COLLEGE BASKETBALL

It’s tournament time

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

The thump, thump season starts in earnest today with two tournaments at the Stan Sheriff Center on the Hawaii campus.

The annual year-end migration to Hawaii by college basketball teams, including some of the best in the nation, has begun.

Teams from Maine to Florida to California and many stops in between will be here to take advantage of the NCAA rule that allows extra games.

Between today and Dec. 30, 12 men's and four women's tournaments are scheduled.

Among the visitors, there are 13 men's and three women's teams ranked in the preseason Associated Press polls.

The Hawaii-Hilo hosted City Bank/Aloha Airlines Big Island Classic will have the No. 1 men's team in Cincinnati if the Bearcats get by Youngstown State in their season opener Saturday.

The Maui Invitational, hosted by Chaminade, can boast of three top 25 teams, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 7 Florida and No. 24 Purdue.

No. 12 UCLA highlights the Pearl Harbor Classic run by Brigham Young-Hawaii.

The Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic has No. 25 Gonzaga.

The Hawaii Wahine play No. 25 Arizona Sunday in the Hawaiian Regent Classic.

MEN'S TOURNAMENTS

Today

Pepsi One/Nextel Challenge: First round, Hawaii vs. Tennessee-Martin, 8 p.m.; Jackson State vs. Bowling Green, 10 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Sunday

Pepsi One/Nextel Challenge: Third place, Hawaii-Tennessee-Martin loser vs. Bowling Green-Jackson State loser, 6 p.m.; Championship, Hawaii-Tennessee-Martin winner vs. Bowling Green-Jackson State winner, 8 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Monday

Maui Invitational: First round, Chaminade vs. Purdue, 9 a.m.; Florida vs. Utah State, 11 a.m.; North Carolina vs. Southern California, 4 p.m.; Georgetown vs. Memphis, 6:30 p.m., Lahaina Civic Center.

Tuesday

Maui Invitational: Consolation bracket, Chaminade-Purdue loser vs. Florida-Utah State loser, 9 a.m.; North Carolina-Southern California loser vs. Georgetown-Memphis loser, 11 a.m.; Championship bracket, Chaminade-Purdue winner vs. Florida-Utah State winner, 2 p.m.; North Carolina-Southern California winner vs. Georgetown-Memphis winner, 4 p.m., Lahaina Civic Center.

Wednesday

Maui Invitational: Seventh place, 9 a.m.; Fifth place, 11 a.m.; Third place, 2:30 p.m.; Championship, 5:30 p.m., Lahaina Civic Center.

Nov. 26

BYU-Hawaii Thanksgiving Tournament: First round, South Dakota State vs. Doane, 6 p.m.; Concordia-St. Paul vs. Brigham Young-Hawaii, 8 p.m., Cannon Activities Center.

City Bank/Aloha Airlines Big Island Invitational: First round, Cincinnati vs. Cleveland State, noon; Rhode Island vs. Santa Clara, 2:30 p.m.; Arkansas vs. Mercer, 5 p.m.; Iowa State vs. Hawaii-Hilo, 7:30 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Hawaii Pacific Thanksgiving Classic: First round, Louisiana State vs. Oakland U., noon; Toledo vs. Southwest Missouri State, 2 p.m.; Fresno State vs. Florida International, 4:30 p.m.; Hawaii Pacific vs. Wyoming, 6:30 p.m., Blaisdell Arena.

United Airlines Tip-off Tournament: First round, Oral Roberts vs. Virginia Military Institute, 7 p.m.; Hawaii vs. William & Mary, 9 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Nov. 27

BYU-Hawaii Thanksgiving Tournament: Third place, South Dakota State-Doane loser vs. Concordia-St. Paul-BYU-Hawaii loser, 6 p.m.; Championship, South Dakota State-Doane winner vs. Concordia-St. Paul-BYU-Hawaii winner, 8 p.m., Cannon Activities Center.

City Bank/Aloha Airlines Big Island Invitational: Consolation bracket, Cincinnati-Cleveland State loser vs. Rhode Island-Santa Clara loser, noon; Arkansas-Mercer loser vs. Iowa State-Hawaii-Hilo loser, 2:30 p.m.; Championship bracket, Cincinnati-Cleveland State winner vs. Rhode Island-Santa Clara winner, 5 p.m.; Arkansas-Mercer winner vs. Iowa State-Hawaii-Hilo winner, 7:30 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Hawaii Pacific Thanksgiving Classic: Consolation bracket, Fresno State-Florida International loser vs. Toledo-SW Missouri State loser, noon; Wyoming-Hawaii Pacific loser vs. Louisiana State-Oakland loser, 6:30 p.m.; Championship bracket, Fresno State-Florida International winner vs. Toledo-SW Missouri State winner, 2 p.m.; Wyoming-Hawaii Pacific winner vs. Louisiana State-Oakland winner, 4:40 p.m., Blaisdell Arena.

Nov. 28

Hawaii Pacific Thanksgiving Classic: Seventh place, 11 a.m.; Fifth place, 1 p.m.; Third place, 3:30 p.m.; Championship, 5:30 p.m., Blaisdell Arena.

