Rainbows winning
money game

Courtside seating and a good start
have the team’s revenue
over projections

The Hawaii basketball team is off to a strong start both in the win column and the revenue column.

The Rainbow Warriors exceeded the UH athletic department's projection for season-ticket sales by generating $943,500 and got a boost through the implementation of courtside seating at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The department's goal for season-ticket sales was $905,000. It closed sales with 3,999 packages sold and "99 percent" of last year's ticket holders renewing their seats, according to UH athletic director Herman Frazier.

Courtside seating went quickly once the program was approved by the UH Board of Regents this fall. Frazier said 44 seats were sold at $2,500 per seat, generating another $110,000 for the athletic department.

"It was well-received obviously," Frazier said. "We sold over 90 percent of the seats available on the first day and took some reservations for some other seats. We're very pleased with the response."

"I think it steps up the program that those people care enough to spend that kind of money to watch the team up close," UH head coach Riley Wallace said.

On the court, the Rainbow Warriors are off to a 4-0 start, their best since the 1997-98 season. They face Saint Mary's (Calif.) (6-3) in a nonconference game Saturday. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Sheriff Center.

UH's success has gotten some attention nationally as the Rainbows received four points in this week's Associated Press poll.

Though it's still early, overall attendance is also ahead of last year's pace. UH issued an average of 6,763 tickets in the 'Bows' first three home dates this season. That figure was 5,835 in the same span last year.

"Attendance is up for pre-Christmas, which is always a slow time," Wallace said. "Hopefully that means they'll come out if we keep winning."

The athletic department operated at a deficit for the past three fiscal years. Ticket sales for men's basketball were reported at $1.2 million for the 2004 fiscal year. According to a five-year plan presented to the BOR this summer aimed at wiping out the deficit by 2006, the department is looking for men's basketball to generate $1.3 million at the gate this year.

The 1997-98 team, which went 21-9, was the most successful UH squad at the gate since the Sheriff Center opened in 1994. The team led by the backcourt duo of Anthony Carter and Alika Smith drew an average of 9,615 fans for its home games and had 13 sellouts.

UH has sold out the SSC just twice since. The latest was last season's National Invitation Tournament game against Nebraska.

The athletic department will use its "White Out" promotion in which fans are asked to wear white shirts again on Saturday.

Fans were given the chance to vote on the athletic department Web site for what color to designate Saturday's game -- white, green or black. White had 1,832 out of 3,504 votes cast.

UH used a variation on the theme earlier this season, declaring the Nov. 29 game against Southern Illinois a "Black Out."

The program is also looking to boost student involvement at the games. Wallace donated green and white striped shirts for the UH pep band and Manoa Maniacs season-ticket holders using funds from the UH basketball booster club.

Guarded condition: The Rainbows were down to two scholarship guards for yesterday's practice.

Bobby Nash and Jake Sottos both sat out with injuries. Sottos rested a case of whiplash suffered when he got hit on the head during Tuesday's practice. Nash had a boil removed from this right thigh yesterday and was on crutches.

Wallace said Nash and Sottos could be back for today's practice.

Matt Gibson was held out of practice a day after being sent to the locker room late in Tuesday's session for disciplinary reasons. The sophomore may also return today.

"If he takes care of his business he'll be back," Wallace said.

The absence of the trio left newcomers Deonte Tatum and Kris Groce as the only guards on scholarship available for practice yesterday.