The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa men’s basketball team will celebrate the program’s 100th season Saturday, January 25 as the Rainbow Warriors host Big West Conference member UC Davis.
Former players, coaches and staff will be recognized and attendees will get a chance to relive memorable moments. This year’s team will also be wearing Rainbow retro jerseys during the game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. All UH alumni will receive 50 percent off tickets.
UH played its first season back in 1912. For the first three decades, UH played a lineup of high schools, military and other amateur teams on island, before facing its first collegiate competition in the late 1930s. Over 99 seasons, the program has won 1,136 games (839 collegiate wins), and advanced to five NCAA tournaments and eight National Invitation Tournaments.
Earlier this season, the program celebrated Fabulous 5 Night by paying tribute to one of the most beloved periods in UH sports. The “Fabulous Five” of Al Davis, Jerome Freeman, Dwight Holiday, Bob Nash and John Penebacker were recognized at the November 29 game against San Francisco. The 1971 and 1972 teams, featuring these players, racked up a 47-8 record and clinched the program’s first NIT and NCAA postseason tournament berths.
On Saturday, February 15, during the game against UC Irvine, Nash will become the school’s first-ever men’s basketball player to have his jersey retired. He dedicated 31 years to the Hawaiʻi men’s basketball program, including two as a player, 26 as an assistant coach and three years as a head coach. After setting several UH program records that still stand today, Nash was selected ninth overall in the 1972 NBA Draft, the highest UH draft pick in program history at the time.
Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #HawaiiMBB100 on social media to share their favorite memories of the UH basketball program.
