There's always room to add to the calendar, especially when it means extending the season into mid-December. No need to change the format completely, but a little tweaking here and there keeps the players fresh and opponents worried.

“;Even as late as November, we're still figuring out the things we're doing well,”; Hawaii associate coach Mike Sealy said. “;When December rolls around, we're fine-tuning points of our game.

“;All year long, we talk about being as good as we can be. It doesn't matter who we're playing. We're focusing in on us being better.”;

The end of November marks the end of the regular season as well, with Selection Sunday on Nov. 29. December brings the NCAA tournament and—hopefully where the Wahine are concerned—a three-week road trip that winds up in Tampa, Fla.

“;I think what changes is that the intensity picks up,”; associate coach Kari Ambrozich said. “;The attention to details is critical to the playoffs. We're putting in little wrinkles here and there to keep it fresh.

“;There is a sense of urgency. You know if you lose, you go home. There's a lot of pressure, but it's an exciting time, too.”;

The plan is that Hawaii will have earned the WAC's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament for a 12th straight season. The Wahine have missed the postseason just once (1992).