The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program will raise the curtains for the 2024-25 season Thursday evening with its eighth annual Tipoff Event in the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Tipoff, sponsored by ALTRES, Bank of Hawaii and Hawaiian Airlines, is a fun-filled evening that signals the start of the college basketball season while helping to provide much-needed support for the Rainbow Warrior basketball program.
The event is highlighted by ono food, both a silent and live auctions, video highlights and the opportunity for fans to meet and greet the 2024-25 Rainbow Warrior players and coaching staff. This year’s squad boasts a total of nine new players among its roster of 15. UH sports one of the most diverse teams in college basketball with eight different countries represented.
“We look forward again to hosting one of the most enjoyable evenings of the year,” Warriors coach Eran Ganot said. “We’ve had a great turnout over the years and we anticipate another sell-out crowd. The feedback has been incredible and we are so appreciative of our sponsors, supporters, the Tipoff committee, all behind-the-scenes people and of course our loyal fans, who make this truly a special event.”
The fundraiser starts at 5:30 p.m. with drinks and a silent auction. Dinner and a program will follow with players and members of the coaching staff participating in a Q&A. The emcee for the evening will be Kanoa Leahey of Spectrum Sports.
Tables (seating 10) and individual tickets are available and can be purchased online at HawaiiBasketballTipoff.com. The opportunity to be seated at the Head Coach’s Table with Eran Ganot as well as with UH players and staff is also available. Contact David Eichenberger at dre2@hawaii.edu for more information or to register for the event.
All proceeds from the evening will go to the men’s basketball program and will be directed toward student-athlete tuition, health and nutrition and the program’s recruiting efforts.
UH has posted seven straight winning seasons and is coming off back-to-back 20-win campaigns. The Warriors will open the season on Nov. 8 with the OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic. That tournament will kick off a non-conference slate that will see Hawai’i play 10 of its 11 matchups at home, including a much-anticipated matchup versus national power North Carolina on Nov. 22.