NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 2019 Diamond Head Classic squads
6. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
That I have Eran Ganot’s team this low in the rankings is less of an indictment on Hawaii and more of a statement about the quality of the squads in this tournament. The Rainbow Warriors won 18 games a year ago and return three guys who made at least 20 starts. Chief among them is senior big man Zigmars Raimo, a 6-foot-8 power forward out of Latvia. Raimo tied for the team lead in points scored and was the Warriors’ rebounding leader.
Also returning is the backcourt tandem of Drew Buggs and Eddie Stansberry. Buggs finished second in the Big West in assists last season and will run the point for Hawaii. Stansberry was third on the team in scoring ad led the squad in 3-pointers made.
The trick for Ganot will be to replace departed seniors Jack Purchase and Brock Stepteau. One possibility to do so comes in the form of a pair of three-star recruits, per Verbal Commits. Justin Webster is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who should split some time on the wings with junior Samuta Avea. As for the frontcourt, Brazilian big man Bernardo da Silva brings his 6-foot-9 frame to the island. If they contribute immediately, Hawaii could easily have another winning season.
5. UTEP Miners
This is a really intriguing team – and one to watch in the Conference USA race in the upcoming seasons. Last year’s eight-win squad was very young and should get better simply by virtue of additional reps. But the question, of course, is how much better? Losing leading scorer Evan Gilyard to a transfer doesn’t paint a rosy picture, but there is plenty of returning talent.
One player to keep a close eye on is sophomore Efe Odigie. The 6-foot-8, 280-pound goliath had a heck of a freshman campaign, finishing with 12.7 points and 10.1 rebounds in 25 games. Other sophomores who will look to improve on impressive first years are guards Nigel Hawkins and Jordan Lathon. Both of them scored in double figures and showed an ability to crash the boards, but neither was a very efficient shooter last year. Finding that shooting touch is going to be a huge linchpin for the Miners’ chances this year.
Perhaps the biggest reason to expect UTEP to jump up in the standings is the addition of Bryson Williams, recently ranked by Kevin Sweeney as the No. 5 power forward among mid-major schools. In two seasons at Fresno State, he demonstrated an innate ability to finish at the rim. Williams, who sat out last season, will step into the role of departed big man Paul Thomas. I think he will likely perform better in the role. The Miners will be even scarier next season when sit-out transfers Kaden Archie and Keonte Kennedy become eligible. But I still expect UTEP to make some noise this year.