While You Were Sleeping: The Diamond Head Classic
As someone who never gets a chance to go home for the holidays. I have established a Christmas week tradition that involves egg nog, the addition of rum to that aforementioned egg nog, and the Diamond Head Classic. It’s not as sad as it sounds, I promise.
While not as prestigious as the tournament that takes place in Maui during Thanksgiving week, the Diamond Head Classic (formally the Rainbow Classic) has it’s own history of thrilling competition. This year the tournament boasts a deep field of potential tournament teams and programs on the rise. After one day of action, the event has already delivered highlights and intriguing storylines worth following through the rest of the tournament. Here’s a recap of day one, which ended after 3am EST.
George Washington (7-4) kicked off the day by blitzing Ohio (3-5). Four Colonials finished in double figures, including Kevin Larsen (18 points, 8-15 FG) and Kethan Savage (18 points, 6-10 FG). Larsen, a Danish export from Copenhagen, also snagged a career-best 15 rebounds. Ohio, normally a standout program from the Mid-American Conference, looks to be in the midst of a rebuilding season after three consecutive campaigns with at least 20+ wins (including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2012).
The Colorado Buffaloes are in Honolulu on the hunt for a signature win, and they believe they can get it in the final game of this tournament. Their focused showed as they were very methodical in taking apart the Blue Demons from DePaul (6-5).
The Buffs were led by Askia Booker, as it has seemingly been the case for a decade. Booker’s 27-6-6 line was the performance of the day at the Stan Sheriff Center. Xavier Johnson also dropped 20 points for the cause.
The lone bright spot for DePaul was the double-double from sophomore center Tommy Hamilton IV, who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Colorado (7-3) will meet George Washington in tomorrow’s first semifinal.
The gem of the field is undoubtedly the Wichita State Shockers, and head coach Gregg Marshall’s team showed up ready to meet expectations. While no player scored more than 12 points, their performance was emphatic and dominant from the start.
Loyola Marymount (3-7) continues to go through growing pains as former Charlotte Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap tries to rebuild the program he once played for. Dunlap is one of the best X and O coaches in basketball, college or professional. Unfortunately, his team’s talent is nowhere near the caliber necessary to compete against a well-oiled machine like the Shockers (9-1). Dunlap’s charges will be looking to at least steal one game during their time on the island.
The game of the day took place with much the country already tucked well into bed. The host team from Hawaii (9-4) clashed with Nebraska in awkward and physical contest that included four technical fouls, including one for dunking during warmups (Nebraska) and another for touching the ball while it was in the hands of an in-bounding player (Hawaii).
Despite the strange occurrences and some very physical play (that was encouraged by a lenient crew of officials), the game was fast-paced and immensely entertaining. Nebraska’s All-Big Ten performer, Terran Petteway, was mixed up in an instance of jawing that led to a double technical situation that saddled him with his third foul in the first half.
With Petteway on the bench, Hawaii jumped out to an 11-point halftime lead. Aaron Valdes used his trademark athleticism to lead Hawaii with 15 points and hold off the Huskers in the second half. Not only does Nebraska (6-5) lose the game, but also the opportunity to play Wichita State in the second semifinal.
Quick Hits
LMU’s Ayodeji Egbeyemi and Hawaii’s Aaron Valdes threw down some of the best dunks you will see this season. Egbeyemi got loose down the middle for a tomahawk, and Valdes took a lob from near the square before jamming it home.
Shame on Tim Miles for not wearing a Hawaiian shirt while coaching today. He did have some type of customized polo for the occasion, but it definitely was not a Hawaiian shirt.
Hawaii’s basketball program is under tons of turmoil. The Warriors fired their coach (Gibb Arnold), lost their best player (Isaac Fotu), and their university’s athletic department may be broke. Still, the Warriors have played well for interim head coach Benjy Taylor. They now have wins over Pitt and Nebraska, and will get Wichita State on their home floor tomorrow night. I can assure you that Stan Sheriff will be rocking. The Shockers were circumstantially swindled into a true road game against a very confident and resilient team from