Hawaii forward Harry Rouhliadeff hadn’t removed the championship net from around his neck nearly 18 hours after the Rainbow Warriors clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth in a decade. The net may stay there until 13th-seeded Hawaii faces fourth-seeded Arkansas at 1:25 p.m. Thursday in Portland.
“It’s been my dream since I was a little kid,” Rouhliadeff said Sunday during the team’s selection show party at Main Street Station. “I grew up watching college basketball my whole life. To be able to play on the biggest stage in college sports, there are no words. I’m just so excited.”
Ninth Island
The Rainbow Warriors remained on the mainland after defeating UC Irvine 71-64 in the Big West championship Saturday night, avoiding a taxing return to the Islands amid storms that have disrupted travel. Basketball staffers quickly arranged practice sites and Boyd Gaming provided space for the selection show on short notice.
“I was talking to them at almost midnight to see if we could get something together so our players can be with our fans for this moment and you can see the turn out,” athletic director Matt Elliott said. “We always feel so at home here.”
Rouhliadeff, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the title game, noted the strong Hawaii-Las Vegas connection. “It’s called the Ninth Island for a reason and it’s so evident,” he said. “We have so many supporters and all this community. It’s meant the world to us and it feels like a home game every time we play here.”
Emotional return
Coach Eran Ganot, who led Hawaii to the tournament in his first season in 2016, broke down in tears after the championship win. “It meant a lot,” he said. “I always tell people when that moment happens, you experience a flood of emotions about the entire journey.”
Ganot encouraged his team to enjoy Sunday but shift focus Monday. The Warriors aim to replicate their 2016 success as a 13 seed, when they won a first-round game. “Enjoy it for a second and get back to work,” he said. “If it’s something tough, let it hurt for a second and then get back to work.”
Logistics and laundry
Staying in Las Vegas provides access to courts, meeting rooms, and support from the local community. “I wish everyone could be so fortunate,” Ganot said. “We have a great contingency here and it feels like we’re at home.”
Rouhliadeff planned ahead for an extended road trip, but acknowledged not everyone did. “I’m sure someone has brought some laundry detergent with them or we can buy some,” he said. “As long as we’re away, it means we’re winning.”
He has no plans to wash the net soon. “It was surreal,” he said of seeing Hawaii’s name on the bracket. “I’ve been wanting this. To see the name up there was amazing. We’ll enjoy it for just one day. But there’s a bigger task at hand.”
