My friend Jayne Wenger has a long history of working in theater and likes to go to plays sometimes for relaxation. So when I told her that I planned to watch a game at the Stan Sheriff Center on my day off Friday, she knew the term for it: "Busman’s Holiday."

It originated a long time ago from the idea that if you drove a bus for a living, you might ride a bus to get to where you’re going on your own time.

Let’s just say I’m fully on board for the University of Hawaii basketball team, and still disappointed that the SSC isn’t SRO for this exciting group that consistently plays hard and well … and wins. The 10,000-seat arena was only about half full for what might be UH’s best team in at least 10 years.

Part of the problem again was the opponent’s lack of a brand name. Omaha was like a store-brand grocery item or a generic drug — just as good as the more popular one with the fancy packaging and advertising.

So, it was Oma-who? Those who watched know who they are now, and that they’re good. The Mavericks led the Rainbow Warriors before a late technical foul turned the tide.

Speaking of fouls, you know the visitors feel like they got a raw deal with such a big call against them, regardless how legit. But when you consider they were forced to foul trailing at the end, the 24 personals to 22 against Hawaii was even.

And Omaha got several questionable calls in its favor and a non-call when coach Darrin Hansen walked 5 feet onto the court — during live action, with him close enough to a UH player to be called for a hand-check. I’d never seen anything like it and apparently neither had the refs, since they were too astounded to make the obvious technical-foul call.

I think UH got a lot of calls from the refs against Norfolk State on Monday; this time I really don’t think my perspective was blurred by being a paying customer instead of sitting courtside, where everyone is supposed to be neutral.

Good about small crowds: short line for tickets. I asked for best available upper section and got a really good seat (if you go, ask for Section PP, Row 5).

It’s not the cheapest two hours of entertainment at $6 for parking, $18 for an upper-level seat, $13 for food and drink. But if you consider Long Beach State worthy of comparison, the ticket prices are in line with the scale at The Pyramid.

Return on investment? Couldn’t be happier. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but effort was supreme by both teams and Hawaii is developing a trait of making big clutch plays.

Now UH goes on the road for four of its first five Big West games. There’s too much handwringing over this when you consider the backend has Hawaii home for three of its last five. Isn’t that when you want to play at the friendly confines?

Next home foe is UC Riverside on Jan. 18. How the Rainbows fare in the two on the road preceding that will of course largely determine the crowd size. Just remember that this team will still be 9-2 and winners of four in a row at home at that point, and still worth your time and money.

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Read Dave Reardon’s Quick Reads at staradvertiser.com/quickreads.