Sports betting on Hawaii and St. John’s in college basketball could be more successful next season since both teams will have new head coaches. The Warriors have been a disaster in online sports betting recently so they figure to be improved while St. John’s was up and down the past few seasons.
Sports betting statistics indicated that Hawaii went 8-15 this past season against the point spread. The Warriors really were a major bust under head coach Bob Nash who was recently fired. Hawaii was 34-56 in three seasons under Nash. They should be improved under new head coach Gib Arnold was an assistant at USC. “It’s not every day a dream can come true … I am thrilled, excited, humbled and grateful for the opportunity,” said Arnold.
Hawaii interviewed a number of candidates for the head coaching job and Arnold emerged as the choice among the seven finalists. “[I wanted someone] who was hungry, had extensive recruiting experience and a plan specific for UH,” Hawaii Athletic Director Jim Donovan said. “Also someone with a clear vision for the future of our basketball program and could fit into Hawaii’s unique culture. That’s why Gib is here with us today.”
Arnold has the chance to turn things around at Hawaii. “I’m well aware of what this team and university means to Hawaii,” said Arnold, who was the head coach at Southern Idaho from 2003-2005. He had been the assistant head coach at USC. He was known as an excellent recruiter and Hawaii definitely needs help in that regard. His father, Frank Arnold was the coach from 1985-87 but had very little success. Hawaii was just 11-45 under the older Arnold. “As a son, I’ve got the opportunity to change that [and] build a program that the people of Hawaii can be proud of,” he said.
In other sports betting news, St. John’s fired head coach Norm Roberts on Friday. He had been the head coach at St. John’s for the past six seasons but only two of the seasons were winning ones. “To say it was a difficult decision would be to minimize it,” St. John’s athletic director Chris Monasch said. “Norm took over a program that was at a low point and at a time when there was a minimal amount of Big East level talent. Norm has restored integrity to our basketball program.” St. John’s finished this online sports betting season at 17-16 after losing in the first round of the NIT to Memphis.