TULSA, Okla. >> The Hawaii basketball team is hoping to get one of its main weapons back for Thursday's Western Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinal game against Rice. Rainbows hope to
get Shimonovich backBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comJunior center Haim Shimonovich took part in the Rainbows' light practice yesterday at Tulsa's Hale High School, testing his sprained right ankle in drills and getting in some shooting under the supervision of UH trainer Melody Toth.
"She said he's on schedule so we'll start working (today)," UH coach Riley Wallace said.
Guard Jason Carter did not participate in the workout and his status for Thursday's game is in doubt. The junior suffered a slight tear in the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during Saturday's game with UTEP and is listed as day-to-day.
Shimonovich injured his ankle in the team's last trip to Tulsa, spraining it in the first half of the Rainbows' 76-51 loss to the Golden Hurricane on Feb. 27.
"It's better, but it still hurts," Shimonovich said. "I'm not ready to play in a game yet, but it's in two days. Even then, it might not be 100 percent, but I'll try to go."
Shimonovich sat out Hawaii's last three games. Freshman Milos Zivanovic got the start in a 75-58 loss to Rice on March 3 as Owls center Yamar Diene scored 24 points.
Nkeruwem Akpan has started the last two games at center for the 'Bows. The sophomore scored 15 points on six-of-six shooting from the field against Boise State and contributed 10 points and nine rebounds against UTEP last Saturday.
All-WAC wrap-up: Wallace had no major complaints regarding the All-WAC teams announced on Sunday.
Carl English was a first-team selection, while Michael Kuebler made the newcomer team and Mark Campbell was named to the all-defensive team.
"You don't vote for your own so it's what other people think," Wallace said. "I thought Haim was capable of being on the all-defensive team. Phil (Martin) definitely was an all-defensive team player, but it's what the other coaches see."
Wallace also didn't have a problem with SMU's Quinton Ross getting the nod over English for player of the year.
"Ross finished strong and Carl didn't, and (SMU) finished higher," he said.
Just in case: The Rainbows packed their bags with hopes that their trip will extend into next week's NCAA Tournament. But Wallace said Hawaii has submitted a bid to host a National Invitation Tournament game in the event that the Rainbows lose this week and fall short of claiming the WAC's NCAA bid.
"You have to do that because you can't wait until the last minute and expect to get a game," Wallace said. "We don't want that, obviously, but we'll take it if that's what it has to be."