The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team will compete in the 2026 Credit Union 1 Big West Championship, opening play on March 13 as the No. 2 seed after a strong regular season. The Rainbow Warriors received a double-bye and will face either Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, or UC Santa Barbara in the semifinals at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada.
This tournament marks Hawai’i’s last appearance in the Big West before joining the Mountain West next season. The team is seeking its second Big West tournament title and its first since head coach Eran Ganot’s debut season in 2015-16.
Ganot holds an overall record of 196-128 over his twelve seasons as head coach, with a record of 193-126 at Hawai’i. Under his leadership, the Rainbow Warriors have reached the semifinals in three of their last four tournament appearances and achieved their best home record since the 2015-16 season by finishing 16-3 at home this year.
For the first time since changes to the tournament format were made, Hawai’i has earned a double-bye and enters as a No. 2 seed. Three players—Isaac Johnson (first team), Dre Bullock (second team), and Hunter Erickson (honorable mention)—received All-Big West honors this week. The team is averaging 80 points per game this season, matching its highest average since the early 1970s.
The Big West Conference achieved its highest-ever ranking in KenPom as the eleventh-ranked conference nationally, with Hawai’i peaking at number eighty-seven earlier this year. The Rainbow Warriors also rank among the top thirty-five teams nationally in several statistical categories including defensive rebounds and free throw attempts.
Looking ahead, fans can follow coverage on ESPN2 or through radio broadcasts on ESPN Honolulu. As they prepare for their final run in the Big West Championship, Hawai’i aims to build on its recent successes before transitioning to new competition next season.
