# Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA men's competition. (women's sports teams at the school are known as "Rainbow Wahine"). The team currently competes in the Big West Conference after leaving its longtime home of the Western Athletic Conference in July 2012.
The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament was in 2016, with them getting their first NCAA Tournament victory that same year as well. The Rainbow Warriors are coached by Eran Ganot.

## Season-by-season results

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| 1912–13 | No Coach | 6–1 | | | |
| 1914–15 | No Coach | 3–4 | | | |
| 1915–16 | No Coach | 4–1 | | | |
| David L. Crawford (1918–1919) ||||||
| 1918–19 | David L. Crawford | 2–5 | | | |
| David L. Crawford: | David L. Crawford: | 2–5 | | | |
| Edward Williford (1919–1920) ||||||
| 1919–20 | Edward Williford | 2–5 | | | |
| Edward Williford: | Edward Williford: | 2–5 | | | |
| Otto Klum (1921–1923) ||||||
| 1921–22 | Otto Klum | 11–5 | | | |
| 1922–23 | Otto Klum | 2–3 | | | |
| Otto Klum: | Otto Klum: | 13–8 | | | |
| Charles Jones (1923–1926) ||||||
| 1923–24 | Charles Jones | 3–4 | | | |
| 1924–25 | Charles Jones | 7–3 | | | |
| 1925–26 | Charles Jones | 2–4 | | | |
| Charles Jones: | Charles Jones: | 12–11 | | | |
| Leslie Harrison (1926–1929) ||||||
| 1926–27 | Leslie Harrison | 6–2 | | | |
| 1927–28 | Leslie Harrison | 3–4 | | | |
| 1928–29 | Leslie Harrison | 3–4 | | | |
| Leslie Harrison: | Leslie Harrison: | 12–10 | | | |
| Claude Swann (1929–1930) ||||||
| 1929–30 | Claude Swann | 3–4 | | | |
| Claude Swann: | Claude Swann: | 3–4 | | | |
| Eugene Gill (1930–1941) ||||||
| 1930–31 | Eugene Gill | 8–0 | | | |
| 1931–32 | Eugene Gill | 9–0 | | | |
| 1932–33 | Eugene Gill | 11–5 | | | |
| 1933–34 | Eugene Gill | 2–4 | | | |
| 1934–35 | Eugene Gill | 8–3 | | | |
| 1935–36 | Eugene Gill | 8–7 | | | |
| 1936–37 | Eugene Gill | 9–3 | | | |
| 1937–38 | Eugene Gill | 5–9 | | | |
| 1938–39 | Eugene Gill | 7–6 | | | |
| 1939–40 | Eugene Gill | 10–4 | | | |
| 1940–41 | Eugene Gill | 11–6 | | | |
| Eugene Gill: | Eugene Gill: | 88–47 | | | |
| Bert Chan Wa (1941–1947) ||||||
| 1941–42 | Bert Chan Wa | 3–5 | | | |
| 1946–47 | Bert Chan Wa | 9–8 | | | |
| Bert Chan Wa: | Bert Chan Wa: | 12–13 | | | |
| Art Gallon (1947–1951) ||||||
| 1947–48 | Art Gallon | 23–3 | | | |
| 1948–49 | Art Gallon | 21–6 | | | NAIA First Round |
| 1949–50 | Art Gallon | 22–17 | | | |
| 1950–51 | Art Gallon | 16–11 | | | |
| Art Gallon: | Art Gallon: | 83–37 | | | |
| Al Saake (1951–1954) ||||||
| 1951–52 | Al Saake | 7–11 | | | |
| 1952–53 | Al Saake | 12–15 | | | |
| 1953–54 | Al Saake | 13–17 | | | |
| Al Saake: | Al Saake: | 32–43 | — | | |
| Ah Chew Goo (1954–1957) ||||||
| 1954–55 | Ah Chew Goo | 5–16 | | | |
| 1955–56 | Ah Chew Goo | 14–12 | | | |
| 1956–57 | Ah Chew Goo | 12–18 | | | |
| Ah Chew Goo: | Ah Chew Goo: | 31–46 | | | |
| Al Saake (1957–1963) ||||||
| 1957–58 | Al Saake | 9–11 | | | |
| 1958–59 | Al Saake | 12–12 | | | |
| 1959–60 | Al Saake | 9–18 | | | |
| 1960–61 | Al Saake | 10–11 | | | |
| 1961–62 | Al Saake | 8–13 | | | |
| 1962–63 | Al Saake | 12–16 | | | |
| Al Saake: | Al Saake: | 60–81 | | | |
| Red Rocha (1963–1973) ||||||
| 1963–64 | Red Rocha | 8–11 | | | |
| 1964–65 | Red Rocha | 6–17 | | | |
| 1965–66 | Red Rocha | 2–24 | | | |
| 1966–67 | Red Rocha | 4–20 | | | |
| 1967–68 | Red Rocha | 16–9 | | | |
| 1968–69 | Red Rocha | 8–16 | | | |
| 1969–70 | Red Rocha | 6–20 | | | |
| 1970–71 | Red Rocha | 23–5 | | | NIT Second Round |
| 1971–72 | Red Rocha | 24–3 | | | NCAA University Division First Round |
| 1972–73 | Red Rocha | 15–11 | | | |
| Red Rocha: | Red Rocha: | 112–136 | | | |
| Bruce O'Neil (1973–1976) ||||||
| 1973–74 | Bruce O'Neil | 19–9 | | | NIT Second Round |
| 1974–75 | Bruce O'Neil | 14–11 | | | |
| 1975–76 First 21 games | Bruce O'Neil | 9–12 | | | |
| Bruce O'Neil: | Bruce O'Neil: | 42–32 | | | |
