Even an ocean's length away, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will still be a part of the football craze.

The Rainbow Warriors are planning to adjust their practice schedule in San Diego today to make time to watch the Hawai'i football team's game against Washington tonight.

"We'll try to get in a good practice in the morning, then rest, get some dinner, and then try to get together as a team to watch the football game," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "We're all a part of the same university, the same athletic department, so we're all friends and we're rooting for them."

The basketball 'Bows will play San Diego tomorrow in the Jenny Craig Pavilion at noon (Hawai'i time).

Because the Jenny Craig Pavilion — affectionately nicknamed "The Slim Gym" — will not be available during daylight hours today, the 'Bows will practice at a nearby junior college.

Hawai'i was offered a chance to practice in the Jenny Craig Pavilion tonight, but Nash said the team will watch the football game instead.

"They're going for one of the highest honors ever for this university," Nash said of the football Warriors' attempt to go undefeated and earn an invitation to a Bowl Championship Series game. "That's something you can't put a premium on. We got kids we're trying to recruit to play basketball for us who are talking about the football team, so it's affecting us, too."

Most of the Hawai'i basketball players have been attending the football games all season. Some of them were among the thousands who stormed the field at Aloha Stadium last week after the Warriors beat Boise State.

"We have a lot of friends on the football team," Hawai'i senior center Stephen Verwers said. "We root them on, and they root us on."

Nash was quick to point out that the 'Bows are not taking the trip to San Diego lightly.

The 'Bows practiced at 6:30 yesterday morning, then departed for San Diego in the afternoon.

"We've had three good practices here (in Honolulu), and we'll get one more (today), so we should be ready," Nash said.

Verwers added: "We love watching the football team, but when it comes down to it, we know we have to take care of our business before everything else."

Hawai'i is 2-3, including a 73-72 home loss to San Diego to open the season. The Toreros are 3-5.

MORE THAN JUST A COACH

No one can say Bob Nash is unwilling to do anything for his team. At least not after yesterday's early-morning practice.

Nash, 57, took part in the drills as a member of the scout team. The role of the scout team is to simulate the opponent, and most times, the reserve players fill that need.

"I demoted myself," he said with a laugh.

In truth, Nash wanted all his "big men" to focus strictly on being 'Bows this week.

"We're probably going to need all our bigs in there, so I didn't want any of them having to worry about the San Diego plays as well as our plays," Nash said. "I don't move like I used to, but as long as we're not running (full-court), I'm OK."

VEIT NOT ON ROAD TRIP

Senior forward Alex Veit did not travel with the team yesterday because he still has an injured ankle.

Veit, a 6-foot-8 reserve, has not practiced since last week, and was not in uniform for Hawai'i's 79-58 victory over Coppin State on Tuesday.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.