Starting Saturday, waiting takes on a new form for the Hawaii men’s basketball team.

UH spent much off the offseason bracing for the results of an NCAA investigation into the program — findings the collegiate governing body has yet to release.

But now the Rainbow Warriors bide their time in a new way. Saturday is their first day of full practice for the 2014-15 season. Only thing is, Gib Arnold’s team isn’t quite healthy enough to practice yet.

Three of the ‘Bows’ big men — Isaac Fotu, Sammis Reyes and Stefan Jankovic — are sidelined with various injuries, and aren’t expected to participate in Saturday night’s Green & White scrimmage after UH volleyball at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Fotu suffered a bulging disc in his back while competing for New Zealand in the FIBA World Cup in September. Reyes injured his pinky toe during the team’s "King of the Beach" fitness competition last week and Jankovic has shin splints. Guard Brandon Jawato is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery.

Arnold doesn’t consider any of the injuries to his big men serious, but UH will be without a balanced roster. It’s to the point that the fifth-year coach said Friday will be the team’s first full-bore practice.

"We’ll get to work (in team workouts)," Arnold said. "But I’m just going to keep some guys out and then come Friday I think we’ll have everybody. That’s when I feel like we’ll really start going."

In addition to the Green & White scrimmage Saturday, UH will hold a three-hour team workout in the morning. It should be a good gauge of what the ‘Bows will and won’t do while they wait for the sidelined players. Of two returning starters, only shooting guard Garrett Nevels is totally healthy.

The intrasquad scrimmage at the Sheriff (free to the public) will be two 20-minute halves. At halftime, there will be a dunk contest. Third-year sophomore Aaron Valdes will try to defend his dunk title.

Other teams around the country started their first of 30 preseason full-practice days on Friday, so the ‘Bows are already a little behind in that regard.

Arnold said the first two weeks of practices will be almost entirely defense-oriented. Offensively, he’s not as concerned; UH led the Big West last season with 80 points per game.

"I really want to set the precedent of being a defensive-minded team," Arnold said. "Last year … we were (20th) in the country in scoring. We could really score the ball. I do think that’s going to be one of our positives. I think we can really score it (again). We’ve got some real good, skilled athletes. But I think we really gotta emphasize defense this year."

Fotu, UH’s returning All-Big West Conference forward, believes he and his teammates will be ready for their Nov. 14 season opener vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, despite their push-back of full activities. He said he could play immediately if Saturday were a game and not a light practice and exhibition.

He’s also mindful of the disappointment of a second straight first-round loss in the Big West tournament back in March (in overtime to Cal State Northridge), which ended UH’s 2013-14 season abruptly at 20-10.

"I think we’re looking good," Fotu said. "I don’t want to talk too much because every year we’ve, I think, talked too much. But I think this is the year we’re going to take action and we’ve got a good bunch of guys. We all like each other. We’re all close. So there’s going to be no problems there. But I think everyone just wants to win. Everyone’s working hard and everyone knows what it takes. Coach Gib knows what it takes, so we’re trusting him and if we do the things Coach says, then I think we’ll be successful this year."

UH has some big questions to hash out in the preseason after losing three starters from last year. First, who fills the starting point guard job vacated by Keith Shamburger, who left a season early to transfer to Missouri as a graduate student.

Last year’s backup, Quincy Smith, is joined by junior college transfer Roderick Bobbitt, true freshman Isaac Fleming and redshirt freshman Niko Filipovich as candidates for the starting job.

"I actually feel really good with my point guard situation," said Arnold, adding he might platoon it.

Also, the 6-foot-8 Fotu will have a new running mate in the frontcourt with fellow all-leaguer Christian Standhardinger now departed as well as reserve center Davis Rozitis.

Arnold said 6-foot-11 sophomore center Stefan Jovanovic, who appeared sparingly last season, is "playing really well and he’s going to get a lot more minutes this year."

Newcomers Reyes (6-6) and Jankovic (6-11) will be expected to contribute up front when healthy, as will sophomore small forwards Valdes (6-5) and Mike Thomas (6-7). Jankovic, a transfer from Missouri, isn’t expected to be eligible for games until mid-December.