The sick feeling of last week's road trip was still lingering with the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team yesterday.

Head coach Riley Wallace and starting forward Bobby Nash missed practice due to flu-like symptoms. Also, starting center Ahmet Gueye attended practice but did not participate so that he could rest his injured right knee and left ankle.

"We did what we normally would if Coach Wallace were here," said associate coach Bob Nash, who was in charge of yesterday's practice. "You have to make the most of it, and we still have a team we need to get ready for (tomorrow), so that's what we're doing."

The Rainbow Warriors will host San Jose State in a Western Athletic Conference game tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Bob Nash said Wallace, Gueye and Bobby Nash are all expected to return to practice today and be ready for tomorrow's game.

"I don't anticipate them being out any longer," Bob Nash said.

Without them, the 'Bows prepared to dig themselves out of the WAC cellar. Hawai'i, San Jose State and Idaho are currently tied for last place in the conference at 1-5.

Yesterday's practice was Hawai'i's first since returning from a cold trip to Idaho that resulted in losses at Idaho and Boise State.

Prior to yesterday's practice, the 'Bows went through a film session to review the recent losses.

"It was a rough trip," Bob Nash said. "But we had a little meeting in the film room, and went over the things that we did wrong. We talked about ways to address those issues, and that's basically what we worked on (during practice)."

Hawai'i has made two WAC road trips so far this season, logging around 14,000 travel miles returning with an 0-4 record.

"We're taking 14 hours just to get somewhere for a game," junior center Stephen Verwers said. "That's a little more than I expected. It has an impact on your body."

At 6 feet 11 and 255 pounds, Verwers is one of the biggest players on the team. He said it is virtually impossible to get comfortable in a coach-class seat during the flights.

"If there's open seats in the economy-plus, that helps," Verwers said. "If not, you hope you get an exit row."

Even with an aisle seat, traveling can be difficult. During last week's road trip, Verwers said he tried to sleep with his leg stretched out in the aisle. He woke up when a flight attendant accidentally slammed the drink cart into his knee.

"It's just little things like that that make it hard," Verwers said. "It's something we have to deal with."

There is also the weather. Temperatures were in the 20s and 30s in Idaho last week. This week, the 'Bows are walking around the Manoa campus with temperatures in the 70s.

"I think that's why you always see guys getting sick after these trips," junior forward P.J. Owsley said. "I have a little cold right now that I'm trying to get rid of."

Still, the 'Bows said there is no feeling like returning to the Stan Sheriff Center.

"There's a reason why we play well here at home," Owsley said. "This is where we're the most comfortable. Now we have no choice — we have to win the rest of our games here."

SPARTANS STRUGGLING ON THE ROAD AS WELL

If there is a team that doesn't want to hear about Hawai'i's problems on the road, it is San Jose State.

The Spartans are 0-12 away from San Jose, Calif., this season. They have lost those 12 games by an average of 16.6 points per game.

However, there have been improvements. In its last two WAC road games, San Jose State lost by six points at New Mexico State (74-68), and then by three at Fresno State (67-64) on Monday.

Hawai'i and San Jose State both have one win in the WAC against the same opponent. The 'Bows beat Fresno State in the Sheriff Center, 83-66; the Spartans beat Fresno State in San Jose, 64-61.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.