I’m not sure why we’re playing a conference game this early in the season, but the Ags are going to Hawai`i where they seldom win. I think UC Davis is 2-11 in Stan Sheriff Center. Hawai`i coach Eran Ganot, after suffering a losing season and fans calling for his head, restocked his roster with a lot of talent. None of them more imposing that 7 foot center Isaac I(Big Fish) Johnson from Utah State U. He leads the team in both scoring (16.8 ppg) and rebounds (7.9 rpg) shooting over 50% from the field. He is also shooting an incredible 94% from the free throw line, having made 43 consecutive foul shots going into this week. Two other key transfers are guards Hunter Erickson (Utah) and Dre Bullock (South Dakota). They also have three good returning players including Harry Rouhliadeff, Gytis Nemeiksa and Aaron Hunkin Clayton. Those guys accounted for 28 points and 16 rebounds in last year’s 78-70 win over UCD in Hawai`i. Continuing the Utah pipeline is Isaac Finalson a 6’ 8” forward from Utah Tech. The Rainbow Warriors can go nine deep to include forward Yacine Toumi and guard Isaiah Kerr.

Hawai`i has started the season strong with its two losses going to Power 5 schools in Oregon and Arizona State. On the other hand, all their wins have come over mediocre opponents, only one of which has a winning record, Div. 2 Hawai`i Pacific. They score an average of 80.7 ppg. shooting 67% from inside the arc. Unlike recent Rainbow teams, this group knows how to run the fast break. They also get a lot of easy buckets via the guards’ ability to get the ball inside. If there’s a weakness it’s the poor three point shooting (28.6%). As a team they know how to sweep the glass collecting an average of 41.3 rpg, an 11 rebound advantage over their opponents, given that they can field a front line averaging 6’ 10”. Their defense is not shabby either allowing 66.7 ppg.

Hope the Ags won’t be rusty after a layoff of over a week.