Hawaii basketball is playing in March Madness for the sixth time ever, but will have to go against Arkansas and one-man show Darius Acuff Jr.
Hawaii basketball finished with 14 wins in Big West play, the most they’ve had in conference since 2001-02, when they went 15-3 in the WAC.
But the bigger deal this year was an 8-2 finish in non-conference play, with the only losses to Oregon by 1 and Arizona State by 7.
The wildest thing about Hawaii’s Big West slate? All six losses were by nine points or more, stating the obvious that if Arkansas gets up early, it could be tough for Hawaii to turn the tables. But it’s still a talented Rainbow Warriors squad with 7-footer Isaac Johnson, looking to pull off an upset of John Calipari’s Razorbacks squad.
How they got there:
In Big West Tournament play, it was simple. Hawaii knocked off 3-seed Cal State Fullerton in the semis, 78-63, and 1-seed UC Irvine in the finals, 71-64. Getting a bye to the semifinals proved beneficial as the Rainbow Warriors took advantage and locked in defensively, getting to hear their name called on Selection Sunday.
General information:
Team: Hawaii
Location: Honolulu, HI
Record: 24-8 (14-6)
Head Coach: Eran Ganot (11th season at Hawaii, 12th overall)
What to know about Hawaii basketball:
The Rainbow Warriors do a lot of things well – top 100 nationally in points per game, points allowed per game, and rebounds per game, where they average 39.3. Their main offensive focal point is getting shots inside the paint, where Hawaii ranks 57th in 2P%. And for what it’s worth, on defense, they allow the fewest assists per game, at just 9.3, forcing a lot of one-on-one ball and tough shots. That’s mostly due to using a no-switch defense, which actually benefits this team due to mastering it in practice.
But the bigger concerns are what Hawaii basketball does poorly, and it could be a difference-maker against a team like Arkansas.
13.5 turnovers per game ranks 333rd in the country, while 31.5% from three is 313th. If you’re Arkansas, you’re licking your chops knowing defensive pressure could be all it takes to blow this game wide open.
NCAA Tournament prediction for Hawaii basketball: Round of 64 Exit
Seed: 13
Defense isn’t necessarily a strong suit for Arkansas, but if John Calipari focuses on creating turnovers, it seems inevitable that Hawaii will crumble. While 7-footer Isaac Johnson could make life difficult inside, Hawaii doesn’t have a lot of guard play, and you kind of need that going against a team that has one of the best in the country.
I can see Hawaii hanging in for a good chunk of the first half, before Arkansas turns it up a notch and puts this game to rest.