Roderick Flemings and the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team have reasons to start anew in the first game of 2009.

The Rainbow Warriors will host Boise State in the Western Athletic Conference opener at 7:05 p.m. the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawai'i is 8-4, with all eight victories in the Sheriff Center. Boise State, which is the defending WAC champion, is 9-3.

The 'Bows want the new year to be different from last year because they lost three games to the Broncos in 2008, including a season-ending 80-74 loss in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament.

"This game means a lot," Hawai'i junior center Paul Campbell said. "We have a lot to prove to the rest of the conference because of where we got picked in the (preseason) polls. And we have a lot to prove to Boise because of what they did to us last year."

Hawai'i was picked to finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll; Boise State was picked fifth.

Flemings — the WAC's leading scorer with 17.9 points per game — wants to erase the memories of his last game of 2008, when he had three points and two rebounds against Pepperdine on Tuesday.

"My worst game ever," Flemings said. "That's why I'm really looking forward to this game. I want to get it back."

Despite Flemings' performance, the 'Bows beat Pepperdine, 78-70, and will enter today's game having won five of their last six games.

"I know Hawai'i has a lot of new guys, but it looks like they're starting to play well," Boise State head coach Greg Graham said. "I guess what concerns me the most is that they're really big and they've been doing a good job on the boards."

Hawai'i has out-rebounded its opponent in 11 consecutive games.

Last season, Boise State out-rebounded Hawai'i in all three games. However, each team returns just one starter from last season — Boise State point guard Anthony Thomas, and Hawai'i forward Bill Amis.

"They put a pretty good hurting on us last year, especially at their place," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "But you can't really go by that. We're obviously a different team, and so are they."

The Broncos started 9-3 last season, and went on to win a school-record 25 games.

"They have a system in place, and it's working," Nash said. "They have probably the best transition offense in the league. They run on everybody."

Boise State lost its top four scorers from last season, but the reserves from that championship team have proved to be capable replacements.

Forwards Mark Sanchez and Paul Noonan, and center Kurt Cunningham were all back-ups last season, but are the three leading scorers for Boise State this season.

Sanchez, a 6-foot-7 forward, leads the team with 15.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Noonan, a 6-7 forward, is averaging 11.9 points per game and leads the team with 21 3-pointers. Cunningham, a center listed at 6-9 and 260, has an astounding .767 field-goal percentage.

"We felt like we had good pieces coming back, they just never got to play much last year because the guys ahead of them were so experienced," Graham said. "It was a big benefit for them to learn last year, and what little time they did play was quality time."

The Broncos like to isolate their big men under the basket by out-hustling opponents up and down the court.

"That just means I have to come out real hard on defense," Campbell said. "I like to play defense anyway, so I just have to make sure I get back there."

Hawai'i assistant coach Larry Farmer, who scouted the Broncos, said Boise State is adept at taking advantage of mental mistakes.

"Our bigs have to be aware that they can't traverse with the officials or complain about not getting the ball," Farmer said. "If you turn your back for a second, Boise is gone. You have to sprint back to get in position defensively, or it's too late and they get an easy basket."

Still, the Broncos have been somewhat inconsistent with their offensive production. They have scored 85 or more points in four games, but have been held below 60 three times.

With that in mind, the 'Bows have focused primarily on defense during practices this week.

"I actually like to run up and down in games," Flemings said. "But we have to get back on defense. We can't just run and let them run right back at us."

Interestingly, the 'Bows and Broncos have already played four of the same teams this season — Idaho State, Colorado State, San Francisco and Eastern Washington.

Hawai'i went 2-2 against those teams; Boise State went 3-1. The only opponent to beat both the 'Bows and Broncos was San Francisco. Boise State beat Colorado State, while Hawai'i lost to the Rams.

"We're more concerned about personnel," Nash said. "Different teams match up differently with certain opponents, so you can't judge just by scores."

Hawai'i has an all-time record of 6-1 against Boise State in the Sheriff Center. The Broncos' only victory in Honolulu was last season.

NOTES

The first "White Out" of the season will take place tonight. Fans attending the game are encouraged to wear white shirts. Hawai'i is 8-4 in White Out games, which started in 2002.

Hawai'i reserve guard Conrad Fitzgerald is not expected to play today because of a funeral for a family member in California.