[ RAINBOW BASKETBALL ]
UH still celebrating season
The Rainbows are making the
most of the NIT by hoping for
a sold-out arena
The National Invitation Tournament is all about second chances.
For the Hawaii basketball team, the NIT represents an opportunity to sweep away its late-season struggles and shoot for a trip to New York.
For local fans, the tournament provides another shot at catching the Rainbow Warriors in person.
Both groups appear to be making the most of the occasion. The Rainbows (20-11) upset nationally ranked Utah State on Wednesday to advance to an NIT second-round date with Nebraska on Monday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Meanwhile, ticket sales for the game have been brisk and, according to a UH release sent out yesterday afternoon, the game was close to being sold out, with about 9,000 tickets sold.
"It's a bonus for us and for the crowd," UH senior center Haim Shimonovich said. "Everybody's happy we came back. Now we have a chance to do something special."
The UH athletic department has also dubbed the game a "white out" night, with fans encouraged to wear white tops to the game, which is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m.
The seventh meeting between the Rainbows and Cornhuskers will be televised live on Oceanic Cable Channel 16 (Channel 160 digital), with a replay at 9 p.m.
Nebraska earned a trip to the islands by defeating Niagara 78-70 in a first-round game yesterday in Lincoln.
The Cornhuskers (18-12) finished ninth in the Big 12 with a 6-10 mark and won an opening-round game at Creighton on Tuesday to advance to yesterday's matchup.
The Rainbows enter the second-round game energized by their 85-74 road win over No. 25 Utah State on Wednesday and a chance to play at home, where they are 13-3 this season. UH ended its regular-season home schedule with convincing wins over Tulsa (92-62) and Rice (91-77) late last month.
"It's a momentum boost and at the same time we can get rested," UH forward Julian Sensley said. "It gives us a few days to get focused again. It's like a restart, even though we were down at the (Western Athletic Conference tournament), so everybody's building momentum and everybody's a little more motivated."
Should Hawaii win on Monday, the Rainbows will fly out of Honolulu late that night for a third-round game to be played at Oklahoma or Michigan on Wednesday. The Sooners and Wolverines also play on Monday in Michigan.
The team took yesterday off and begins preparation for Nebraska at practice today with the players looking to move a step closer to their new goal.
"Everybody's hungry for New York," Sensley said.
Tickets for Monday's game are available at the Stan Sheriff Center box office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. tomorrow. Season-ticket holders can also pick up their tickets during those times.
Team banquet set: The team will cap the season on April 15 with the annual Rainbow Basketball awards banquet at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.
Tickets are $40 per person and $400 per table. Tickets for children under age 10 are $25.
No-host cocktails start at 6 p.m. Dinner starts at 7, with an awards program to follow.
For more information, call 225-2500 or 956-6501.