The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team continued to take big blows to its big men yesterday.

Douglas Kurtz, the team's new 7-foot center, will have to sit out the first six games of this season as an NCAA penalty for an eligibility issue.

Kurtz had a brief stint with a professional team in his home country of Brazil prior to arriving in the United States in 2007. Kurtz played two seasons at Marshalltown Community College in Iowa before joining the Rainbow Warriors this season.

"I knew it could happen, but I didn't know it would be six games," Kurtz said. "It's not something that I can choose. I just have to agree with it and sit the six games out."

Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said UH officials were aware of Kurtz's situation and tried to appeal the NCAA for a lighter penalty.

"He had an opportunity to try out for a big team in Brazil, which is not uncommon for young players in that country," Nash said. "He played only five minutes in three games, so we tried to appeal. We got word from the NCAA about a week ago that it had to be a six-game deal. Rather than have it drag on, we decided to accept it."

Nash said the NCAA followed a "two-for-one" penalty system for players who appear in professional leagues. Because Kurtz played in three games for the pro team, he got penalized six games with Hawai'i.

The penalty came less than a week after starting forward Bill Amis went down with a foot injury. The 6-foot-9 senior is out indefinitely.

"We got a lot of guys we can put in," Nash said. "We're not giving up the season because of a couple of setbacks."

Kurtz missed the first two weeks of practice with a knee injury, and is still trying to catch up with the rest of the 'Bows.

Hawai'i will open the season against Southern Utah tomorrow, then follow with games on Sunday and Monday.

Kurtz, who is 275 pounds, was expected to play a key reserve role and fill a defensive void in the middle.

"It's a huge loss for us because he gives us a big presence," Nash said. "But at the same time, he's not lost for the year. He'll be back and be able to play in the other 24 games we have."

Kurtz will become eligible on Dec. 6, when the 'Bows host Lamar.

In the absences of Amis and Kurtz, seniors Petras Balocka, Paul Campbell and Brandon Adams are expected to get most of the minutes in the low post.

Adams returned to practices this week after sitting out last week with a sprained ankle.

"I hate to say it, but it's almost like we're cursed," Adams said. "It's like a domino effect, one person going down a day. We just have to make it past this stretch and we'll be OK."

Balocka and Campbell will likely be the starters in the post, with Adams playing a key reserve role, along with sophomore Ji Xiang.

"I have to be healthy now with Bill and Doug out," Adams said. "But I have to play smart, too."

New guard Dwain Williams sat out the team's two exhibition games, but he is expected to play significant minutes tomorrow.

"I'm 100 percent," he said. "I think we'll be fine. It's a huge loss with Amis and Doug, but we all just have to pick up the pace and help each other out."