away game for the Black Bears on Dec. 29.
📅 Men's Hoops Releases 2019-20 Non-Conference Slate 📅
Details: https://t.co/HYnVtPn1bD
Schedule: https://t.co/Hdur4Tiifg#BlackBearNation | #AEHoops pic.twitter.com/JKfMOrMmZL— Maine Basketball (@BlackBearsMBB) July 22, 2019
UH has never faced Maine. The meeting is remarkable in that it features the flagship schools of the two states farthest apart. It is 5,147 miles from Honolulu to Bangor, Maine.
Maine was one of the worst teams in NCAA Division I in 2018-19, going 5-27 with a 338 (of 353) rating on KenPom.com.
It could be the final game of UH’s nonconference schedule before the start of Big West play. The Rainbows have typically played one game after the Diamond Head Classic (Dec. 22, 23 and 25) and the new year, and this fits that bill.
Per the Twitter account TheD1Docket, 69 teams have released their full nonconference schedule (of the Big West, only Long Beach State has).
UPDATE: The list of released nonconference schedules is up to 113, per TheD1Docket. The Docket also sourced up a meeting between New Orleans of the Southland Conference and Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center on Nov. 25. UNO went 19-14 overall (12-6 Southland) with a KenPom rating of 262 last season.
Here’s the list of schools, by conference, that it’s known Hawaii will NOT face in 2019-20.
(UPDATE: This list more or less current as of Aug. 5.)
American Athletic
Central Florida
Connecticut
Houston (DHC possibility)
Temple
Tulsa
Wichita State
America East
Binghamton
Hartford
Massachusetts-Lowell
New Hampshire
Stony Brook
Vermont
Atlantic 10
Dayton
George Mason
La Salle
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Atlantic Coast
Boston College
Duke
Florida State
Miami
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Pittsburgh
Syracuse
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Atlantic Sun
Liberty
Big 12
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Oklahoma State
TCU
Texas
Texas Tech
West Virginia
Big East
Butler
Marquette
Providence
St. John’s
Xavier
Big Sky
Idaho State
Northern Arizona
Big Ten
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Nebraska
Northwestern
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
Wisconsin
Colonial Athletic Association
College of Charleston
Hofstra
James Madison
Towson
UNC-Wilmington
Conference USA
Charlotte
Old Dominion
Rice
UTEP
Horizon League
Green Bay
Oakland
Wright State
Ivy League
Brown
Columbia
Harvard
Yale
Metro Athletic Athletic
Canisius
Fairfield
Marist
Quinnipiac
Siena
Mid-American
Western Michigan
Mid-Eastern Athletic
Norfolk State
Missouri Valley
Indiana State
Missouri State
Mountain West
Air Force
Nevada
San Jose State
UNLV
Northeast
Bryant
Central Connecticut State
Fairleigh Dickinson
LIU Brooklyn
Sacred Heart
St. Francis (PA)
Pacific 12
Arizona
Arizona State
California
Stanford
UCLA
USC
Utah
Washington State
Patriot League
Boston University
Colgate
Southeastern
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Texas A&M
Southern
Chattanooga
Western Carolina
Wofford
Southland
Central Arkansas
Southwestern Athletic
Alabama A&M
Texas Southern
Summit League
Oral Roberts
Sun Belt
Appalachian State
Arkansas State
Texas State
West Coast
Pepperdine
Santa Clara
Western Athletic
Cal Baptist
I would rather see us playing some ‘money’ games on the road, than schedule one of the worst teams in the country. Tickets sales will be pathetic again …. o hum
Coach? Let’s play some tougher opponents, our team lacked toughness these last two seasons and I believe it’s because of our schedules.
GoBows’
The period between the DHC and the start of conference play is the perfect time to play a team like Maine. You don’t want to go on the road to play a bodybag game right then.
Hoping for a true road game with another PAC-12 opponent like they’ve had the past two seasons (@Utah in 2017 and @UCLA in 2018). However, with all the PAC-12 schedules out except for 5 teams (Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, and Wazzu) I wonder if Hawaii will schedule anything against any of those teams. I’m sure Washington is off the list because they’ll be coming here for the DHC.
I’m also hoping that UH can schedule some games against MWC and WCC teams, or find some mid-majors to come down here (or vice-versa, have to play anyone and anywhere). I’m surprised Hawaii hasn’t been schedule more MWC and WCC schools, but hopefully that changes this season. Those teams will generate more fan interest since they’re more known to the general basketball follower. But from a strictly competition stand-point and getting better, I hope they can schedule some mid-majors (example: North Texas from last season, even though they thoroughly whooped us).
Yeah, I kind of feel the same way. Holiday season. Good for Hawaii. A chance to keep game-ready skills honed without stressing out. Black-bears benefit also with a trip to Hawaii to combine Athletics, academics and a memorable holiday. A win-win.
1. I disagree. I mean look at Long Beach State. Over 80% of their games are “body bag games,” but their finishes in conference the last 3 seasons have been 4th, 5th, and 5th (2016-2018, respectively). Not only does it not seem to help improve their performance for conference play, but the games aren’t very competitive either (from last season, they lost to Arizona State 90-58 and Mississippi State 79-51). I think when you’re losing like that, even against higher ranked opponents, it has a negative effect on the players.
Hawaii had the “weaker” non-conference schedule to LBSU, but still beat them both meetings in the regular season and should’ve beat them in the conference tourney if it weren’t for a complete meltdown against the press.
Brian, one more scholarship. Any news on potential recruits or Ganots plan for the scholarship?
Sounds like they may hold onto it for a mid-year transfer. However, someone whom they want could pop up in the next few weeks before school starts.
At least play Albany, a team that has made it to the NCAAs recently.
Check out Cappie’s Basketball Schedule Template he laid out regarding a type of schedule for UH Basketball ideal for RPI building for a Mid-Major. Maybe you can stick in a body bag game if its profitable but it’s a nice, exciting and “doable” schedule. It’s at comment 23.
Link:
https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/rainbow-warriors-basketball/game-day-uh-at-long-beach-state/
Add another to the non-conference schedule. Hawaii supposedly hosting New Orleans on November 25th.
If Hawaii is the “legitimate” 4th best (mediocre but on the upswing) team in the Big West then the overall RPI should be good Conference wise. If (IF) 4 to 7 teams can be competitive/win when overmatched and win some games when evenly matched, who knows what can ensue as the RPI matrix solidifies before conference play starts come January. Even just one or two upsets can shake everything “up”. Could feel like the old WAC days for UH. Conference legitimacy. We’ll see.