Like the rest of his Illinois State basketball teammates, Deontae Hawkins was eager to escape the harsh weather on campus for a week in Hawaii.
Hawkins also knew the fun ends when the Redbirds face host Hawaii in a Diamond Head Classic first-round game at 12:30 a.m. (CST) Friday at the Sheriff Center in Honolulu (check Pantagraph.com for game recap).
"It's going to challenge us to see where we're at on the road, to see if we're locked in, traveling to Hawaii and being nice and warm," the senior forward said after Sunday's 81-72 victory against Saint Joseph's.