YOU might be wondering why the University of Hawaii is playing Norfolk State -- the newest of 306 Division I basketball schools in America -- tomorrow night, instead of going on the road to face the likes of UCLA, USC, California, Stanford, or even Long Beach State. Hit the road, ’Bows,
and play quality teamsThe Rainbows' first road trip is a single-game Western Athletic Conference matchup at San Diego State on Jan. 10. It would be a perfect time for the Rainbows to strengthen their cause for making the NCAA tournament by playing a tough West Coast opponent Tuesday or Wednesday, then going to San Diego to play the Aztecs on Saturday.
Much like the UH football team scheduling Cal State Northridge or Northeast Louisiana, it makes absolutely no sense to play a team that can do nothing but hurt you.
A win at home is a given, so it means little should the Rainbows be on the bubble come NCAA selection time, and it would be disastrous if they lost.
The NCAA selection committee has sent a strong message that weak nonconference schedules are a detriment. It's better to lose on the road against a good team than win at home vs. a cupcake.
Last year's University of Texas Longhorns are an excellent example of this mind-set. Despite a mediocre 16-11 mark, they were an at-large selection because they played a rigorous nonconference road schedule.
The selection was vindicated after Texas advanced to the round of 16 before losing to Louisville -- another team that believes going on the road is the best path to the Final Four.
THIS year's Hawaii team is just as good as Texas and Louisville were a year ago. The Longhorns were led by Reggie Freeman and the Cardinals had DeJuan Wheat. The Rainbows' Anthony Carter is certainly comparable.
It would be a shame, however, if the senior point guard was left at home come March because UH head basketball coach Riley Wallace didn't believe the Rainbows were good enough to win a tough nonconference game on the road.
Imagine if Kansas head coach Roy Williams took the same safe approach. The Rainbows wouldn't have had the opportunity to upset the No. 2-ranked Jayhawks because they would be home playing a team like Southeast Missouri.
On the surface, it appears Hawaii was the clear winner. The Rainbows knocked off the nation's second-ranked team and won the Rainbow Classic trophy for only the fourth time in 24 years.
But if you step back and look at the big picture, perhaps Kansas will be the true winner in the long run because the Jayhawks took their show on the road.
Granted, they lost. But they were without injured All-America Raef LaFrentz and fellow forward T.J. Pugh. This defeat proves that just showing up won't get it done for Kansas. Somebody has to step up each and every night until Pugh and LaFrentz return.
AS for the Rainbows, their first road trip is a league game against weak sister San Diego State. All you need to know is the Aztecs recently lost to BYU, one of the nation's worst teams.
A Hawaii win, right? Well perhaps, if the Rainbows had at least one road test to get used to foreign gyms and rims. But look how they fared in last year's first road trip.
Hawaii left the islands for the Rocky Mountains to play the lowly Air Force Academy. Much like this season, the Rainbows had an outstanding home record.
But what did they do? They lost to the Falcons, 73-68, mostly because they weren't prepared for the rigors of the road.
No, this is one time when Riley was not so wily. The Rainbows should be preparing for the ranked UCLA Bruins or Stanford Cardinal in what would be a true measuring stick as to how far Hawaii has come or needs to go.
Instead, it's Norfolk State, which gives the selection committee an excuse to pass on Hawaii should it be a close call in March.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.
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