After a rare 26-day interlude, Big West Conference play resumes for the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team on Thursday, when the Warriors play host to perennial contender UC Santa Barbara.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center. The game will be televised live statewide on Spectrum Sports Channel 12, and broadcast live via radio on ESPN 1420AM.
UH (8-4 overall) played its Big West opener at Long Beach State way back on Dec. 7, losing 76-68. In the meantime, the Warriors defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 71-62, took final exams, then played in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic — beating Charlotte, 78-61, losing to Nebraska, 69-55, and then taking third place with a thrilling 73-70 overtime victory against Oakland.
UCSB is 8-5 overall and 0-2 in league play, coming off an 89-72 home victory over Westcliff last Saturday.
Deuce Turner scored 21 points, Kenny Photo added 19 points and Zion Sensley — son of former UH and Kalaheo High School standout Julian Sensley — had 13 points for the Gauchos.
“There’s a reason they are picked at the top of our league once again,” Warriors coach Eran Ganot said. “They’re obviously well-coached, well-balanced when you look at their offensive and defensive numbers. They, like us, are right up there with (UC) Irvine and some other teams on the boards. They brought in some significant talent and return significant talent, and their returning talent has improved.”
One of the Gauchos newcomers is graduate transfer point guard Stephan Swenson, who helped Stetson reach the NCAA Tournament last season.
“He’s an impactful player at the most important position, when they lost a key player there, and (now) they’re right up there again in that regard,” Ganot said. “They shoot the ball well, so there’s a reason they’ve had great seasons, and they are poised to have another great season.”
Hawai’i has built its early success on several key newcomers, but also with key returnees like junior forward Harry Rouhliadeff, who scored a career-high 15 points and had the go-ahead tip-in against Oakland.
Rouhliadeff, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound reserve, has averaged 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and provided valuable minutes especially when starting center Tanner Christensen has been sent to the bench with foul trouble. Beyond the stat line, Rouhliadeff has played solid defense, set effective screens and offered a physical presence near the basket at both the “4” and “5” front-line roles.
“It’s a big responsibility, being that versatile player and playing the ‘4’ and the ‘5’ and stretching the floor out,” said Rouhliadeff, who is from Brisbane, Australia. “I take great responsibility with that, I’m just helping the team feel comfortable out there, running the plays we need to run … and just sort of making winning plays. Getting hustle rebounds, tip-ins, anything I can do to help the team get one step further.”
Ganot said Rouhliadeff’s contributions have been valuable, if not always noticed by spectators or on the stat sheet.
“His attitude has always been good,” Ganot said. “He’s had some tough breaks at key times, an injury here … He’s a great teammate, he’s a hard worker, and he just came off one of his best games when we needed it. He’s got leadership qualities, this is his third year in our program — which, in this group, is a veteran guy. He can play inside and out, he’s stepped up in a lot of areas and he deserves it, because of his approach, his attitude, his leadership, his intelligence.
“I’m hoping for more ahead for him.”
Rouhliadeff said although he entered the program as a freshman known as an outside shooter, he has accepted any role he has been assigned.
“Nothing really turns out the way you expect it, in life,” Rouhliadeff said. “I’m just sorta doing my thing, whatever needs to be done, I’ll do it. Whatever is required of me right now, is what I’ll do. I’m just doing what I can for the team.”