Whenever Brocke Stepteau has free time between University of Hawaii classes, he will head to the Warrior Recreation Center for a game of pick-up basketball or two. Or three.
“Just to work on my game,” said Stepteau, a senior point guard for the UH basketball team. “I just try to get a sweat in to make sure I stay in rhythm, because rhythm is a big part of my game.”
Stepteau will have ample maintenance work when the Rainbow Warriors open their regular season against Portland in Friday’s first round of the 54th Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic. The three-day round-robin event runs through Sunday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
“It’s three games in three days, with quick turnarounds and different styles,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “How well does our team handle that? That will determine how well we’ll do in this event.”
The ‘Bows open against Portland, which returns six of its top seven players. Head coach Terry Porter was a two-time NBA All-Star during a 17-year career. He played for a who’s who of coaches: Jack Ramsay, Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Flip Saunders and Rick Adelman. He also was head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.
The ‘Bows face Humboldt State on Saturday and North Texas on Sunday.
“I think we’re excited to get on the floor,” Ganot said. “It’s a great challenge.”
The ‘Bows played Hawaii Pacific in an exhibition the past Friday. The Pilots played two exhibitions and won their season opener against Multnomah on Tuesday.
“There are going to be some teams (this weekend) that are fairly far along this point of the year,” Ganot said.
Against HPU, the ‘Bows opened with a lineup featuring two point guards (Stepteau and Drew Buggs) and 6-foot-8 Zigmars Raimo in the low post. Ganot said he is experimenting with different combinations. In past years, UH went with a rotation of up to nine players. This weekend, Ganot said, “we have 10 or 11 guys who can play.”
The rotations are strengthened with the hopeful returns of ailing players. Leland Green, who suffered a shoulder injury in last year’s finale, played against HPU. Ganot said senior guard Sheriff Drammeh and 7-foot freshman Owen Hulland “are moving in a good direction” in their return to full health. “They’ve done a good job of doing what they need to do to get closer,” Ganot said.
Raimo, who shed 15 pounds and now weighs 227, has become a reliable option in the paint. Raimo pulled down nine offensive rebounds in the Green-White Scrimmage. Against HPU, he scored 20 points, with each of his nine baskets launched within 5 feet of the rim.
“We have really good shooters,” Raimo said. “I’m sticking to my role, basically. I know Eddie (Stansberry) and Brocke and Jack (Purchase) are good shooters. I will let them shoot more.
“If I’m going to be open, I’m going to shoot. Until then, I will let them take shots and I’ll do anything else.”
Raimo said the ‘Bows are ready for the back-to-back-to-back schedule.
“We’re not going to be tired,” Raimo said. “We love playing with each other. We love our crowd. We want to show what we can do.
“Three games? Bring it on. We’re going to be fired up every single game, every single minute.”