Glad to report that the basketball blog is back for another year. And what a year it will be. A new coaching staff, lots of new players, what may be the last year of the WAC as we know it, and much excitement as we begin the Gib Arnold era.

So much has happened since the end of last season its hard to get it all in the initial blog. This Friday is the official start of practice and the 9:30 " midnight ohana" promises to be great fun.

i have been to a few " informal" practices. Here are my early impressions

First, temper your expectations. With a team that finished last, a new staff, only two " starters returning", and a new system, its going to take a year or two before i believe UH will be competitive. That doesn't mean we wont see exciting basketball and some improvement, but fans are just going to have to be patient.

There is raw talent on this team, but its young and inexperienced. There is no true " go to guy", and the guards are undersized. Gib will eventually want a team that  loves transition, but this team doesn't have all the pieces to run and press. There is no true " breakdown guy" who can hit that jumper or drive to the hoop at the end of the shot clock with confidence( at least not yet).

On the other hand, the coaches are thrilled with the attitude of the team. Amis is back, and i think he has a chance to be all WAC first team.  Hiram returns from yet another injury( hernia surgery), and needs to round into shape. Some of the new guys are showing good basketball skills, and Kurtz is more mobile having lost 15 pounds.

The WAC, outside of Utah State , is much weaker than last year. Most of the  really good players either graduated or came out early. Although several teams had good recruiting years, including the BOWS,  many of the teams have few returning starters. My preseason ballot has Utah State first, with nobody close. Then the most athletic team, New Mexico State, Boise, Nevada, San Jose, Fresno, then Hawaii, Idaho and La Tech.

Looking forward to Friday night. Hope you can all make it. And buy those season tickets. This team may struggle this year, but with recruiting already well underway and the number of freshman and transfers on this years team, those season tickets will soon be alot harder to get