The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will play a team from Louisiana today in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Meanwhile, the rest of the UH athletic department — and thousands of UH fans — will be in Louisiana.

"We can't worry about who's here and who's not here," senior tri-captain Bobby Nash said. "We can motivate ourselves. We have to play for each other and represent the University of Hawai'i no matter who's watching."

The Rainbow Warriors will host Centenary today at 5:05 p.m.

There will be no high-ranking athletic department officials, no pep band, no cheerleaders, and no dancers. They're all in New Orleans for the UH football team's Jan. 1 Allstate Sugar Bowl game against Georgia.

"I have no problem with that," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "I completely understand this is a special time for our football team and we support them all the way. I just hope the fans who are still here can come out and support us."

The 'Bows, who are 3-8 and on a four-game losing streak, don't plan to quit.

That was evident in Thursday's 79-69 loss to New Mexico, as the 'Bows cut a 12-point deficit to three in the closing minutes.

Matt Gibson went diving over a courtside table for a loose ball; Bill Amis received a technical foul for standing up to a taunting New Mexico player.

"We'll never quit," Amis said. "We just need to play that way for 40 minutes and not allow ourselves to get down early."

In any case, Hawai'i should be challenged by a young, but talented, Centenary team that is 7-6. The Gents have only one senior on their roster.

Perhaps as a reflection, Centenary has been inconsistent.

The Gents' high point this season came on Dec. 1 in a 70-66 upset of Texas Tech, which is coached by Bobby Knight.

But Centenary has lost its last two games by a combined 67 points, including an 86-41 loss at Georgia Tech on Dec. 22.

"They've been up and down, but we've played up and down as well," Bob Nash said. "To get a win against Bobby Knight is no easy task, so we have to prepare for them at their best. But the bottom line is, we need to be ready."

The 'Bows have not been at their best in the month of December. They failed to reach 70 points in any of their six games this month, and are 1-5 in those games.

What's more, Hawai'i is still adjusting its rotation without starting center Stephen Verwers, who underwent season-ending surgery on Christmas Day for a broken left leg.

The 'Bows are now down to 10 active players, and only four — Gibson, Nash, P.J. Owsley and Riley Luettgerodt — are considered experienced NCAA Division I players.

"We're young and inexperienced right now," Bob Nash said. "But we're 11 games into the season. We've been through everything, and now it's time to start applying it."

Centenary is led by a pair of exciting guards — 6-foot-1 Tyrone Hamilton and 6-2 Nick Stallings. Both are juniors.

Hamilton is averaging 17.4 points per game, and leads the team with 35 3-pointers. He was suspended for the Georgia Tech game for disciplinary reasons, but is expected to start today.

Stallings is averaging 16.3 points and a team-leading 4.5 rebounds per game.

"They're big-time athletes," Bob Nash said. "They're quick and can beat you off the dribble or shoot over you. We're going to have our hands full."

Hawai'i's advantage will be its size in the backcourt.

Centenary's guards are Hamilton, Stallings and 5-10 point guard Chase Adams. Hawai'i will counter with Gibson, Luettgerodt and Jared Dillinger, who are all 6-5.

Nash, who must now play more in the low-post because of the absence of Verwers, leads the 'Bows with 15.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

"We have to play as if Centenary is the best team in the world," he said. "There's still a long way to go in the season, but we need to get better now."

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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