Aaron Valdes’ primary concern as a basketball player has always been about improving his game.

Now he’s got something else on his mind.

“Hopefully when I get back I don’t mess anything up, because they’re playing really good right now,” the junior wing said of his Hawaii teammates after Tuesday’s practice at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Valdes has made considerable progress in recovering from the turf toe injury he suffered nearly three weeks ago against UC Santa Barbara, which effectively caused him to miss four games.

UH (16-2, 5-0 Big West) hasn’t missed a beat heading into Saturday’s home contest against Long Beach State. The Rainbow Warriors are tied with UC Irvine atop the conference standings and seek their ninth straight victory, which would tie for third-longest in the program’s all-college era of opponents (since 1968).

Valdes was described Tuesday as “day to day” and could make his return against the Beach (9-12, 3-3).

“I’m feeling good right now,” Valdes said. “I’m just waiting to get cleared by the doctors, so right now it’s just up to them. … It’s frustrating not playing and stuff, but I mean the guys are winning out there, so I’m happy for them, and happy for the team.”

When Valdes started against UCSB on Jan. 9, he was the team’s leading scorer at 15.9 points per game. He exited four minutes into the game when he bent a toe on his right foot at an extreme angle and did not return. He’s since watched road games at UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton and a home contest against UC Davis from the bench.

Now the team’s most explosive player is second in ppg (14.8) and is third in total points behind Stefan Jankovic and Roderick Bobbitt. Isaac Fleming scored a career-high 23 against CSF while starting for Valdes.

UH coach Eran Ganot smiled at the usually cheerful Valdes’ words that he could hinder the team upon his return.

“I don’t think he could ever be disruptive,” Ganot said. “I know he’s being a good teammate, so to speak, with that comment.

“There’s the adjustment we had to make when he was out — it happened during a game. So what’s happened is we’ve gotten more reps (without him), practices and some games, which have helped the guys. And the next thing is now the adjustment of bringing him back into the fold. I feel good about, he’s working his way back to playable, and then we’ll work him back in to where he was before.”

UH is taking today off and will resume action on Thursday and Friday. Valdes has done some light running and has gotten in shooting repetitions on the side while his teammates have practiced in recent days.

“Every day he’s getting closer,” Ganot said. “I think the next couple days will dictate what that means for Long Beach.”

While he’s been out and dressed in street clothes, Valdes has taken to supporting the “Hawaii 5-O” bench mob antics usually reserved for the team’s scout players.

“Just sticking with the team and stuff, cheering them on, supporting them from the bench,” he said. “Just trying to get myself right so I can be ready to come back and not slow them down at all.”