Early season schedule
will test ’Bows
By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin
The Rainbows open their season with Cal Sunday and it doesn't get any easier after that. Hawaii hosts five tournaments, each with at least one marquee team; the Rainbows will be hard-pressed to repeat last season's 11-1 opening run.
Oklahoma State (VoiceStream Wireless Challenge Nov. 19-20) is the only team currently ranked in the Top 25 but a number of teams could be in the polls by the time they visit the Stan Sheriff Center.
There are some big-name programs coming in (Marquette, St. Bonaventure, Princeton) and some with reputations for being NCAA Tournament spoilers (Coppin State, Murray State, UNC-Charlotte).
As for the WAC, Utah, New Mexico and TCU were all ranked in the preseason with UNLV and Fresno State getting votes. From top to bottom, the conference will be even tougher than last year.
"Everyone's going to be better," Riley Wallace said. "I hope we have the horse to run with them. Nobody said it's going to be easy."
RAINBOWS SCHEDULE
Nov. 15: California, 4:35 p.m.
Voicestream Wireless Tournament
Nov. 19: Marquette vs. Oklahoma State, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Nicholls State, 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 20: Hawaii vs. TBD, 8:05 p.m.; Nicholls State vs. TBD, 10 p.m.
United Airlines Tipoff Tournament
Nov. 27: Hawaii vs. Wichita State, 7:05 p.m.; Auburn vs. Rutgers, 9 p.m.
Nov. 29: Hawaii vs. TBD, 7:05 p.m.; Wichita State vs. TBD, 9 p.m.
Power Bar Invitational
Dec. 3: Georgia State vs. Coppin State, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Cal State Northridge, 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 4: Cal State Northridge vs. TBD, 6 p.m.; Hawaii vs. TBD, 8:05 p.m.
Hawaii-Nike Festival
Dec. 18: Northern Arizona vs. St. Bonaventure, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Eastern Illinois, 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 19: Eastern Illinois vs. TBD, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. TBD, 7:05 p.m.
Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic
Dec. 27: First round, Murray State vs. North Carolina-Charlotte, 5:05 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Southwestern Louisiana, 7:35 p.m.
Dec. 28: First round, Mississippi State vs. Texas, 5:05 p.m.; Florida State vs. Princeton, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29: Consolation semifinals, Murray St.-No. Carolina-Charlotte loser vs. Hawaii-SW Louisiana loser, 11 a.m.; Texas-Mississippi St. loser vs. Florida St.-Princeton loser, 1:30 p.m.; Championship semifinals, Murray St.-No. Carolina-Charlotte winner vs. Hawaii-SW Louisiana winner, 5:35 p.m.; Texas-Mississippi St. winner, vs. Florida St.-Princeton winner, 8:06 p.m.
Dec. 30: Seventh place, 11 a.m.; Fifth place, 1:30 p.m.; Third place, 5:05 p.m.; Championship, 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 7: At Texas-El Paso *
Jan. 9: At New Mexico *
Jan. 16: Utah, 7:05 p.m. *
Jan. 18: Brigham Young, 7:05 p.m. *
Jan. 23: San Diego State, 7:05 p.m. *
Jan. 28: At San Jose State *
Jan. 30: At Fresno State *
Feb. 4: Texas-El Paso, 7:05 p.m. *
Feb. 6: New Mexico, 7:05 p.m. *
Feb. 11: At Brigham Young *
Feb. 13: At Utah *
Feb. 20: At San Diego State*
Feb. 25: San Jose State, 7:05 p.m.*
Feb. 27: Fresno State, 7:05 p.m.*
March 1-6: WAC Tournament at Las Vegas
* Denotes WAC opponent
Home games at Stan Sheriff Center
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
