Bobby Nash is a local boy, but he wouldn't mind staying away from Hawai'i for the rest of this month.

Nash and his teammates on the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team departed Honolulu yesterday for Ruston, La.

The Rainbow Warriors will close their regular season with road games at Louisiana Tech on Thursday, then at New Mexico State on Saturday.

The 'Bows will stay in Las Cruces, N.M., for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament, which is scheduled for March 11 to 15. They are scheduled to stay on the road for at least 12 nights, but their hope is to extend it.

Three victories in the WAC Tournament would keep Hawai'i on the road for the NCAA Tournament.

"I'm packing for three weeks," Nash said. "My mom works for the airlines, so I get a little slide on the 50-pound rule. For us seniors, this is our last shot, so we don't want it to end. You have the whole offseason to unpack, so why not plan for the longest trip possible."

If so, the 'Bows need to turn things around in a hurry.

Hawai'i is 11-16 overall and on a four-game losing streak. The 'Bows are 7-7 and in fifth place in the WAC.

This final week of the regular season will determine the seedings for the WAC Tournament, although Hawai'i is already locked in as the No. 5 seed.

The 'Bows will play the No. 4 seed — which could be Boise State, Nevada, New Mexico State or Utah State — in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

LaTech is 4-23 and 1-13, and is assured of the No. 9 (last) seed.

"Every game is a must win for us right now," Bobby Nash said. "We need some momentum for the tournament, so these last two games are important. We're not just looking at the tournament, we're looking at the whole thing — we need five good games and we're in the NCAA."

Although LaTech is the last-place team in the WAC, it is a difficult trip for Hawai'i. The 'Bows met at the Stan Sheriff Center at 4 p.m. yesterday to depart for the airport. They are scheduled to arrive in Ruston, La., around 10 a.m. today.

"It's like any other trip we make, just a little longer," Nash said. "There's no excuse."

Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said the team's schedule is not ideal, but it will give the 'Bows ample time to adjust.

"Obviously, I don't like being on the road for two weeks, but it is the schedule we've been given," he said. "We just have to take advantage of it and get acclimated to the time and the elements. If there's a team that knows how to live on the road, it's us."

Nash said the extra time in Las Cruces might even benefit the 'Bows.

"It'll give us a chance to put in some new stuff," he said. "We'll have a couple of extra days of practice there that we normally wouldn't get."

Nash also said he realizes most of the players may not be as organized as his son.

"College guys don't know how to pack for two days, let alone two weeks," he said. "I'm sure we'll have to do laundry at some point during the trip."

GIBSON RESTING KNEE FOR FINAL ROAD TRIP

Senior point guard Matt Gibson did not participate in yesterday's early-morning practice, but did travel with the team.

Bob Nash said Gibson was excused from practice because of his sore left knee.

"He's cleared to go on the trip and play," Nash said. "But we wanted to give him an extra day of rest so that it doesn't bother him on the trip."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.