The search for a starting unit for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team is apparently going to be a little tougher than expected.

After one week of practices, Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said the five starting spots are still open.

"Nothing's solid yet," junior forward Bill Amis said. "There's been different guys in there every day. We all just have to go out there and keep battling."

Amis is the only returning starter from last season's 11-19 team, and he has been working with the "first group" in recent practices.

But yesterday's practice did nothing to solidify a starting lineup.

The first group featured Kareem Nitoto at point guard, Roderick Flemings at shooting guard, Adhar Mayen at small forward, Amis at power forward, and Petras Balocka at center. Nash, however, refused to recognize that group as starters.

"There's no first team and second team right now," Nash said. "We just broke the team into green and white and let them run."

In any case, the "second group" dominated a brief full-court scrimmage. Members of the second group were Lasha Parghalava and Leroy Lutu Jr. at guards, Conrad Fitzgerald at small forward, Brandon Adams at power forward and Paul Campbell at center.

"They got in our faces the whole time and did a good job," Amis said. "I'm really upset about it. I don't like to lose, not even in practice."

Parghalava, Fitzgerald and Campbell were especially effective for the second group during the scrimmage.

"It's supposed to be like that, where everybody is competing hard every day," Nitoto said. "It's not a starting lineup yet. Coach says every spot is still open, so everybody's out there playing their heart out to try and get one of those spots."

In truth, four players appear to be ahead.

Nitoto has emerged as the top point guard, in part because fellow sophomore Hiram Thompson has been slowed by injuries and illness. Thompson did not participate in yesterday's practice.

But Nitoto said he still likes practicing with every player on the team, especially this early in the season.

"As a point guard, I think it's very important to know your personnel," he said. "When I run with Conrad (Fitzgerald), I have to know that he likes to run to the corner. When I run with (Parghalava), he likes to pull up at the elbow ... It's good to mix it up with all the guys just so you get a feel for everybody's tendencies."

Flemings, the crown jewel of the recruiting class, may be the most secure starter on the team, although his position remains up in the air. A 6-foot-7 junior, he has been practicing at both shooting guard and small forward, and said he is comfortable at both spots.

Amis, who averaged 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season, is the only experienced post player on the roster and is emerging as a team leader.

"I like to know who I'm going to play with and practice with that group every day," he said. "It helps you get a feel for what each guy around you can do once the games start. But it's so early in the season, everybody is getting a chance to show what they can do."

Balocka, a 6-foot-8, 250-pound junior, is the team's strongest post player and will probably need to stay in there for his rebounding and defensive skills. He also displayed a nice hook shot during yesterday's scrimmage.

"You always want to put extra effort into every practice," Balocka said. "But coach just told us that he's evaluating us to see who wants to play. So you have to go out there and try to do the right things and make sure every shot you take is a good one."

If anything, yesterday's practice may have showed that the 'Bows could have a deep rotation of players for the season.

"Good teams all have a good bench," Balocka said. "Five guys can not play the whole game. If we practice like this every day, it's going to make us better — starters and everybody else."

Nash said: "I have confidence in every player on this team. But at the same time, I think you have to start identifying guys who can contribute. At this point and time, we're still trying to find the guys who can recognize things on the floor. We have a lot of players who can make individual plays, and that's always good. But when defenses take things away, you need to rely on your teammates in the offensive sets. That's what we're looking for — guys who can play within our system."

FORMER 'BOWS HELPING OUT AT PRACTICES

Former UH players Johnny White and Riley Luettgerodt have been attending recent practices as "volunteer" coaches.

White was a point guard for the 'Bows from 1998-2000. Luettgerodt played the last two seasons, and is still a student at UH.