Rested and ready to go

Hawaii and Wisconsin have each had two weeks off to prepare for today’s game

One thing's certain when Hawaii and Wisconsin play football today at Aloha Stadium. Neither team can complain about being worn down.

Hawaii vs. No. 24 Wisconsin at Aloha Stadium Kickoff: 4:05 p.m. TV: PPV, Dig. 255 Radio: 1420-AM The line: UW by 6 1/2

The Warriors (4-6) and Badgers (8-3) are coming off a bye week, the first of the season for No. 24 Wisconsin. The Badgers probably needed a break more than the Warriors, since they lost their last two games, including an emotional 20-10 decision dealt them by Iowa in retiring coach Barry Alvarez's last home game. Meanwhile, the Warriors were routing Utah State 50-23 and looked like they would have enjoyed playing another game the next day.

So does two weeks between games put a halt to momentum, good or bad?

"The time off helped a lot," said UH center and captain Derek Fa'avi, who rested a shoulder injury incurred against Utah State. "We just tried to maintain our focus. Some guys slack, but you try to keep the mentality going and keep preparing. We're playing a ranked team, at home. Should be fun."

Said quarterback Colt Brennan: "The last time we had a bye was before the Idaho game."

Hawaii won that one 24-0.

Here's what to watch for today as Wisconsin plays for bowl game positioning and UH tries to keep alive its hopes of a non-losing season:

When Hawaii has the ball: Freshman slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen are on their way to becoming the 20th 1,000-yard receiving duo in college football history and the first at UH (according to records available going back to 1967). Bess has already surpassed the mark and Grice-Mullen has two games to get 78 yards.

Playing Bowling Green, Northwestern and Purdue, Wisconsin's defense has experience against passing offenses. Mostly bad experiences -- as in 1,031 yards allowed. But the Badgers managed to beat Bowling Green 56-42 by rushing for seven TDs and Purdue 31-20 with the help of three interceptions.

"We can stop people in the red zone," outside linebacker Dontez Sanders said.

UH quarterback Colt Brennan had a good run of few interceptions early in the season, but has been picked at least once in the last 10 games.

"Like any game throwing the ball to the right team is important," Brennan said.

Defensive tackle Reagan Mauia, a 300-pounder with nimble feet, could see time at fullback.

When Wisconsin has the ball: Running back Brian Calhoun is the Badgers' main weapon. He has 1,830 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns this season, breaking Ron Dayne's record of 21 set in 1996 (which included four against UH).

"We definitely want to establish the run," Calhoun said.

Hawaii defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said the Warriors also must be aware of quarterback John Stocco's passing ability.

"You can't play straight up and say, 'Here we are, who's going to win?,' " Glanville said. "We have to do things to take some chances. Sometimes you take chances to stop the run, sometimes you take chances to stop the pass. That's just the way we live each and every week."

Defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis sees no reason to change the gambling style now.

"We've seen all the runs, all the passes there are this year," he said. "We're just going to keep coming hard and try to stop them."

Special teams: UH freshman kicker Dan Kelly comes off a WAC Player of the Week performance against Utah State in which he made two 46-yard field goals.

Jones said he wants to give Bess the chance to return some punts, and Andre Taylor replaces A.J. Martinez (knee bruise) as the kickoff returner.

Kealakehe grad James Kamoku is one of Wisconsin's best special teams players. He has seven tackles.

KEY MATCHUP

UH receivers coach Ron Lee vs. UW secondary coach Ron Lee

OK, so we're having a little fun here. But UH's passing attack against Wisconsin's secondary is certainly a major element of today's game.

The Badgers have been torched several times and will be tested by the Warriors' young but talented receivers.

Hawaii's prolific run-and-shoot offense generates 388.2 yards per game, second in the nation.

Wisconsin allows 246.2 passing yards per game but has 14 interceptions. Jack Ikegwuonu and Roderick Rodgers lead with three picks apiece.

Hawaii's Ron Lee has coached the Warriors receivers since 1999. He was previously the offensive coordinator at Saint Louis School and head coach at Kaiser High School, and both stints were very successful with the run-and-shoot.

Wisconsin's Ron Lee is in his third year as the Badgers secondary coach. He played in the 1988 Aloha Bowl as a Washington State defensive back. This is his sixth visit to Aloha Stadium. He coached at Colorado State when it was in the WAC.

The Ron Lees have matched up twice before: The Wisconsin DBs coach was defensive coordinator and handled the secondary at San Jose State in 2001 and 2002.

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