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Flu bug bites Wallace before 'Bows hit road

Hawaii basketball coach Riley Wallace missed the Rainbow Warriors' practice yesterday after leaving work early due to flu-like symptoms. However, Wallace is expected to travel with the team today as the 'Bows embark on an 11-day road trip.

"He had a little bit of fever and his stomach was a little upset, so rather than spread anything around the team he decided to go home," UH associate coach Bob Nash said.

The Rainbows leave this afternoon for California and face San Jose State at noon (Hawaii time) in a Western Athletic Conference game on Saturday. They'll stay on the mainland for games at Louisiana Tech on Feb. 10 and Southern Methodist on Feb. 12.

The San Jose State game will be televised live locally on KFVE.

The flu hit the UH women's basketball team hard this week with most of the team feeling the effects to some degree following last week's road trip, prompting Wallace to play it safe yesterday.

Vulcans No. 1 in Division II West poll

Hawaii-Hilo moved to No. 1 in this week's NCAA Division II West Region men's basketball poll released yesterday. The Vulcans climbed from No. 2 to No. 1 after previous No. 1 Seattle Pacific lost last week. The Pacific West Conference is represented by three teams in the poll for the second week in a row. Brigham Young-Hawaii held at No. 9 and Chaminade stayed at No. 10.

UH-Hilo hosts BYU-Hawaii in two critical PacWest games today and Saturday. The Seasiders are currently in first place with a 6-0 conference mark with the Vulcans close behind at 6-2.

Injury sends Suzuki to big league camp

OAKLAND, Calif. » Oakland Athletics top draft pick Landon Powell tore cartilage in his left knee while working out last week and will require surgery, sidelining him for spring training.

The catcher from South Carolina, the 24th selection, tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee. A surgery date has yet to be determined.

Powell will be replaced in big league camp by catcher Kurt Suzuki, a Baldwin alumnus chosen in the second round of last year's draft out of Cal State Fullerton.