After their NCAA basketball teams played each other in 2016, coaches Roy Williams of North Carolina and Eran Ganot of Hawaii agreed to a rematch in 2020.
The papers were signed a couple of weeks later. But then the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 game. Williams retired after the 2020-21 season. The rematch eventually was pushed to this Nov. 22 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center ahead of the Tar Heels’ participation in the Nov. 25-27 Maui Invitational.
“We planned it back in 2016,” Ganot said, noting scheduling is “not an exact science. It has more challenges, as we all know, in the new landscape (of college basketball).”
On Tuesday, UH announced the remaining games of the 2024-25 schedule, including the return of the season-opening Rainbow Classic after a one-year hiatus. UH previously announced the Big West dates, Diamond Head Classic field and North Carolina game.
“North Carolina is one of the clear blue bloods in college basketball,” Ganot said. “They have a Top 10 team they’re excited about, as well.”
The Rainbow Classic features San Jose State, Pacific and Life Pacific.
On Nov. 17, the ’Bows play host to Weber State, which won 20 games last season.
On Dec. 3, the ’Bows will travel to Phoenix for a road game against Grand Canyon. The Lopes were 30-5 this past season, including an opening-round victory over 15th-ranked Saint Mary’s in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Lopes were 16-0 at Global Credit Union Arena last season.
The ’Bows also play host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a 21-win team last season.
The Diamond Head Classic field includes Oregon State, Charleston, Loyola (Chicago), Oakland, Nebraska, Murray State and Charlotte.
“It’s an attractive home schedule,” Ganot said. “It’s something fans should be excited about. Our guys are.”
2024-25 UH men’s schedule
Nov. 8 — Life Pacific (Rainbow Classic)
Nov. 10 — San Jose State (Rainbow Classic)
Nov. 11 — Pacific (Rainbow Classic)
Nov. 17 — Weber State
Nov. 22 — North Carolina
Nov. 26 — Hawaii Pacific
Dec. 3 — Grand Canyon
Dec. 7 — At Long Beach State
Dec. 14 — Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Dec. 22 — Charlotte (Diamond Head Classic)
Dec. 23 — Second round (Diamond Head Classic)
Dec. 25 — Final round (Diamond Head Classic)
Jan. 2 — UC Santa Barbara
Jan. 4 — Cal Poly
Jan. 9 — At UC Riverside
Jan. 11 — At Cal State Fullerton
Jan. 16 — Cal State Northridge
Jan. 18 — Cal State Bakersfield
Jan. 23 — At UC Davis
Jan. 25 — At UC Irvine
Jan. 30 — UC San Diego
Feb. 1 — CSU Fullerton
Feb. 6 — At Cal Poly
Feb. 8 — At UC Santa Barbara
Feb. 13 — Long Beach State
Feb. 15 — UC Irvine
Feb. 22 — At UC San Diego
Feb. 27 — UC Riverside
March 1 — UC Davis
March 6 — At Cal State Bakersfield
March 8 — At Cal State Northridge
End regular season
March 12-15 — At Big West Championship tournament
