Although the Warriors’ 74-70 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday was not the biggest upset of the weekend – that distinction went elsewhere – it was certainly among the most surprising, even if virtually no one could watch it. Few programs have had the rug pulled out from under it quite like Hawaii has to start 2014-15, with an ongoing NCAA investigation leading to the firing of its head coach and the departure of its best player, each within three weeks of the team’s season opener. To make matters worse, would-be contributor Sammis Reyes – a Chilean freshman who initially left the program amid coach Gib Arnold’s firing – was forced to redshirt after breaking his hand last Tuesday. And yet, despite all the attrition and adversity and general weirdness, interim head man Benjy Taylor and his guard-heavy lineup managed to gash the Panthers for 1.3 points per possession on Friday night and topple an ACC opponent for the first time since 2012. Could it be the prelude to a season-long rally? Maybe, maybe not. But either way, considering everything Hawaii has been through over the past month, it is one impressive victory.
On October 23, Hawaii was picked fifth in the Big West preseason poll and forward Isaac Fotu (14.9 PPG and 6.1 RPG in 2013-14) was made an All-Conference selection; five days later, the university announced that Arnold and assistant coach Brandyn Akana had been relieved of their coaching duties. Expectations were not necessarily high coming into the season – top scorer Christian Standhardinger had graduated and point guard Keith Shamburger had transferred to Missouri – but the Warriors were supposed to at least be competitive in the nine-team conference. Without their head coach, though, the outlook became more suspect – especially considering the timing. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hawaii has been under NCAA investigation since March stemming from a self-reported incident in which “a men’s basketball coach submitted an altered document that was essential for admissions purposes.” The abrupt nature of the firing – just as the team was set to embark on its 2014-15 campaign – came as a surprise to many, including Arnold himself, who gave an emotional press conference from his home a few days after the fact:
“I heard about it from my wife, who heard about it from the radio. Who heard it from a friend. About an hour later or so, [athletic director] Ben Jay came to my office and read me a three-sentence statement and put a piece of paper on my desk.”
Almost simultaneously (Arnold mentions him in his presser), news hit that Fotu was ineligible pending the NCAA’s investigation. With his collegiate future now in doubt, the junior issued a statement on November 4 indicating that he was leaving the team in order to pursue a pro career – a pursuit which materialized earlier this month when he signed with a Spanish club. His old team, however, was left picking up the pieces. Fotu’s departure meant that senior guard Garrett Nevels would be not just the only returner who averaged double-figure scoring last season, but the only returning player who averaged double-figure minutes. The Warriors also added Missouri transfer Nigel Webster-Chan, a 6’7’’ wing, to the rotation, but the general lack of proven production and interior girth seemed like the recipe for a long year in Honolulu. The team’s start to 2014-15 only reinforced that grim outlook – after winning at home but struggling (especially on the glass) against a subpar Cal State Bakersfield club, Hawaii allowed High Point to shoot 71% 2FG in an eight-point loss last Tuesday. Fotu’s inside presence was clearly missed on both ends of the court.
Fast-forward to Friday. According to KenPom, Hawaii entered the night with just a 14 percent chance of beating Pittsburgh, a program which had lost only three November contests in 11-plus seasons under Jamie Dixon. The outing was pegged as a mere tune-up ahead of the upcoming Maui Invitational, where bigger programs and opportunities awaited. So despite the fact that Pitt was without its best perimeter defender, Cameron Wright, and even though it was a quasi-home game for the Warriors (played on the island of Maui, instead of Oahu), the end result – a balanced victory in which five players scored 10-plus points – was genuinely surprising. Taylor went all-zone, and the perimeter-oriented offensive approach apparently gave Pittsburgh fits. With all of the controversy surrounding Hawaii over the last month, and considering the tenuous situation Taylor was thrusted into – Arnold was in attendance on Friday night, only adding to the plot – it’s the type of win that could unite the program and salvage an otherwise difficult-to-disastrous season. Without their primary leaders on and off the court and in the face of an NCAA investigation, the Warriors’ ongoing improvement is a nice story worth keeping an eye on, even if they probably won’t compete for a Big West title this year.