With or without its sick leader, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will attempt to get better tonight.

The Rainbow Warriors will host San Jose State in a Western Athletic Conference game at 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The winner will climb out of a tie for last place in the WAC. Hawai'i is 10-9 overall and 1-5 in the conference. San Jose State is 2-16 and 1-5.

The 'Bows have prepared for the Spartans without head coach Riley Wallace. He missed practices on Tuesday and yesterday due to flu-like symptoms.

Associate coach Bob Nash has been in charge of preparations this week, although he said Wallace is expected to return today.

"Unless he takes a turn for the worse, he'll be here," Nash said. "We're treating it like any other game. We have a game plan and we have to execute it to be successful. The only job I've had to do is get the guys motivated to play since Coach Wallace is not here to do that part."

The 'Bows are apparently very motivated.

"You never want to have your coach sick, but I think it gave us a chance to refocus," senior co-captain Matt Lojeski said. "At this point of the season, there's not much you can do different, but I think we're as ready to play this game as any."

It started with the team's film session on Tuesday. Normally, the 'Bows review highlights of their upcoming opponent.

This week, Nash did not show the players any highlights of San Jose State. Instead, they watched clips of Hawai'i's recent road losses at Idaho and Boise State.

"We're focusing on ourselves," Lojeski said. "Watching the films of those past two games helped, because I think we realize what we did wrong. Now we just have to fine-tune those things."

Nash explained: "We have to think about what we do, and not so much about what San Jose State does. As coaches, we studied San Jose, and we know what they can do. But it was more important for us to correct the issues that we have as a team."

In particular, the 'Bows worked on defensive assignments.

Nash said the main concern for tonight's game is San Jose State's unorthodox lineup. The Spartans like to use three small guards and two big men.

The guards are 5-foot-11 Jamon Hill, 6-foot Kevin Buggs and 6-2 Carlton Spencer. Hawai'i will counter with a trio of tall perimeter players — 6-5 Matt Gibson, 6-6 Matt Lojeski and 6-6 Bobby Nash.

"They have athleticism and their guards are quick," Bob Nash said of the Spartans. "We're going to have to stop their penetration to the basket, because that's what's been hurting us."

In the post, San Jose State starts 6-10 Menelik Barbary and 6-8 Lance Holloway. Hawai'i will go with 6-8 P.J. Owsley and 6-8 Ahmet Gueye.

Bobby Nash and Gueye returned to practice yesterday after missing Tuesday's workout.

Bobby Nash is still recovering from flu-like symptoms. "He's about 80 percent, so hopefully a good night's rest will get him back at full strength," Bob Nash said.

Gueye sprained his left ankle in Hawai'i's loss at Boise State on Saturday, but he said he will be ready tonight.

In any case, the 'Bows are catching a San Jose State team that is in the middle of four games in eight days. The Spartans lost a home game to Utah State on Saturday, then lost a road game at Fresno State on Monday. After tonight's game, they have a home game against New Mexico State on Saturday.

San Jose State has lost 19 consecutive away games, including 0-12 this season.

Among the Spartans road losses this season are Duke, Stanford, Arizona State and Brigham Young.

"They've played probably the toughest schedule in the WAC, so they're getting better," Bob Nash said. "We need to make sure we're the ones who get well, and not them."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.