According to the UH release, Wallace is undergoing two days of precautionary tests at Kaiser Medical Center. He went through a routine physical check-up on Monday.

"This is just a precautionary measure," said UH associate coach Bob Nash, who was in charge of practice yesterday. "Since this is a down week with some extra days, he figured this was a good time to go in and get checked."

Wallace, 63, has a history of health problems. Most recently, he underwent cranial surgery in September 2002 to remove two subdural hema-tomas. In February 1998, he missed two games after undergoing a surgical procedure to clear a blocked artery.

Nash, however, said he expects Wallace to return to the team "100 percent" by the end of the week. Wallace addressed his players briefly yesterday afternoon, but was replaced by Nash for the "Call the Coach" radio show last night.

"We all want him to get better, what ever it is," junior forward Julian Sensley said. "It's not the same team without him."

The 'Bows are coming off a 84-77 victory over Saint Mary's last Saturday. Wallace gave his players Sunday and Monday off to study for finals.

Hawai'i, which is off to a 5-0 start, does not play again until Monday, when it hosts Long Beach State on the opening night of the 41st annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

"We won't start fully preparing for Long Beach State until Friday, and that still gives us three days," Nash said. "My job right now is to keep the team moving forward, get our legs back after a couple of days off. When Coach Wallace comes back, everything will be back to normal."

Still, the team appeared sluggish during yesterday's workout.

"You could see guys weren't going as hard as usual," Sensley said. "But everybody knows the routine, whether Coach Wallace is here or not. I think a lot of guys are overwhelmed because this is finals week, and then we hear this about Coach Wallace."

Associate coach Jackson Wheeler and assistant coach Bob Burke helped Nash run yesterday's practice.

"It was definitely different — a lot less screaming and stuff," Sensley said.

'Bows prepare for 'huge' Classic

One of Wallace's traditions is to practice especially hard for the opener of the Rainbow Classic. In past years, Wallace has described the Classic as "a mini-season within the season."

"It's huge," Sensley said. "I got an idea last year. There's so much tradition behind it. The new guys on this team might not know it yet, but the Classic is important not just to us, but to the whole state of Hawai'i."

The first game is important because it sets up the final two days of the eight-team tournament.

If Hawai'i wins on opening night, it moves into the semifinals two nights later. If Hawai'i loses on opening night, it is sent to the afternoon consolation bracket.

The last time a Hawai'i team played in the consolation bracket was 1995.

The 'Bows have won the past three Rainbow Classic championships, and are 14-1 in the tournament over the past five years.

Hawai'i will play Long Beach State on the opening night of the tournament Monday at 7:30 p.m. A game between Georgetown and Oral Roberts will precede the UH game at 5 p.m. on Monday.

On Tuesday, Alabama-Birmingham will play Clemson at 5 p.m., followed by Southern California against Indiana State.

Hawai'i getting national recognition

The 'Bows are No. 39 in the latest Rating Percentage Index (RPI) projections according to collegerpi.com. Hawai'i is the highest rated team from the Western Athletic Conference.

Also, Hawai'i got six points in the "others receiving votes" of the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll released on Monday.

ESPN.com also listed Hawai'i as a "Team to Watch Outside The Top 25" in its Weekly Watch for college basketball.

Blackett still feeling effects of injury

Senior forward Jeff Blackett sat out of yesterday's practice because of a sore neck.

He sustained the injury after taking a knee to the head during the Saint Mary's game. He was originally diagnosed with a concussion, but was cleared to return to the game.