Warrior Insider

The Hawaii basketball team is hoping to continue its ways, and would like Idaho to do the same.

The Warriors will try to remain on an upward climb up the Western Athletic Conference standings when they play a road game at Idaho on Saturday. The game is scheduled to start at 5:05 p.m. (Hawaii time) at the Cowan Spectrum in Moscow, Idaho.

Hawaii has won four of its last five games, including a 73-66 road upset of Boise State on Thursday.

“We got one, so I think we’ll try to get greedy and steal two here on the road,” Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold said.

Idaho is on a four-game WAC losing streak, including a 92-89 double-overtime home loss to San Jose State on Thursday.

The Warriors are 13-9 overall and tied for sixth/seventh place in the WAC at 4-6. The Vandals are 12-10 overall and tied for fourth/fifth place at 5-5.

Hawaii, which was predicted to finish last in the WAC Preseason Polls, could climb as high as fourth place with a victory at Idaho.

“We can’t worry about what other teams are doing,” Arnold said. “We just have to take care of ourselves, and hope that puts us in the best position possible.”

In addition to catching Idaho in the standings, the Warriors can also avenge a forgettable loss to the Vandals. On Jan. 6 in Honolulu, Idaho defeated Hawaii, 59-44, in what may have been the Warriors’ worst performance of the season.

The Warriors already avenged a loss to Boise State earlier this week, and did so with a limited roster.

Junior guard Zane Johnson – the team’s top shooter – sat out the game at Boise State due to concussion-like symptoms. He was able to practice with the Warriors on Friday, but still has to be cleared by medical personnel on Saturday before he can play in the game.

“He looked ready to go (on Friday), but then he looked ready to go at Boise, so I don’t know,” Arnold said. “I’m not a doctor, so I can’t really comment on how those decisions are made.”

Johnson is averaging 14.6 points per game. If he is able to play, the game will feature the WAC’s top two 3-point shooters. Idaho’s Jeff Ledbetter has 62 3-pointers in 22 games, and Johnson has 61 3-pointers in 21 games.

Freshman reserve forward Trevor Wiseman – Hawaii’s designated “defensive stopper” – also did not play at Boise State. He remained in Honolulu to attend his classes on Thursday and Friday, but is expected to join the team for the game at Idaho.

Senior point guard Hiram Thompson sustained a gash above his nose early in the Boise State game, but he is expected to play.

Senior forward Bill Amis had 22 points and seven rebounds in the victory over Boise State. He now leads the Warriors in scoring with 14.8 points per game, and is also grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game.

Sophomore center Vander Joaquim had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and now ranks third in the WAC with 8.0 rebounds per game.

Idaho relies on a balanced scoring attack, with six players averaging between 7.4 and 11.3 points per game. Ledbetter and forward Kyle Barone lead the Vandals with 11.3 points per game each. Barone (15) and Ledbetter (14) combined for 29 in the victory over Hawaii last month.