When you see something really cool you want to share it with friends, right? The first one of these for me in 2013 is tonight, at the Stan Sheriff Center, when the University of Hawaii men’s basketball team hosts UC Irvine.
Go see them play.
Why?
Let’s start with the Rainbow Warriors’ four-game winning streak.
Really, you ask, they’re that hot? It’s surprising to some, as evidenced by several thousand empty seats Thursday.
It was predictable a lot of fans weren’t going to show up to see the Rainbow Warriors play Big West leader Long Beach State.
The thing that made Hawaii’s recent success uncommon knowledge is also what made it especially noteworthy: The first three wins of the streak were on the road, only one widely available on TV here. Out of sight … you know the rest.
Now, perhaps, this team has your attention after the 94-73 win over the 49ers that included a first half as close to perfect as you can get.
There are no excuses left not to cause a traffic jam on University Avenue as the sun sets this evening. It’s Saturday.
Maybe you hesitate because your last memory of the Rainbow Warriors at home is that lackluster 93-82 loss to UC Davis, when the Aggies’ Corey Hawkins dropped 40 points on UH. And then Hawaii got blown out by 29 at Cal Poly (their fourth loss in five games) before starting the win streak.
Perhaps you fear another reverse down the stretch and that this team is peaking too early.
Sure, that is possible. But not likely.
Remember that ridiculous road trip UH had to deal with last year around this time? It pretty much killed the team, although UH did somehow find a way to win a Western Athletic Conference tournament game.
We all agree the Big West isn’t the Big Ten, but the travel is a lot more manageable for UH and this team is far from worn out. It might be just warming up.
Hawaii is a good blend of senior leaders and young improving players. They play with heart, they generally play smart. Most importantly, they play together. That was in stark contrast to Long Beach State, a collection of very good individual athletes who lack somewhat in the team concept.
Those 18 second-half turnovers on Thursday are an obvious concern for UH, and it will see more pressure defense as the season winds down. But the improved free-throw shooting negated that somewhat, as well as the huge rebounding advantage of 46-21.
Coach Gib Arnold has made some savvy moves lately, including confusing the 49ers by mixing zone and man defenses in the first half.
That lively student section is another reason to show up in person. Tonight’s theme is disco, just in case you can still fit into your Saturday Night Fever duds from the ’70s.
Those predictions for a 20-win season after the slicing-through-warm-butter of early November seemed pretty silly back then.
The Rainbow Warriors are 14-9 with seven games remaining, plus the Big West tournament. If they are more the team of the first half Thursday (led 53-20) than the second half (outscored 53-41), that benchmark and the conference championship are definitely in play.
As for tonight specifically, they’re more than worthy of your attention and attendance.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.
