Successful new years in college athletics always start with an urgent challenge in early January when conference schedules open up again and the well-prepared teams are soon separated from those on a holiday vacation.
The point comes to life Tuesday at Hilo Civic when the University of Hawaii at Hilo hosts Azusa Pacific in a pair of games that feel more significant than just another game for the men’s and women’s teams.
Both teams will be facing the defending Pacific West Conference champions, the Cougars men being awarded the regular season championship in a tiebreaker with four teams tied for first, while the Cougars’ women were declared co-champions after finishing tied with California Baptist with identical 19-1 records.