The University of Hawai’i basketball team will host Illinois State on the opening night of the 2016 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. The pairings and starting times for the eight-team, three-day tournament was announced on Thursday.
The Warriors return one starter (senior forward Mike Thomas) from last season’s historic 28-6 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Redbirds finished 18-14 overall and in third place in the Missouri Valley Conference at 12-6. They did not participate in a postseason tournament. Four starters return for Illinois State, including point guard Paris Lee who averaged 11.