University of Hawai'i women's basketball coach Jim Bolla will likely miss the remainder of the season healing from a lung infection.

Surgeons removed a portion of his right lung in a 3 1/2-hour operation Feb. 5 at The Queen's Medical Center, he said.

Bolla, 54, was released from the hospital Feb. 12 and has been recuperating at his Manoa home.

"Every day I'm getting better," Bolla said yesterday in his first meeting with the media since his surgery. "Typical recovery time is six to eight weeks. It's probably a minimum of a month before they want me to fly."

An emotional Bolla spoke highly of the medical staff that cared for him, and said it depends "how I'm feeling" on whether he'll appear at tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference home finale for the 'Bows.

"I don't know," said Bolla, who is unable to stand or sit for long periods without discomfort. "I would like to be there in some capacity. That's still to be determined."

The 'Bows will host San Jose State (3-24, 2-11) tomorrow. Hawai'i seniors Cassidy Chretien, Brittany Grice, Amber Lee, Pam Tambini and Janevia Taylor will be honored following the game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Bolla said he suffered from Valley Fever, a fungus infection common to dry, arid areas, and prevalent in the Phoenix area.

"About 3 percent of the population has a reaction to this fungus," Bolla said of the soil-based spores he likely inhaled while at a Phoenix basketball tournament in mid-December. "I had a reaction to it."

Bolla said he suffered from flu-like symptoms starting last month. Final results were released this past week.

"As of now, there's no traces of the Valley Fever in my system," Bolla said.

Had it gone undetected, the disease could have migrated to his bloodstream and caused encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, Bolla said.

Doctors told Bolla he would be able to return to Phoenix in April to recruit players, however, "I don't know if my wife (Dallas) is going to want me to go there," said Bolla, who is in his third season with the 'Bows.

The 'Bows (13-12 overall, 7-6 WAC) have won six consecutive games, and have gone 4-0 under acting head coach Pat Charity.

Hawai'i ends its regular season on the road at Idaho, March 1, and at Boise State, March 3. The WAC Tournament is March 6 to 10, in Las Cruces, N.M.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.