Dwain Williams and Jeremy Lay both have great shooting range, but they realize they can't score from the bench.

That's why both are anxious to return to action for the University of Hawaii men's basketball team.

Williams and Lay — two of the team's new recruits for this season — sat out last week's 76-65 exhibition victory over Hawaii-Hilo. Williams has a thumb injury; Lay has a sore groin.

"It wasn't so much frustrating as much as antsy," Lay said. "I never really sat out a game because of injury before, so that was the hardest part. I wanted to jump out there for every ball."

Lay returned to practice yesterday. Williams continued to sit out, although he was able to shoot jump shots on his own after practice.

Lay and Williams are both expected to be major contributors when healthy. Prior to their respective injuries, Williams was the leading contender to start at shooting guard, and Lay was the top reserve at point guard.

With both guards unavailable last week, junior Hiram Thompson played 37 of a maximum 40 minutes at point guard, and senior Adhar Mayen moved from small forward to shooting guard.

"We want to get at least one of the guards back in there so we don't have to play Hiram so many minutes," Hawaii head coach Bob Nash said. "Injuries heal and when they heal, we'll get a better picture of what our team will look like."

Lay and Williams were recruited to help alleviate the team's long-range shooting woes of last season. The 'Bows went 2 of 9 from 3-point range against UH-Hilo.

"It's always frustrating when you feel like you can be out there helping the team," Williams said. "I hope to be out there soon."

The Rainbow Warriors will be tested in another exhibition game this week. Brigham Young-Hawaii, the No. 1-ranked team in the NCAA Division II coaches poll, will play the 'Bows on Thursday in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Barring a setback, Lay said he expects to play against the Seasiders.

Williams is still questionable. The injury is on his left (non-shooting) hand, so he said he can shoot, but not quite handle the ball completely.

"I'm not real comfortable right now dribbling and catching passes," he said. "But it's getting better every day."

Lay and Williams said they used their time on the bench last week to study the team's schemes.

"You could see the speed of the game and what kind of decisions you have to make," Lay said. "So that part was helpful, just to sit and watch it happen right in front of you."

Just like last week against UH-Hilo, the final result and statistics from this week's exhibition will not count for either team.

"We go over every opponent in terms of preparation," Nash said. "But at this point, it's more important to worry about ourselves and getting ourselves better."

Lay and Williams were only two of the injured 'Bows last week. Junior center Douglas Kurtz (knee) and senior forward Brandon Adams (ankle) also did not play against UH-Hilo.

Kurtz, a 7-foot new recruit, completed a full practice yesterday for the first time this season.

Adams and seniors Roderick Flemings (groin) and Paul Campbell (knee) joined Williams on the sidelines during yesterday's practice.

"We still have a long way to go," Nash said. "There's no way of knowing where we are until we get all the pieces out there. But for all our healthy guys who have been playing out of position, I thought they did a good job."