[ WARRIOR BASKETBALL ]
Oral Roberts replaces
LSU in Rainbow ClassicTigers bow out due to an NCAA
rule limiting the number of certified
events a school can play
The pesky 2-in-4 rule has cost next season's Rainbow Classic one of its big names.
Louisiana State pulled out of the tournament and has been replaced by Oral Roberts of the Mid-Continent Conference, Hawaii associate basketball coach Bob Nash said.
Nash, who handles the scheduling for the Rainbow Warriors, said LSU couldn't play in the tournament due to the NCAA rule that limits the number of certified events in which teams can participate.
"They went back through their records and they were over their limit," Nash said.
The 2-in-4 rule restricts schools to two appearances in certified events over a four-year span. The Tigers of the Southeastern Conference played in the Big Island Invitational in 2001 and the Hispanic College Fund Classic in 2002.
The rule survived a summer in the courts last year. Tournament organizers enjoyed a short-lived victory when a federal judge in Ohio issued a permanent injunction. But the NCAA won a stay of the injunction later in the summer, keeping the rule in place. The issue is now back in the courts.
The 41st Rainbow Classic is scheduled for Dec. 20-23 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Even without LSU, this year's Classic still has some star power. Alabama-Birmingham, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in March, Clemson, Georgetown, Indiana State, Long Beach State and Southern California join Oral Roberts and Hawaii in the field. UH has won the last three tournament championships.
Oral Roberts went 17-11 last season and 10-6 in the Mid-Continent Conference, good for a tie for second place. The Golden Eagles closed their season with a loss in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
ORU takes the place of an LSU squad that went 18-11 and, like Hawaii, played in the National Invitation Tournament.
Nash said the continued existence of the 2-in-4 rule and the cost of flying teams to Honolulu contributed to the lack of early-season tournaments on next season's schedule.
UH had hosted at least one early-season tournament, other than the Rainbow Classic, every year since the 1982-83 season. UH's nonconference schedule will consist of single games instead.
"You take the certified events and there are just not a lot of teams out there," Nash said. "I get on the phone every morning and try to get teams to play us. You start with the top RPI teams and just try to get someone who's interested in playing."
Nash is still waiting for a commitment from one more nonconference team before finalizing the schedule.
Summer session: The College Summer Basketball League, which annually features current and former local college players, opens June 23.
Games in the six-team league will be held most Wednesdays and Saturdays at Manoa Recreation Center. Game times are 6 and 7:30 p.m. The playoffs are Aug. 18 and the championship is scheduled for Aug. 21.
Going camping: Applications are being accepted for the Rainbow Boys and Girls Basketball Camp.
The camp is open to boys and girls ages 5-17 and will be held at the Sheriff Center, Klum Gym, Gym I and Gym II. The first session runs June 9-11 and the second session is June 12-14. The camp will be led by UH coach Riley Wallace and his staff as well as UH players past and present. The fee is $150 per session. For more information, call 956-6501.