Ahmet Gueye's right knee is still on the mend, but his shoulders are definitely strong enough to help carry the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team this season.

Gueye has become one of the strongest Rainbow Warriors thanks in part to an off-season weight-training program.

"I stayed here all summer, and I couldn't run because of my knee, so I spent a lot of time in the weight room," he said. "I definitely got stronger, and I hope that helps me."

All of the 15 players on the Hawai'i roster had to participate in a weight-training program under the guidance of strength coach Tommy Heffernan.

"You can see which (players) work at it more than others," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "But it helps all of them, especially with their conditioning. It makes it easier to work on the basketball stuff when they show up in shape, ready to work."

Wallace said the team will continue to lift weights throughout the season, at least three times a week.

"The kids these days all like to lift, so it's not a problem getting them in there," Wallace said.

Gueye is a good example. He underwent surgery on his right knee in March, and spent the next six months in rehabilitation. When not strengthening his knee, Gueye was strengthening his upper body.

He is the strongest player on the team in the bench press, with two repetitions at 310 pounds.

"I was doing 260 at the end of last year, so I improved," he said. "But I still want to do more."

Gueye, a 6-foot-8 senior center, said he weighed 220 pounds last season, and is now 240.

According to Heffernan, other 'Bows who are performing well in the weight room include Stephen Verwers, Alex Veit, John Wilder, Bobby Nash, Todd Follmer and Riley Luettgerodt.

Heffernan said Luettgerodt has the strongest lower-body strength on the team. Luettgerodt, a 6-5 junior, completed six repetitions of 315 pounds in the squat.

Gueye said the competition among teammates can be as intense in the weight room as it is on the basketball court.

"We all push each other, and help each other," he said. "But we're always looking out the corner of our eye to see how much the other guy is lifting."

PRACTICE SCHEDULE CONTINUED IN DARK

Even without power during the statewide blackout on Sunday, the 'Bows conducted a short practice in dimly lit Gym II.

The practice started around 4 p.m., and by 5:30, it got too dark.

"We've had to stop practice before because of rain, when the floor got wet," Wallace said. "But that's the first time we had to stop because of darkness."

NOTES

Gueye sat out of practice yesterday to rest his right knee. "I'm supposed to take a break once a week to let it rest," he said. "But it feels fine. I'm just following what I'm supposed to do."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.