HONOLULU -- The Chaminade University men's basketball team get an early test as they open the season against No. 12 Alaska Anchorage Friday in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at Moanalua High School Gym. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
The 'Swords will also face the other school from up north, Alaska, on Saturday also at 5:30 p.m. at Moanalua. Live audio coverage for both games will be on GoSwords.com.
The Silverswords return four of their top five leading scorers from last year's team that finished a disappointing 12-15. They also just missed qualifying for the Pacific West Conference Tournament last year, losing out on a tiebreaker to Dominican in the final days of the 2015-16 season.
However, there is optimism that this year's 'Swords are poised for a big season. They finished fifth nationally in scoring offense at 92.3 points per game last season and all four of their leading scorers are seniors who are hungry to return to the postseason for the first time in three years.
"I'm very excited about this year's team," head coach
Eric Bovaird said. "We have a group of senior leaders and a very talented supporting cast. We have a chance to be a special team."
It starts with guard
Kuany Kuany who has led the Silverswords in rebounding each of his first three seasons and scoring the last two. Coming off a 16.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game junior year, Kuany was named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team. He has also been among the conference leaders in field goal percentage every season.
Rohndell Goodwin (16.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg) is also primed for another big year. Complementing the slashing styles of Kuany and Goodwin is sharpshooter
Kiran Shastri (13.1 ppg) who took only two-and-a-half years to set the school's 3-point shooting record with 236. And point guard
Sam Daly ranked third in the PacWest in assists at 4.8 per game last season while posting 11.1 ppg.
Chaminade also returns underclassmen
Dantley Walker,
Kahanu Pu`ulei-Auld,
Michael Sakazaki,
Tyler Cartaino and
Matt Southard, all of whom provided depth and minutes off the bench. Seeing their first action this year will be a pair of guards who redshirted last year,
Kaleb Gilmore and
Masa Swain.
The 'Swords also welcome three transfers.
Austin Pope is a scorer who was one of the top junior college guards two years ago while 7-foot-1 Rice University transfer
Nate Pollard gives them sorely needed height around the rim. Guard
Justin Bridges played at winning programs and last year took Georgia Highlands College to the JUCO national championships.
The schedule is daunting. Following the PacWest/GNAC Challenge this weekend, the 'Swords will take the following week off then face the defending NCAA Division I runners-up North Carolina in the opening day of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational on Monday, Nov. 21 at the Lahaina Civic Center on Maui.
Upon the tean's return home, they'll jump into PacWest action when they make their McCabe Gym home opener Nov. 30 against Hawai'i Hilo. The 'Swords also have non-conference home dates against Seattle Pacific (Dec. 14), who is among the teams receiving votes in the first NABC Coaches Poll, and Northwest Indian College (Dec. 31).
Key conference home games this season include Concordia University Irvine (Jan. 3), No. 9 California Baptist (Jan. 5) as well as the traditional O'ahu rivals. The final meeting against BYU-Hawai'i takes place at McCabe on Jan. 19 while the 'Swords end the regular season against Hawai'i Pacific at home on Feb. 25. The PacWest Tournament will take place from March 2-4 at Concordia.
"I believe we have the chance to compete for a championship and that is our goal," Bovaird said.