| Rick Pitino (1976) ||||||
| 1975–76 Last 6 games | Rick Pitino | 2–4 | | | |
| Rick Pitino: | Rick Pitino: | 2–4 | | | |
| Larry Little (Independent) (1976–1979) ||||||
| 1976–77 | Larry Little | 9–18 | | | |
| 1977–78 | Larry Little | 1–26 | | | |
| 1978–79 | Larry Little | 10–17 | | | |
| Larry Little (Western Athletic Conference) (1979–1985) ||||||
| 1979–80 | Larry Little | 13–14 | 4–10 | 6th | |
| 1980–81 | Larry Little | 14–13 | 7–9 | 6th | |
| 1981–82 | Larry Little | 17–10 | 9–7 | 4th | |
| 1982–83 | Larry Little | 17–11 | 9–7 | 4th | |
| 1983–84 | Larry Little | 12–16 | 6–10 | 6th | |
| 1984–85 | Larry Little | 10–18 | 5–11 | 8th | |
| Larry Little: | Larry Little: | 103–143 | 40–54 | | |
| Frank Arnold (Western Athletic Conference) (1985–1987) ||||||
| 1985–86 | Frank Arnold | 4–24 | 1–15 | 9th | |
| 1986–87 | Frank Arnold | 7–21 | 2–14 | 8th | |
| Frank Arnold: | Frank Arnold: | 11–45 | 3–29 | | |
| Riley Wallace (Western Athletic Conference) (1987–2007) ||||||
| 1987–88 | Riley Wallace | 4–25 | 2–14 | 9th | |
| 1988–89 | Riley Wallace | 17–13 | 9–7 | 4th | NIT First Round |
| 1989–90 | Riley Wallace | 25–10 | 10–6 | 3rd | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1990–91 | Riley Wallace | 16–13 | 7–9 | 5th | |
| 1991–92 | Riley Wallace | 16–12 | 9–7 | 4th | |
| 1992–93 | Riley Wallace | 12–16 | 7–11 | 7th | |
| 1993–94 | Riley Wallace | 18–15 | 11–7 | 4th | NCAA Division I First Round |
| 1994–95 | Riley Wallace | 16–13 | 8–10 | 6th | |
| 1995–96 | Riley Wallace | 10–18 | 7–11 | 8th | |
| 1996–97 | Riley Wallace | 21–8 | 12–4 | 1st | NIT Second Round |
| 1997–98 | Riley Wallace | 21–9 | 8–6 | 4th | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1998–99 | Riley Wallace | 6–20 | 3–11 | 7th | |
| 1999–00 | Riley Wallace | 17–12 | 5–9 | 6th | |
| 2000–01 | Riley Wallace | 17–14 | 8–8 | 5th | NCAA Division I First Round |
| 2001–02 | Riley Wallace | 27–6 | 15–3 | 1st | NCAA Division I First Round |
| 2002–03 | Riley Wallace | 19–12 | 9–9 | 6th | NIT Second Round |
| 2003–04 | Riley Wallace | 21–12 | 11–7 | 5th | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 2004–05 | Riley Wallace | 16–13 | 7–11 | 7th | |
| 2005–06 | Riley Wallace | 17–11 | 10–6 | 4th | |
| 2006–07 | Riley Wallace | 18–13 | 8–8 | 5th | |
| Riley Wallace: | Riley Wallace: | 334–265 | 166–164 | | |
| Bob Nash (Western Athletic Conference) (2007–2010) ||||||
| 2007–08 | Bob Nash | 11–19 | 7–9 | 5th | |
| 2008–09 | Bob Nash | 13–17 | 5–11 | 8th | |
| 2009–10 | Bob Nash | 10–20 | 3–13 | 9th | |
| Bob Nash: | Bob Nash: | 34–56 | 15–33 | | |
| Gib Arnold (Western Athletic Conference) (2010–2012) ||||||
| 2010–11 | Gib Arnold | 19–13 | 8–8 | 5th | CIT Second Round |
| 2011–12 | Gib Arnold | 16–16 | 6–8 | 5th | |
| Gib Arnold (Big West Conference) (2012–2014) ||||||
| 2012–13 | Gib Arnold | 17–15 | 10–8 | 5th | CIT First Round |
| 2013–14 | Gib Arnold | 20–11 | 9–7 | 4th | |
| Gib Arnold: | Gib Arnold: | 72–55 | 33–31 | | |
| Benjy Taylor (Big West Conference) (2014–2015) ||||||
| 2014–15 | Benjy Taylor | 22–13 | 8–8 | 5th | (interim) |
| Benjy Taylor: | Benjy Taylor: | 22–13 | 8–8 | | |
| Eran Ganot (Big West Conference) (2015–present) ||||||
| 2015–16 | Eran Ganot | 28–6 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Division I Second Round |
| 2016–17 | Eran Ganot | 14–16 | 8–8 | 5th | |
| 2017–18 | Eran Ganot | 17–13 | 8–8 | 6th | |
| 2018–19 | Eran Ganot | 18–13 | 9–7 | 4th | |
| 2019–20 First 13 games | Chris Gerlufsen | 8–5 | 0–0 | (acting) | |
| 2019–20 Last 17 games | Eran Ganot | 9–8 | 8–8 | 4th | |
| 2020–21 | Eran Ganot | 11–10 | 9–9 | 6th | |
| 2021–22 | Eran Ganot | 17–11 | 10–5 | 3rd | |
| 2022–23 | Eran Ganot | 22–11 | 13–7 | 5th | |
| 2023–24 | Eran Ganot | 20–14 | 11-9 | 4th | |
| 2024–25 | Eran Ganot | 15-16 | 7-13 | 9th | |
| Eran Ganot: | Eran Ganot: | 171–118 | 95–77 | | |
| Total: | Total: | 1,258–1,177 | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||

