There was a time when college basketball followed a specific calendar.

The first practice was held at midnight. Teams were celebrated at the end of the season. Fundraisers were on summer golf courses.

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But from the month he was hired as the University of Hawaii men’s basketball coach in 2015, Eran Ganot floated the idea of a banquet that preceded the Rainbow Warriors’ season. The banquet would introduce the players in an interactive setting, promote the coming season, and earn some money for the program’s auxiliary expenses. It was a growing concept embraced by other schools, notably at Saint Mary’s, where Ganot previously served as an assistant coach.

“Bring something like that to Hawaii, but wrinkle it to Hawaii,” Ganot suggested.

The idea caught local businessman Sidney Hamada’s attention. And, as is his nature, Hamada can’t help himself in turning concepts into actions. Hamada, whose super power is organizing volunteers, had coordinated an annual golf tournament fundraiser for former UH head coaches Riley Wallace and Bob Nash. Put together a preseason banquet? Piece of haupia cake for Hamada and his large crew of volunteers.

“His dream team,” Ganot said of the organizing committee. “Nothing like being part of a team. We met, others jumped on and created this momentum that went to another level.”

The plan was to hold the inaugural event on the home court, at the Stan Sheriff Center. There would be panels in which groups of players and coaches answered questions from the emcee. And there would be auction items, live and silent. It would be called, simply, the Tipoff Event.

The first Tipoff Event, in 2017, raised about $50,000, exceeding modest goals. That amount doubled the second year, and then continued to increase. Last year’s take is believed to have topped $200,000. On Oct. 13, the Warriors will be host to the 10th annual Tipoff Event.

“I love annual events,” Ganot said. “There’s nothing like building. The program-building is all encompassing on the court, off the court, in the classroom. Our job is to make everything bigger and better every year. And when it hits a milestone, it’s a celebration. To see how far the Tipoff has come over the years … to go from where it started — and it came out with a bang — to see how it’s grown throughout the years is incredible.”

The NCAA basketball landscape has evolved in the past 10 years. With the expanded practice schedule, teams begin organized workouts during the summer and not a month in advance of the season opener. If a team travels internationally for exhibitions or private practices, it is allowed 10 additional practices. The Warriors made use of the extra practices ahead of last month’s trip to Australia.

The easing of transfer rules created increased roster turnovers. A player who sticks with a program for four years is more a rarity than a standard. And budgets to recruit and retain student-athletes have ballooned because players now receive name-image-likeness deals and cuts of revenue sharing. And there still are bills for summer school, travel and other basketball-related expenses.

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This academic year, UH has budgeted $5 million for revenue sharing — $2.5 million for football, $1 million for men’s basketball, and $500,000 apiece for men’s volleyball, Wahine volleyball and women’s basketball. UH’s NIL/revenue-sharing budget pales in comparison to the other Mountain West men’s basketball programs.

“We’re not going to whine and complain about it,” Ganot said. “We’re going to compete and grow our program to the best of our ability.”

Without the state’s contribution to NIL and revenue sharing, UH relies on help from sponsors, community leaders, boosters, fans and fundraiser events such as the Tipoff.

“We don’t do it on our own,” Ganot said. “It starts with the student-athletes. There’s power in the Hawaii community and fan base.”

The first nine Tipoff dinners have been sellouts. Organizers are hopeful of drawing 450 to 500 this year.

“Great food, great time, great people, interactive,” Ganot said. “As much as people love celebrating the end of the year, people love celebrating the start of the year, the unknown, what’s around the corner.”

Ganot said the players will be introduced and share their backgrounds during the panel segments. He said there will be about eight live auction items, including travel packages that involve pro sports. There will be more than 200 silent auction items.

“You have more roster turnover than before, but the great thing is you get to meet more new people,” Ganot said. “And our student-athletes are impressive. We want to share that with our incredible support system and fan base and donors. And we get to do that on one special night combined with the 10th. We’re blessed.”

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Tables and individual tickets may be purchased online.