Cue in the theme from The Young and the Restless.

It will be a fitting title when the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team hosts Fresno State in a Western Athletic Conference game tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It's going to be one of those mirror-image games," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "They've had spotty guard play, just like us. They've had inconsistent play at inopportune times that have cost them in close games, just like us."

Tonight's game has been designated a "White-Out," and fans are encouraged to wear white shirts.

White-Outs are usually reserved for meaningful games, and under the circumstances, tonight's game is crucial for both teams in the conference standings.

The Rainbow Warriors are 10-11 overall and tied for seventh place in the WAC at 2-7. The Bulldogs are 9-13 overall and in ninth place in the nine-team WAC at 1-6.

The eighth- and ninth-place teams at the end of the regular-season have to play in the dreaded "play-in" game of the WAC Tournament.

"We're treating it like a big game," Nash said. "If we want to separate ourselves from that bottom of the conference, we need this one."

The 'Bows and Bulldogs are perhaps the two most inexperienced teams in the conference.

Hawai'i does not have any seniors on its roster.

Fresno State has just one senior on its roster — starting point guard Dwight O'Neil — but he is suspended for tonight's game.

"I see the similarities," Fresno State head coach Steve Cleveland said. "They're using a bunch of juniors, we're going with freshmen. But they're all new to Division I basketball, and I think that lack of experience has played out at times for both teams."

The 'Bows are led by junior wing Roderick Flemings, who is second in the WAC in scoring with 17.5 points per game.

"He's as good as anybody in the league," Cleveland said. "He can do it all offensively. You just hope he doesn't put it all together against your team if you're going against him."

Nash tinkered with his rotation last week, putting 6-foot-7 junior forward Brandon Adams into the starting lineup. Nash said Adams will again play a vital role tonight.

"I thought our rebounding was starting to slip and we needed another big body on the boards," Nash said. "And Brandon is one of those athletes who's good enough to guard anybody."

The Bulldogs will certainly present a variety of options, led by freshman wing Paul George and junior forward Sylvester Seay.

George leads the team in scoring (15.4 points per game), rebounding (6.8), 3-pointers (44) and 3-point percentage (.454).

"He's been consistent because he's been selective," Cleveland said. "He's already been a good player for us, but we think he'll be a really good player for us."

Seay averages 14.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

But the Bulldogs will miss O'Neil, who was suspended indefinitely last week after he was arrested on warrants for driving with a suspended or revoked license. He is averaging 12.8 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Without O'Neil, the Bulldogs lost to first-place Utah State, 83-77 in overtime, last Saturday.

"I think that helped our confidence," Cleveland said. "But it doesn't help our depth."

Four of Fresno State's top seven players are freshmen.

"We have to be the aggressors in this game," Nash said. "But I'm sure Fresno is thinking the same thing."