## Postseason history
### NCAA tournament results

The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in five NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 1–5. Number in parentheses is opponent's seed in tournament. The Rainbow Warriors' first tournament appearance with seeds (The NCAA started seeding teams with the 1978 tournament, with the seeding format used today beginning in 1979) was in 1994.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1972 | N/A | First Round | Weber State | L 64–91 |
| 1994 | 13 | First Round | (4) No. 15 Syracuse | L 78–92 |
| 2001 | 12 | First Round | (5) No. 17 Syracuse | L 69–79 |
| 2002 | 10 | First Round | (7) No. 22 Xavier | L 58–70 |
| 2016 | 13 | First Round Second Round | (4) No. 23 California (5) No. 18 Maryland | W 77–66 L 60–73 |

### NIT results

The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in eight National Invitational Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 10–8.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1971 | First Round Quarterfinals | Oklahoma St. Bonaventure | W 88–87 L 64–73 |
| 1974 | First Round Quarterfinals | Fairfield Purdue | W 66–65 L 72–85 |
| 1989 | First Round | California | L 57–73 |
| 1990 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Stanford Long Beach State New Mexico | W 69–57 W 84–79 L 58–80 |
| 1997 | First Round Second Round | Oregon UNLV | W 71–61 L 80–89 |
| 1998 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Arizona State Gonzaga Fresno State | W 90–73 W 78–70 L 83–85 |
| 2003 | First Round Second Round | UNLV Minnesota | W 85–68 L 70–84 |
| 2004 | First Round Second Round Quarterfinals | Utah State Nebraska Michigan | W 85–74 W 84–83 L 73–88 |

### CIT results

The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in two CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). They have a combined record of 1–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2011 | First Round Second Round | Portland San Francisco | W 76–64 L 74–77 |
| 2013 | First Round | Air Force | L 65–69 |

### NAIA tournament results

The Rainbow Warriors have appeared in the NAIA Tournament one time. Their combined record is 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1949 | First Round | North Dakota | L 53–70 |

