Hawaii’s depth was tested to an extreme against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday. The Rainbow Warriors could still be stretched thin as they hit the road for two challenging games this week.
Rotation players Aaron Valdes, Isaac Fleming and Mike Thomas have ankle sprains and are not assured to play in Thursday’s contest at UC Irvine. The team departs at noon on Tuesday.
A UH spokesperson said Sunday that Fleming is doubtful for the week, while Valdes and Thomas are probable.
UH (18-9, 6-5 Big West) has sole possession of fifth place with five regular-season games remaining. Irvine (14-10, 7-3) is in second place, while Saturday’s opponent, UC Davis (19-4, 9-1), is alone in first.
Coach Benjy Taylor had just six players to call upon by the end of the 81-61 win over the Titans. Valdes (14.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) was a pregame scratch — the first missed game of the season for UH’s leading scorer and rebounder — while Fleming (9.5 ppg) and Thomas (8.3) exited in the first half with foot injuries and returned to the bench on crutches in the second half.
Senior captain Garrett Nevels received consecutive technical fouls for complaining about a no-call on a dunk attempt and was ejected with 7:05 to play. Center Stefan Jovanovic fouled out late, reducing UH to six players.
Nevels is available for UH’s next game.
Fleming, a freshman guard, has been UH’s top bench scorer this season. Thomas, a sophomore forward who has played center at times, has played in all 27 games so far.
If Valdes, Fleming and Thomas recover this week, the ‘Bows will be back up to 11 players available among the 14 on the roster. UH is without junior guard Brandon Jawato for the rest of the season because of bulging discs in his back. Two freshmen, Brocke Stepteau and Zach Buscher, are redshirting this season.
