Before looking into the far future, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team wants to focus on the near future.

The Rainbow Warriors will play their final two home games of the regular season this week — tomorrow against Idaho and Saturday against Boise State.

Seniors Ahmet Gueye and Matt Lojeski will be honored Saturday, along with head coach Riley Wallace, whose resignation will go into effect at the end of this season.

But with Wallace's successor yet to be named, there is a sense of uncertainty among the potential returnees.

Could this be a farewell week for other 'Bows as well?

"Of course, we'd be better off knowing what next year is going to be like," junior Riley Luettgerodt said. "But that's out of our control. We just have to think about the games this week and concentrate on winning."

Hawai'i is 16-12 overall and 6-8 in the Western Athletic Conference. The 'Bows will travel to Las Cruces, N.M., for the WAC Tournament next week.

Wallace said he thinks "three or four" more victories in the next two weeks could earn the 'Bows consideration for an NIT bid. Otherwise, it would take three victories in three days at the WAC Tournament for Hawai'i to receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"We have to take care of business this week before everything else," junior Bobby Nash said. "We have to stay focused, get these two games, and then take that confidence with us to the WAC Tournament."

Nash's father, UH associate coach Bob Nash, is being endorsed by Wallace and the players as the head coach for next season.

"It'll be interesting to see what happens next year," freshman reserve point guard Todd Lowenthal said. "It'll be a new experience and a new challenge, and so I kind of want to stick around and see how it turns out."

Starting point guard Matt Gibson, who is a junior, said he will return next season, regardless of who the coach is.

"My hope is for Coach Nash to take over," Gibson said. "But if not, I'm not going anywhere. I'm a Rainbow and I'll put on the uniform again. I'll be back."

Other players, however, weren't so sure.

Todd Follmer, a 7-foot sophomore center, said he wants to see who the new coach will be before making a decision.

"My future depends on who the coach is," he said. "I'd like to see Coach Nash, but if it's not him, I have to think about things. I can still transfer, but I'd have to sit out a year."

'BOWS CHASING RECORDS

With at least three games remaining this season, several school records are within striking distance for the 'Bows.

This season's team has 488 assists through 28 games. The school record is 557, set by the 2000-01 team that went to the NCAA Tournament.

However, this season's 'Bows also have 489 turnovers, which is within reach of the school-record 564 set in the 1977-78 season.

"We like the assist category," Gibson said. "The turnovers, not so much. We're still trying to work on that one."

Opponents are shooting 39.3 percent from the field against the 'Bows this season. No Hawai'i team has ever held its opponents below 40 percent for a season. The UH record is 40.4 percent shooting allowed by the 1997-98 team.

In another defensive category, this season's 'Bows have 141 blocked shots, which is the second-highest total in school history. The record of 166 was set last season.

ALOHA BANQUET SET

The Rainbow Warrior Awards Banquet is scheduled for April 12 at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel.

Tickets are $50 for adults and $30 for children age 10 and younger, or $500 per table.

For information, call the UH basketball office at 956-6501 or Chuck Gaty at 225-2500.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.