The Hawaii basketball team got a big boost before its first road trip.
Senior guard Brandon Spearman resumed full practice with the Rainbow Warriors on Wednesday, the team’s last session before leaving this morning for Kansas City, Mo., site of their Saturday game against Missouri.
"Feels good to be back out there with the guys, man," Spearman said. "I was kind of rusty, but it’s OK. I’m back."
Spearman was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain when he rolled is right foot against Brigham Young-Hawaii in an exhibition on Halloween. His worst-case projection had him out until Big West play in January.
But Spearman attacked his rehab hard, as he did late last season for a separate sprain of his other foot.
"I was pretty much comfortable with it. I’ve been there before, so just did the same rehab again from last year. Glad to be back," he said.
He’ll likely be a game-time decision against the Tigers (2-0).
"It was encouraging," UH coach Gib Arnold said. "I think we still have to wait and see how he reacts to a day of travel."
UH (2-1) tried to put Tuesday morning’s 95-88 loss to New Mexico State behind it. Much of Wednesday’s practice focused on defending driving perimeter attackers, of which the Tigers have several.
"It was a good, long day for our guys," Arnold said. "We needed that, we take (Thursday) off, we’re just going to travel. Wanted to get a lift in, some film and a good practice. Their attitudes were great. We’re all excited to get on the road. It’s an unbelievable team we’re playing in a tough situation."
Missouri went unbeaten at home in Columbia last season as part of a 23-11 season capped by the Tigers’ fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Though the game at Kansas City’s Sprint Center is not technically a home game for Missouri, it will feel like one for all intents and purposes for UH.
UH departs at 6:30 a.m. today and isn’t expected to arrive in Kansas City until 11 p.m. Central Time.
"I think this is a team that’s going to travel well," Arnold said. "They’re close and they all get along really well. I’m looking forward to it. You always learn a lot when you play on the road, especially the first road game."
The ‘Bows were 3-7 on the road last season.
UH got in some advance scout work on Frank Haith’s Tigers from a player who played for … Frank Haith’s Tigers. Missouri transfer Negus Webster-Chan offered a few pointers during the film session.
"Negus spent about an hour in film with me today and I was asking him what was what, what they call different things," Arnold said. "Negus is definitely more of a basketball player than a coach right now. He’s gotta work on his scouting abilities; he forgot a lot of the plays they were running. … But he was real good with player personnel, guys he’s played with. He was a big part of the scout."
Webster-Chan cannot travel with the team as a redshirting transfer.
Fleming paperwork expected soon
The Rainbow Warriors expect to receive national letter of intent paperwork from their first signee for the 2014-15 season in combo guard Isaac Fleming.
Wednesday was the first day recruits could sign binding letters, but UH hadn’t received anything yet via fax.
Fleming, a 6-3 senior at Massanutten Military Academy (Va.), took an official visit to UH in late August and gave an oral commitment shortly thereafter.
