This is why the road is so difficult in the Western Athletic Conference.

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team departed the Stan Sheriff Center at 6 a.m. on Monday, and did not check in to their hotel in Moscow, Idaho, until 11 p.m. (Pacific time) that night.

"And that's with everything on time — no delays, no stalls, anything like that," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "I feel like we should be on the other side of the world by now. It was a long day. But that's why we wanted to leave a day early. Now we get two days to adjust and practice."

The Rainbow Warriors hope to adjust in time for tomorrow's WAC game against Idaho. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. (Hawai'i time) at the Cowen Spectrum.

Oddly enough — and another indication of just how wacky the WAC can be — the 'Bows beat the Vandals into Moscow.

Idaho played a road game at Utah State on Monday night. After losing to the Aggies, 74-56, the Vandals spent the night in Logan, Utah, and returned to Moscow yesterday afternoon.

"We're not complaining about it," Wallace said. "It's one of those things everybody has to go through in the WAC."

The 'Bows got to practice in the Cowen Spectrum yesterday; the Vandals did not.

"I wouldn't say it's an advantage for us," Wallace said. "Anytime you're at home and get to sleep in your own bed, you still have the advantage. They're coming back to something familiar to them, so I don't think it matters when they get in."

Hawai'i lost a heartbreaking 68-66 overtime game to first-place Nevada on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center. It was Hawai'i's third loss in four WAC games this season.

"We've lost three of four, so we need to bounce back," Wallace said. "We can't afford to let anymore get away, and this is one of them."

The 'Bows are 10-7 overall and 1-3 in the WAC.

Many of the Hawai'i players expressed frustration after the Nevada loss, but Wallace said they were "fine" yesterday.

"We had a decent practice (yesterday)," Wallace said. "We can't look back. We have two important games this week, and that's what we have to focus on."

Idaho is struggling under first-year head coach George Pfeifer at 2-14 overall and 0-4 in the WAC. Since joining the conference, the Vandals are 1-20 against WAC teams.

In addition to its hard luck on the court, Idaho has had its share of problems off it. Starting guard Mario Mackey quit in December, and projected starting forward Mike Kale recently underwent season-ending knee surgery.

Idaho does have one of the WAC's most exciting players in 5-foot-10 guard Keoni Watson. He ranks fifth among WAC players in scoring with 17.3 points per game.

Hawai'i guard Matt Lojeski is fourth in the conference at 17.6 points per game.

The 'Bows are 4-15 in their last 19 WAC road games, although they did beat Idaho, 70-66, last season in Moscow.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.