Hawaii men’s basketball: 100th season celebration ramps up
![](https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SPT-SHEPHERD-e1579920757857.jpg)
The tributes continue to roll in.
While it’s true that the entire 2019-20 season has been a tribute of sorts to the century-plus history of Hawaii basketball, Saturday’s contest against UC Davis — billed as the 100th season celebration game — will take things to a new level.
UH held a special get-together at Giovanni Pastrami on Thursday night, featuring some of the same former players, staff members and supporters who will be present Saturday.
Great time catching up with old friends at our 💯th season alumni gathering. Can’t wait for Saturday’s game! #HawaiiMBB100 #GoBows🌈 pic.twitter.com/Or9l9CdR46
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 24, 2020
Former coach Riley Wallace is expected to be there, as is the Fabulous Five and a number of other people who had an impact on the program through the decades.
Expect a number of bells and whistles, throwback clips and references to various eras — the earliest days, the Red Rocha-era owned by the Fab Five and Tom Henderson, the 1990s marked by Trevor Ruffin and the Dynamic Duo, the international flair of the early 2000s teams, and the recent NCAA Tournament breakthrough squad. Stephen Tsai wrote a little more on all that.
Here’s is a tentative list of the special guests expected to show up:
Huthifah Abdeljawad, Eric Ambrozich, Jarinn Akana, Tom Beckerle, Matt Brummel (manager), Dyrbe Enos, Rykin Enos, Jerome Freeman, Jay Goo (trainer), Vince Goo (WBB coach and son of MBB coach Ah Chew Goo), Kawika Hallums, Harvey Harmon, Dwight Holiday, Garland Hughes, Larry Jones, Gibson Johnson, Jim and Kanoa Leahey (broadcasters), Kalia McGee, Pi’i Minns, Andre Morgan, Bob Nash, Bruce O’Neil (coach), Geremy Robinson, Miah Ostrowski, John Penebacker, Jeff Portnoy (broadcaster), Scott Robbs (broadcaster), Dennis Sallas, Len Scaduto (coach), Julian Sensley, Tim Shepherd, Kelii Silva, Alika Smith, Justice Sueing, Kenneth Takeuye (manager), Mike Thomas, Riley Wallace (coach), Jackson Wheeler (coach), Johnny White, Artie Wilson.
The project, which includes an upcoming jersey retirement for Nash, began in earnest in the offseason. Earlier this season, UH held a special tribute night for the Fab Five. It’s had a different former player as its honorary game captain for every home contest.
UH coach Eran Ganot laid out some of what went into it.
Coach Eran Ganot on the #HawaiiMBB100 season celebration coming together since the summertime.
“I know how much work it is. I know how important it is to so many people.”
It goes up a notch in the 100th season game against UC Davis on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/aXwAUcJ79p
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) January 25, 2020
Point guard Drew Buggs spoke highly of the opportunity to meet some past greats.
Point guard Drew Buggs anticipates meeting some older alumni for the first time at the #HawaiiMBB100 game Saturday against UC Davis. pic.twitter.com/XuTsBz3jSK
— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) January 25, 2020
Many of those past greats, of older and more recent vintage, took to Hawaii basketball’s social media in recent days to pay their respects to the program.
Here’s a compilation of the tributes:
Current @Lakers Assistant Coach and former Bow Phil Handy ‘95 checking in. Join us tomorrow night as we celebrate 💯 seasons. #HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/O6KD7NxVrt
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 25, 2020
Head Coach of @TCUBasketball Jamie Dixon checking in. Coach Dixon spent 3 years in Manoa under Coach Riley Wallace. #HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/27rbbMJxy6
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 24, 2020
We are celebrating our 100th season on Jan 25th against UC Davis. Noah Allen ‘17 & @StefanJ33 ‘16 checking in! #HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/9BxlDOMxKi
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 21, 2020
We are celebrating our 100th season on Jan 25th against UC Davis. The 👌point king @jackpurchase6 ‘19 checking in! #HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/3VHN9fLSRo
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 17, 2020
We are celebrating our 100th season on Jan 25th against UC Davis. @AirValdes ‘16 checking in!#HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/i2REdKIaVN
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 15, 2020
We are celebrating our 100th season on Jan 25th against UC Davis. Mike Thomas ‘18 checking in!#HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/1C8viFIp4G
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 14, 2020
We are celebrating our 100th season on Jan 25th against UC Davis. Jarinn Akana ‘94 checking in!#HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/YGUiNVi4Jp
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 14, 2020
UPDATE: Here’s a few more tributes that went up Friday night:
‘Iolani graduate and current General Manager of the @Raptors Bobby Webster checking in for the 💯th season celebration. #HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/Z2OT6K1VZE
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 25, 2020
Kevin Plank, the founder and chairman of @UnderArmour, checks in for the 💯th season. Glad to be partners with @UAbasketball, the best apparel brand in the world. #TeamUA pic.twitter.com/LhMpl3RVGT
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 25, 2020
Justin Holiday (@JustHolla7) current member of @Pacers and nephew of Fab 5 member Dwight Holiday, congratulates #HawaiiMBB on their 💯th season! Go Bows! pic.twitter.com/iODxKejIxo
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 25, 2020
One of UH’s all-time greats @psavovic76 checking in from Spain! #HawaiiMBB #GoBows 🌈💯 pic.twitter.com/jHiz8lEhT8
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 25, 2020
UPDATE II: One more went up overnight:
NBA Champion and @spurs PG @Patty_Mills checking in for the 💯th season game tonight vs Davis! #HawaiiMBB100 pic.twitter.com/lGCEDdIU0r
— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) January 25, 2020
UH (12-6, 3-1 Big West) is tied for first place with UC Irvine through four games. The Rainbow Warriors can maintain that position with a win over Davis (8-12, 2-2) in the third game of a four-game homestand.
I wonder if they will name the 100th anniversary top team and second and third team?
It was awesome to read so many former players checking in for the celebration. There are so many past players that still bleed green. UH should be so proud of their athletic heritage.