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Hawaii Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Rainbow Warriors

By Lauren Rosenberg

HONOLULU, HI - DECEMBER 22: Samuta Avea #32 of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors lays the ball in ahead of Tydus Verhoeven #1 of the UTEP Miners during the second half of the game at the Stan Sheriff Center on December 22, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - DECEMBER 22: Samuta Avea #32 of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors lays the ball in ahead of Tydus Verhoeven #1 of the UTEP Miners during the second half of the game at the Stan Sheriff Center on December 22, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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Hawaii Basketball was a mid-tier program in the Big West last season. Does the 2021-22 campaign offer a chance to climb the ladder?

The Aloha State is home to beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, and a rich culture that you can only see to understand.

What is often overlooked in Hawaii are their vibrant, loyal sports culture and fanbase. Through thick and thin, the fans rally around the University of Hawaii’s sports. Despite not being the top in men’s basketball, the Rainbow Warrior’s faithful have reasons to be excited for this year’s squad.

The pandemic shortened 2020-2021 season was not the best for Hawaii. They went 11-10 on the season without their best-returning player from the previous season, Samuta Avea. They also finished with a 9-9 record in the Big West Conference, good for 6th-place in the standings.

During the offseason, Hawaii picked up two key grad transfers, Kamaka Hepa (Texas) and Juan Munoz (Longwood). Hepa was the 47th ranked recruit in the class of 2018 and Munoz was the sixth-rated point guard in the class of 2016.

Unfortunately, Hawaii men’s basketball Twitter announced that Avea and Munoz are out for the entire season with injuries.

https://twitter.com/HawaiiMBB/status/1457815382006272002

The biggest question here is how will losing Avea and Munoz affect Hawaii’s season. Will it affect their fifth and sixth rankings in the coaches and media polls?

The answer is absolutely. Losing a star player is never a situation any team wants to go through. Losing a highly coveted transfer who brings veteran experience is also tough.

Is this a cause for panic? Probably not.

Hawaii still has talented players in Junior Madut, 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in 2020-2021, and Mate Colins, 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2020-2021) who will be called on to help anchor this team with Hepa.

Next. 2021-22 League Pass rankings. dark

The Rainbow Warriors may not look like they can contend this season, but with players stepping up in the wake of adversity, this season could turn out to be special.