After two close losses on the road last week, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team needs to come up big at home this week.

In an effort to get back near the top of the Western Athletic Conference, the Rainbow Warriors may try to go with an even bigger lineup.

Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said he may start 7-foot senior Chris Botez at center Saturday when the 'Bows host Fresno State. Botez practiced with the first team yesterday in place of 6-7 junior Ahmet Gueye.

"I'm going to look at it this week and see if we're ready to go with it," Wallace said. "Ahmet is still not learning the offense, so we run a little more smooth when (Botez) is in there."

Botez is averaging 3.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He had eight points, three rebounds and four assists in an 87-84 loss at New Mexico State last Saturday.

"I'm just trying to be more aggressive to help the team," Botez said. "I have to score and contribute when I'm in there. I can't just come in and run around."

Gueye is averaging 12.6 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. He also leads the WAC with 37 blocked shots.

Wallace said both players will get significant playing time regardless of who starts.

"If we do change it, Ahmet can give us a lot of energy off the bench," Wallace said. "There have been some games where our bench has struggled to give us points, and I know Ahmet can help there."

Hawai'i is 8-6 overall and 2-2 in the WAC after consecutive three-point losses last week. The 'Bows are in fifth place in the nine-team WAC.

Fresno State, which will play a conference game at Nevada today, is 8-6 overall and 1-2 in the WAC. Hawai'i will also host Boise State on Monday.

"We got two tough games coming up, but if we get them both, we're right back in the hunt," Wallace said. "It's a long way from over."

Senior forward Julian Sensley said: "Even though we lost two games, we did some good things. We definitely feel like we're still in it because we feel like we can beat any team out there."

Wallace pointed out that Hawai'i's four WAC games so far have been against the top four teams in the current WAC standings.

"If we take care of our business at home and figure out how to win a couple on the road, we're right there," he said.

SCOUT TEAM BACK AT FULL STRENGTH FOR PRACTICES

Redshirts Stephen Verwers and Jared Dillinger returned to practice yesterday for the first time in three weeks.

Verwers, who is from Texas, and Dillinger, who is from Colorado, returned home during UH's winter break from classes.

"This is the first competitive practice we've had in a month," Wallace said. "When you have that competitiveness out there, everybody's level moves up."

At times during the winter break, the 'Bows had only nine players available for practice due to various injuries and the absence of Verwers and Dillinger.

Both players have to redshirt this season because they transferred from other NCAA schools. They can practice with the team, but not suit up for games.

SENSLEY APPROACHING MILESTONE IN POINTS

Senior forward Julian Sensley scored a career-high 32 points in the loss at New Mexico State.

If he does that against Fresno State on Saturday, he will become the 12th player in UH history to score 1,000 points in a career. He has 971 points during his three seasons at Hawai'i.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.