There was no slam-dunk contest, no half-court shots for scholarships, no madness at midnight.

The Hawaii men’s basketball team opened fall training with Tuesday’s mid-afternoon, fan-free practice while maintenance workers made repairs at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

In this new age of easy-access transfers, lucrative name-image-likeness deals and ’round-the-calendar training, this season’s Rainbow Warriors began bonding through workouts, open-gym games, and off-the-court activities. Since June, the UH coaches were allowed up to four weeks of organized on-court practices with the players.

But coach Eran Ganot was unabashedly enthusiastic ahead of the opening fall practice.

“Today is a big celebration because you’re six weeks away from your (Nov. 4) opener at Oregon,” Ganot said.

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