UH draws SEC champion Arkansas in NCAA basketball tournament

HENDERSON, Nev. >> The members of the University of Hawaii men’s basketball team could have danced all night.

“It doesn’t matter how good a dancer is as long as you get on the dance floor,” associate head coach Brad Davidson said after the Rainbow Warriors won the Big West Tournament and accompanying invitation to the NCAA’s Big Dance. “We’re on the dance floor, and we’re doing some major dancing.”

From dance party at Lee’s Family Forum on Saturday to Sunday’s selection show watch party in downtown Las Vegas, the ’Bows learned they are a 13th seed and will face fourth seed and Southeastern Conference champion Arkansas on Thursday in Portland, Ore., in the first round of the West Regional.

Arkansas won the SEC title on Sunday behind the play of tournament MVP Darius Acuff Jr., who recorded 30 points and 11 assists.

UH and Arkansas are in the same bracket as Arizona, No. 1 overall seed in the West. The other games in the upper half of the West feature Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU, No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point and No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State.

This will be the ’Bows sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2016, Eran Ganot’s initial season as UH head coach.

Because of Ganot’s late hiring — April 2015 — that 2015-16 roster had many players recruited by the previous coaches. But Ganot’s staff also inherited a situation in which the previous regime was ruled to have committed ethical violations against NCAA policy. After appeals, the ’Bows were docked a scholarship for each year of a two-season probation period.

The ’Bows also had to face a changing landscape of easy transfers through the NCAA portal, growing fundraising challenges to compensate players, and scheduling congestion that have reduced Hawaii’s attraction as a multi-team tournament venue in late December.

Last year, the Rainbows did not qualify for the eight-team Big West Tournament, and some players, as anticipated, entered the portal. The 2025 Diamond Head Classic, a staple for competition and promotion, went on hiatus. Following the 2025 season, the goals were to 1) retain key players, such as forward Harry Rouhliadeff and point guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, and 2) build an older roster of experienced players from all levels.

With post and stretch skills, 6-9 Rouhliadeff would have been in high demand in the free-agency market. But Rouhliadeff and Hunkin-Claytor never wavered in their commitments to the Rainbows.

“It was the coaching staff that sold it to me back in 2022,” said Rouhliadeff, who grew up in Australia. Because Australia’s school calendar ends in December, UH coaches kept in frequent contact until Rouhliadeff enrolled in the summer of 2023.

Assistant coach Gibson Johnson used his connections to pursue three Utah-reared players in the portal — 7-foot center Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson (Utah State), 6-7 point guard Tanner Cuff (Evansville) and 6-3 combo guard Hunter Erickson (Utah).

“It was because of this coaching staff,” Johnson said of his decision. “I came out here on my visit with Tanner Cuff and Hunter Erickson. To immediately be able to feel the love from the coaching staff. And we also went to watch the volleyball game on our visit. The crowd was unreal. … Coming from a place where the crowd was the same type of way, I knew that’s where I wanted to be in that type of atmosphere, where we were treated like one of the hottest things in town. We’re the only Division I university in Hawaii, so we’re kind of the hottest thing in Hawaii. Now we’re the hottest thing in the Big West.”

After playing for three Division I programs in as many years, Quandre “Dre” Bullock sought a program that would offer extended playing time. Bullock impressed with his talents — 44 1/2-inch vertical jump — but he was never a full-time starter at Louisiana Tech, Niagara or South Dakota. Davidson, the point recruiter, shared his vision of Bullock as a quick-handed, on-ball defender and innovative scorer.

UH also signed Isaac Finlinson, last season’s junior college player of the year; Isaiah Kerr, a multi-skilled guard from Chico State, and Yacine Toumi, who used to practice against Victor Wenbanyama. And Gytis Nemeiksa, last year’s scoring leader, won a waiver that allowed his return to the program.

Rouhliadeff, the captain, has set the tone with his workmanlike approach. Johnson is a three-level shooter and towering defensive obstacle. Bullock has thrilled with his cloud-touching dunks and gritty defense. After Cuff and then Hunkin-Claytor suffered season-ending injuries, Erickson moved over to the point and Finlinson moved into the starting lineup. Nemeiksa is a key post in the rotation. Kerr has made defensive stands in two victories. And Toumi has contributed as a rim protector and ball-handling center.

Bullock, Johnson, Erickson, Rouhliadeff, Nemeiksa and Toumi all were honored during senior night, and all played major roles on Saturday. Bullock (37) and Erickson (31) logged the most minutes, while Johnson led the way in scoring with 22 points, followed by Rouhliadeff (15) and Bullock (15).

Patty Mills, who played 16 NBA season, is serving as an unpaid general manager. Mills leads several challenges, provides free meals for students at certain UH games, and advises players. Ganot also led in the retirement of Anthony “AC” Carter’s jersey.

The Rainbows had to alter the offense, twice, because of injuries to Cuff and Hunkin-Claytor. After a senior night loss to Long Beach State cost a share of the Big West’s regular-season, the Rainbows regrouped. They defeated Cal State Fullerton in the Big West Tournament — they are 7-1 after a loss — and then beat top seed UCI for the title.

“We learned from it,” Bullock said of missing out on the regular-season title. “Watched film. Grew from it And, yeah, we brought our energy to Vegas (for the tournament) and shifted gears quickly.”

Bullock said the success is rooted in the team unity and ties to the community and alumni. Among the former UH players attending the title game were Jarinn Akana, Kawika Hallums, Troy Ostler, Garland Hughes, Mike Thomas, Quincy Smith and Noah Allen. UH quarterback Micah Alejado and running back DeVon Rice also attended.

“Teammates are super cool,” Bullock said. “Every day we hang out almost. Everybody gets along. The coaches do a good job of having bonding events over summertime, throughout the season, having dinners, stuff like that. We did a lot of crazy stuff. Swam with sharks together. We’ve been through it all, I mean. Credits to my teammates, coaches. It was all about family and trust. It not always 100% about basketball. It’s about, ‘how’s your family doing?’ ‘How’s your mom?’ ‘How’s your sister, brother?’ All that type of stuff. It was about building relationships on and off the court.”

Rouhliadeff added: “We’ve got such a mature group of guys. We don’t need babysitters. We’re ready to step out into the real world when all this is done and just be professionals. Everyone on this team could be part of that atmophere.”