At a recent Hawaii basketball team workout, a visitor greeted Eran Ganot with the casual query, “What’s new?”

The second-year coach raised his eyebrows in response and took a long look over his shoulder at the human beings hurling round objects into metal hoops. Precious few of them were present when the Rainbow Warriors charted new territory in March.

Ganot didn’t have to say a word that day to get his point across. On the first day of full practices for the 2016-17 season Friday, he elevated his tone several times during a three-hour session — and the Rainbow Warriors’ 10 newcomers were undoubtedly on the receiving end of many of those messages.

“When you say, ‘What’s new?,’ everything’s new,” Ganot said. “The group of guys and the system is new. We’re doing our building blocks, establishing a foundation, a culture and expectation. You want to keep going and going and going, but you want to make sure you do things right before you move forward.”

UH gets 30 practices over 42 days — six weeks — leading into the Nov. 11 season opener against SIU-Edwardsville. Previously, they were limited to two hours a week of full team activity.

They could use the time. UH has virtually no scoring or rebounding production returning from its Big West championship and second-round NCAA Tournament team that set a program record at 28 victories before getting scattered to the wind by a gust of NCAA sanctions, including a postseason ban this year. There are 10 newcomers.

“It’s a heck of a challenge, a great challenge,” Ganot said. “You have as much turnover as anyone in the country, but you have a group of guys whose attitudes are good. At times there could be some frustration because you’re not picking up so many things at once.”

At every position, UH looked young on Friday. Last year’s starting five either exhausted eligibility (Roderick Bobbitt, Quincy Smith), turned pro early (Aaron Valdes, Stefan Jankovic) or got injured and had to redshirt this season (Mike Thomas).

Jobs are basically up for grabs.

Sophomore Sheriff Drammeh, the only active returning rotation player, has been converted to point guard. Freshman Matt Owies and sophomore Brocke Stepteau are the other options to run the offense.

“We’ve been told that nothing’s set in stone,” said Owies, an Australian. “There’s so many new guys, we’re all fighting to get better; by competing everyone gets better. So there’s obviously competition for spots, but with that competition comes helping out your teammates to get better.”

Larry Lewis Jr., Leland Green, Brian Garrett and Zach Buscher are contending at the off-guard.

The ‘Bows were mostly familiar with the drills Ganot tasked them with, but they still had to run several end-to-end sprints.

“It was really intense. Today we tried to bring a lot of energy and a lot of focus, just because we have a lot of new guys this year,” said Lewis, a transfer from Odessa (Texas) College. “We’re so we’re trying to come out with a new … energy, and just ready to work.”

The UH coaches also must hew a frontcourt rotation from the likes of Noah Allen, Zigmars Raimo, Gibson Johnson, Jack Purchase, Darryl Matthews and Ido Flaisher.

Freshman guard Drew Buggs, a redshirt candidate, is still limited to non-contact work as he comes back from a knee injury he suffered his senior year at Long Beach Poly High. Meanwhile, the captain Thomas encouraged teammates from the sidelines, his right wrist enclosed in a cast. Matthews has also been slowed by an ailment.

“So you now go from 15 to 12 … you always lean on your returning guys,” Ganot said. “We don’t have many. Sheriff, those guys will be thrown in the fire. The reality is it gives some opportunities for guys to lead, and lead in a younger role, which could maybe help down the road.”

DHC and mini-pack tickets coming up

Ticket packages for the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic and UH season mini-packs go on sale Monday.

Upper-level adult prices for the mini packs range from $90 to $102 for any six home games except North Carolina (Nov. 18) and the DHC (Dec. 22, 23, 25). Mini-packs including UNC cost $10 more.

DHC packages range in price from $70 to $110 for the 12-game tournament, or $18 to $30 for each session including UH games.

Tickets may be purchased at etickethawaii.com, the Stan Sheriff Center box office or by calling 944-2697.