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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 10, 2009

'Bows taking on an all-too familiar foe in Boise State

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Bob Nash

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Just one week ago, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team hosted Boise State.

Today, the Broncos will host the Rainbow Warriors in a Western Athletic Conference game at Boise, Idaho.

Today's game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State campus. It will be broadcast live via radio on ESPN 1420 AM.

"The good thing is, the recall is still there," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "We don't have to spend time going over too much new stuff because we just saw Boise a week ago, and it's still fresh in our minds."

Unfortunately for the 'Bows, it is not a pleasant memory. Boise State defeated Hawai'i, 70-58, last Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Nash said there will be changes to the schemes from that last meeting, although he did not want to reveal specifics.

"There were some things that worked for us, and some things that didn't," he said. "We're going to change things up and see how it goes."

The 'Bows are also trying to erase the memory of Thursday's 67-47 loss at Idaho. It was Hawai'i's worst performance of the season for scoring, field goal percentage and rebounding.

"We obviously need to put that behind us," Nash said. "And I thought the guys did a good job of responding at practice (yesterday). We're focused on Boise now, not Idaho."

The 'Bows are 9-6 overall and 1-2 in the WAC. Boise State is 11-3 and tied for first place at 2-0.

From a travel standpoint, the 'Bows are already at a disadvantage. They actually had to leave the state of Idaho to get to Boise yesterday.

The 'Bows departed their hotel in Moscow at 4 a.m. yesterday morning. They then had a two-hour bus ride from Moscow to Lewiston, followed by a two-hour flight from Lewiston to Salt Lake City, Utah, a short layover, then a two-hour flight from Salt Lake City to Boise.

"People think it's the same state so you just across the street," Nash said. "It's not that easy. We're at the mercy of the airlines, and that was the best way to get us to Boise."

Meanwhile, the Broncos have been in Boise since Sunday. After beating Hawai'i in Honolulu, they returned home and did not play again until Thursday. Boise State routed San Jose State, 84-64, on Thursday.

"The WAC doesn't consult us on scheduling, so it is what it is," Nash said. "But it certainly doesn't seem right that teams have to come to Hawai'i just for one game, and then get to go home and recover for a couple of days."

Indeed, no team in the WAC will have to play another game immediately after facing Hawai'i in Honolulu this season.

In any case, a rested Boise State team could mean a fast-paced game today. The Broncos rank second in the WAC in scoring with 73.9 points per game.

The 'Bows stayed close to the Broncos for most of the game last week, but Boise State ended it with a 12-2 run.

"We were OK for 36 minutes, but not for the last four," Nash said. "We need to make sure we play a complete game this time."

Boise State's inside duo of Mark Sanchez and Kurt Cunningham did most of the damage. Sanchez, a 6-foot-7 senior, had 12 points and 12 rebounds against the 'Bows the last time. Cunningham, a 6-9, 265-pound junior who leads the nation with a .744 field goal percentage, scored 14.

"We had an opportunity to run on them the last time and we kind of held back," Nash said. "We don't want to get in a running game at their place, but we need to take better advantage of our opportunities."

The 'Bows will again be without starting point guard Hiram Thompson, who has an injured hamstring.

Hawai'i will have Roderick Flemings, who leads the WAC in scoring with 17.7 points per game. He scored 21 in the loss against Boise State last week.

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