Rainbow Warriors Face Quick Turnaround After Tough Loss

Hawaii basketball team looks to rebound against UC Santa Barbara after defeat to Cal Poly

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The University of Hawaii men's basketball team is coming off a tough loss to Cal Poly on Thursday, but they don't have much time to dwell on it as they prepare to host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Hawaii coach Eran Ganot emphasized the need to learn from the loss and get back to work, rather than letting it 'kill' the team. The Rainbow Warriors will be looking to correct the issues that led to the loss, including poor shooting and defensive lapses. Meanwhile, UC Santa Barbara has also dealt with injuries but has found success with a new lineup featuring a UConn transfer at point guard.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for Hawaii's positioning in the Big West standings, as they are currently tied for second place. A win would help them keep pace with conference leader UC Irvine. The retirement of former Rainbow Warrior guard Anthony 'AC' Carter's jersey number also adds significance to the matchup.

The details

In the loss to Cal Poly, Hawaii struggled mightily on offense, missing 20 of 23 3-point attempts and only recording 2 assists on 23 made baskets. Ganot said the team's defense also broke down, allowing Cal Poly to drive to the lane and score. Hawaii will need to shore up these areas against a UC Santa Barbara team that has found success with a new lineup featuring a UConn transfer at point guard.

  • The game against UC Santa Barbara is scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd at 5:00 PM.
  • On Thursday, February 20th, Hawaii lost to Cal Poly.

The players

Eran Ganot

The head coach of the University of Hawaii men's basketball team.

Anthony 'AC' Carter

A former guard for the University of Hawaii basketball team whose jersey number 23 is being retired.

Aidan Mahaney

The UConn transfer who has taken over as the starting point guard for UC Santa Barbara and is averaging 15.2 points per game in Big West play.

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What they’re saying

“You get a good win, you enjoy it for a second and get back to work. You get a tough loss, let it hurt for a second, and then get back to work. We're not going to let it kill us. … We use everything as a teaching moment. You flush nothing. There's a difference between 'let it kill you' and 'learn from it.'”

— Eran Ganot, Head Coach, University of Hawaii (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

“He's a really good shooter. And he's a good leader. He's been playing a lot more point guard. He's done a good job of getting everybody involved.”

— Brad Davidson, Offensive Coordinator, University of Hawaii (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

What’s next

The winner of the game between Hawaii and UC Santa Barbara will take a step closer to securing one of the top two seeds in the Big West Tournament, which comes with a double-bye.

The takeaway

Hawaii's ability to quickly bounce back from the tough loss to Cal Poly and correct the issues that led to that defeat will be crucial as they look to maintain their position near the top of the Big West standings and secure a favorable seed in the conference tournament.