City Bank/Aloha Airlines Big Island Invitational: Seventh place, 9 a.m.; Fifth place, 11:30 a.m.; Third place, 5 p.m.; Championship, 4:30 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

United Airlines Tip-off Tournament: Third place, Oral Roberts-Virginia Military Institute loser vs. Hawaii-William & Mary loser, 6:30 p.m.; Championship, Oral Roberts-Virginia Military Institute winner vs. Hawaii-William & Mary winner, 8:30 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 3

Pacific West/Hawaii Division Tournament: First round, Hawaii-Hilo vs. Hawaii Pacific, 6 p.m.; Chaminade vs Brigham Young-Hawaii, 8 p.m., McCabe Gym.

Dec. 4

Hawaii Invitational:First round, Pacific vs. Tennessee State, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Prairie View A&M, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Pacific West/Hawaii Division Tournament: Third place, Hawaii-Hilo-Hawaii Pacific loser vs. Chaminade-BYU-Hawaii loser, 6 p.m.; Championship, Hawaii-Hilo-Hawaii Pacific winner vs. Chaminade-BYU-Hawaii winner, 8 p.m., McCabe Gym.

Dec. 5

Hawaii Invitational:Third place, Pacific-Tennessee State loser vs. Hawaii-Prairie View A&M loser, 4 p.m.; Championship, Third place, Pacific-Tennessee State winner vs. Hawaii-Prairie View A&M winner, 6 p.m.; Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 19

Coconut Coast Classic: Ashland vs. Truman State, 4 p.m.; Hawaii-Hilo vs. North Dakota, 7 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Dec. 20

Coconut Coast Classic: Ashland vs. Truman State, 3 p.m.; Hawaii-Hilo vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 7 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Nike Festival: Round robin, Western Illinois vs. Creighton, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 21

Coconut Coast Classic: Nebraska-Omaha vs. Truman State, 4 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Nike Festival: Round robin, Creighton vs. Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Western Illinois, 8 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 22

Nike Festival: Round robin, Florida Atlantic vs. Western Illinois, 6 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Creighton, 8 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 21

Pearl Harbor Invitational: First round, UCLA vs. Maine, 1 p.m.; Florida A&M vs. Colorado State, 3 p.m.; The Citadel vs. South Florida, 6 p.m.; San Jose State vs. Brigham Young-Hawaii, 8 p.m., Cannon Activities Center.

Dec. 22

Pearl Harbor Invitational: Consolation bracket, UCLA-Maine loser vs. Florida A&M-Colorado State loser, 1 p.m.; Citadel-South Florida loser vs. San Jose State-BYU-Hawaii loser, 3 p.m. Championship bracket, UCLA-Maine winner vs, Florida A&M-Colorado State winner, 6 p.m.; Citadel-South Florida winner vs. San Jose State-BYU-Hawaii winner, 8 p.m., Cannon Activities Center.

Dec. 23

Pearl Harbor Invitational: Seventh place, 10 a.m.; Fifth place noon; Third place, 3 p.m.; Championship, 5 p.m., Cannon Activities Center.

Dec. 27

Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic: First round, Colorado vs. Villanova, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Bradley, 7:30 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 28

Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic: First round: Gonzaga vs. Ohio U., 5 p.m.; Wake Forest vs. Oregon, 7:30 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 29

Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic: Consolation bracket, Colorado-Villanova loser vs. Hawaii-Bradley loser, 11 a.m.; Gonzaga-Ohio U. loser vs. Wake Forest-Oregon loser, 1:30 p.m. Championship bracket, Gonzaga-Ohio U. winner vs. Wake Forest-Oregon winner, 5:30 p.m.; Colorado-Villanova winner vs. Hawaii-Bradley winner, 8 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 30

Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic: Seventh place, 11 a.m.; Fifth place, 1:30 p.m.; Third place, 5 p.m.; Championship, 7:30 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

WOMEN'S TOURNAMENTS

Today

Hawaiian Regent Classic: Round robin, Oklahoma vs. Arizona, 2:30 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Tennessee Tech, 5 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Tomorrow

Hawaiian Regent Classic: Round robin, Arizona vs. Tennessee Tech, 1 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Oklahoma, 3 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Sunday

Hawaiian Regent Classic: Round robin, Oklahoma vs. Tennessee Tech, 1 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Arizona, 3 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Nov. 26

Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic: First round, Texas vs. Long Beach State, 9 a.m.; Virginia vs. Grambling State, 11:10 a.m.; Washington vs. Portland, 1;20 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Virginia Commonwealth, 3:30 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Nov. 27

Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic: Consolation bracket, Texas-Long Beach State loser vs. Virginia-Grambling State loser, 9 a.m.; Washington-Portland loser vs. Hawaii-Virginia Commonwealth loser, 11:10 a.m.; Championship bracket, Washington-Portland winner vs. Hawaii-Virginia Commonwealth winner, 1:20 p.m.;Texas-Long Beach State winner vs. Virginia-Grambling State winner, 3:30 p.m.; Stan Sheriff Center.

Nov. 28

Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic: Seventh place, 9 a.m.; Fifth place, 11:10 a.m.; Third place, 1:20 p.m.; Championship, 3:30 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 10

Hawaii Invitational: Oregon State vs. Wichita State, 1 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3 p.m., Klum Gym.

Dec. 11

Hawaii Invitational: Wisconsin-Milwaukee vs. Wichita State, 5 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Oregon State, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 12

Hawaii Invitational: Oregon State vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 4 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Wichita State, 6 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 21

Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic: Princeton vs. Vanderbilt, 1 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Fairfield, 3 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 22

Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic: Fairfield vs. Vanderbilt, 1 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Princeton, 3 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.

Dec. 23

Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic: Princeton vs. Fairfield, 4 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt, 6 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.