University of Hawaii men’s basketball to face Ball State in Diamond Head Classic opener

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ANDREW LEE / SPECIAL TO THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER

Hawai’i’s Brocke Stepteau (2) celebrates with Zigmars Raimo (14) and Samuta Avea (32) after scoring during the overtime period of a Diamond Head Classic men’s college basketball game on Sunday, December 23, 2018, at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Bracket pairings for the 2019 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic and Maui Jim Maui Invitational basketball tournaments were announced Thursday.

Host Hawaii will open the 11th edition of the DHC against Ball State of the Mid-American Conference in an ESPN2-televised contest on Dec. 22 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Cardinals return eight letter-winners from a team that went 16-17 (6-12 MAC) last season.

UH (18-13, 9-7 Big West in 2018-19) has faced Ball State on only one other occasion, winning 83-75 in December 1996.

“We have great respect for Ball State, their program and coaching staff and know we have a tough challenge off the bat with a program that has averaged nearly 20 wins over their last four years,” UH coach Eran Ganot messaged the Star-Advertiser, adding a nod to event runner ESPN for putting together “a fantastic field.”

From there, the Rainbow Warriors will play either Washington of the Pac-12 or UTEP of Conference USA on Dec. 23.

The other side of the bracket features pairings of Houston vs. Portland and Georgia Tech vs. Boise State. UH will face one of those four on the final day, Dec. 25.

“I’m sure fans share our excitement in seeing a field that potentially features 2 top 25 teams and great programs that return a lot of key pieces!” Ganot messaged. Houston was No. 11 in last year’s final Associated Press poll, while Washington received votes in the final Coaches Poll.

The ’Bows’ best finish so far in the Diamond Head is third place in 2014 and 2015. They are coming off a 2-1 showing for fifth in 2018, with wins over Colorado and Rhode Island.

Meanwhile, the 36th Maui Invitational (Nov. 25-27) is stacked as usual. Day 1 features a blue-blood program, Kansas, taking on storied host Chaminade in the Division II Silverswords’ return to their signature event at the Lahaina Civic Center. Chaminade was rotated out of the field for the first time in 2018 and will be out again in 2020.

This will be the fourth meeting between the ’Swords and Jayhawks. Chaminade is 0-3 against KU, with the last meeting on Nov. 23, 2015, a 123-72 Kansas win.

The other Maui first-round pairings are Dayton vs. Georgia, Michigan State vs. Virginia Tech and UCLA vs. BYU. Tom Izzo’s Spartans and Bill Self’s Jayhawks could meet in the final.

Kansas (2015, 1996), UCLA (2006), Dayton (2003), and Michigan State (1991) are past champions of Maui.

11TH HAWAIIAN AIRLINES DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC

Dec. 22, 23 and 25 at Stan Sheriff Center

Day 1 pairings

Game 1: Houston vs. Portland, 10 a.m. (ESPNU)

Game 2: Georgia Tech vs. Boise State, noon (ESPNU)

Game 3: UTEP vs. Washington, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 4: Ball State at Hawaii, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

36th Maui Jim Maui Invitational

Nov. 25-27 at Lahaina Civic Center

Day 1 pairings

Game 1: Dayton vs. Georgia, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN2)

Game 2: Michigan State vs. Virginia Tech, noon (ESPN2)

Game 3: Kansas vs. Chaminade, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)

Game 4: UCLA vs. BYU, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2)