## Coaches

| Coach | Tenure | Record | Pct. |
| Dave Crawford | 1918–1919 | 2–5 | .286 |
| Edward Williford | 1919–1920 | 2–5 | .286 |
| Otto Klum | 1921–1923 | 13–8 | .619 |
| Charles Jones | 1923–1926 | 12–11 | .522 |
| Leslie Harrison | 1926–1929 | 12–10 | .545 |
| Claude Swann | 1929–1930 | 3–4 | .429 |
| Eugene Gill | 1930–1941 | 88–47 | .652 |
| Bert Chan Wa | 1941–1942, 1946–1947 | 12–13 | .480 |
| Art Gallon | 1947–1951 | 83–37 | .692 |
| Al Saake | 1951–1954, 1957–1963 | 92–124 | .426 |
| Ah Chew Goo | 1954–1957 | 31–46 | .403 |
| Red Rocha | 1963–1973 | 112–136 | .452 |
| Bruce O'Neil | 1973–1976 | 42–32 | .568 |
| Rick Pitino | 1976 | 2–4 | .333 |
| Larry Little | 1976–1985 | 103–143 | .419 |
| Frank Arnold | 1985–1987 | 11–45 | .452 |
| Riley Wallace | 1987–2007 | 334–265 | .558 |
| Bob Nash | 2007–2010 | 34–56 | .378 |
| Gib Arnold | 2010–2014 | 72–55 | .567 |
| Benjy Taylor | 2014–2015 | 22–13 | .629 |
| Eran Ganot | 2016–present | 171–118 | .592 |

## Notable players
### Retired numbers

The Rainbow Warriors retired their first number in program history on February 15, 2020, honoring number 33 for UH great and coach Bob Nash.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors retired numbers :
| No. | Player | Pos. | Career | No. ret. | Ref. |
| 33 | Bob Nash | SF | 1970–1972 | 2020 | |

### All-Americans

* 1971–1972: Bob Nash (Third team – "Basketball News", Honorable Mention – UPI, AP, Universal Sports)
* 1972–1973: Tom Henderson (Honorable Mention – NBA Coaches, Sporting News, Basketball Weekly)
* 1973–1974: Tom Henderson (First Team – Sporting News, NBA Coaches, Street & Smith's Basketball Yearbook, Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation) (Second Team – Basketball Weekly, Universal Sports), (Third Team- AP), (Honorable Mention-UPI)
* 1995–1996: Anthony Harris (Honorable Mention – Basketball Weekly)
* 1996–1997: Anthony Carter (Honorable Mention – AP)
* 1997–1998: Anthony Carter (Honorable Mention – AP)
* 2001–2002: Predrag Savović (Honorable Mention – AP)

### NBA draft

* 1971: Tom Newell – Round 10 – Phoenix Suns
* 1972: Bob Nash – Round 1 – Detroit Pistons
* 1972: Dwight Holiday – Round 9 – Seattle SuperSonics
* 1973: John Penebacker – Round 13 – Cleveland Cavaliers
* 1974: Tom Henderson – Round 1 – Atlanta Hawks
* 1975: Jimmie Baker – Round 3 – Philadelphia 76ers
* 1975: Victor Kelly – Round 10 – Atlanta Hawks
* 1976: Tom Barker – Round 4 – Atlanta Hawks
* 1981: Aaron Strayhorn – Round 6 – Cleveland Cavaliers
* 1982: Clarence Dickerson – Round 5 – Washington Bullets
* 1989: Reggie Cross – Round 2 – Philadelphia 76ers

### NBA free agents

* Anthony Carter
* Trevor Ruffin
* Predrag Savović

### NBA champions

* Phil Handy
* Tom Henderson

### EuroLeague and international players

* Jared Dillinger
* Carl English
* Isaac Fotu
* Stefan Janković
* Vander Joaquim
* Matt Lojeski
* Sammis Reyes (born 1995), Chilean player who played for the Chilean national basketball team and later switched to American football by the 2020s
* Christian Standhardinger
* Aaron Valdes (born 1993)
* Luc-Arthur Vebobe
* Brandon Jawato
* Akira Jacobs, Team Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics

## Facilities

The Rainbow Warriors play at the 10,300 seat Stan Sheriff Center, which opened in 1994. Originally called the "Special Events Arena" it was renamed in 1998 after Stan Sheriff, the former UH Athletics Director, who had lobbied for its construction. Previously, the team had played from 1964–1994 at the 7,500 seat Neal S. Blaisdell Center (originally the Honolulu International Center) and prior to that at the "Otto "Proc" Klum Gymnasium".