Dwain Williams is back—again.

The Hawaii men's basketball team is still down a player or two—again.

The Rainbow Warriors are swept up in a season-long spin cycle of injuries, suspensions, and miscellaneous missed time. Little changed yesterday, despite the return of Williams to practice following five missed games because of his cousin's death.

While Williams' teammates were happy to have the Rainbows' second-leading scorer back in action, their excitement was tempered by point guard Hiram Thompson's absence from activities with a left (non-shooting) shoulder he dislocated late in Saturday's 66-60 loss at Nevada.

Third-year coach Bob Nash expected nothing else as UH (9-13, 2-7) goes into Saturday's home date vs. Fresno State (11-12, 4-5) weathering a four-game losing streak. Thompson is day to day, while fellow point Jeremy Lay also missed yesterday's practice with an illness. Perhaps because of the lack of available guards, the team focused more on individual skills than team play.

Getting some continuity down the home stretch of this season could lift UH out of its tie for eighth (or last) place in the nine-team WAC. Boise State is also 2-7, but won its last two games.

“;I don't see (the continuity) as a challenge,”; Nash said. “;It's just a matter of, these guys have played together at various points this year. I don't think it's a challenge. It'd just be a welcome surprise or treat to have all those guys in at one time, ready to go. They all gotta be on the same page.”;

For some perspective, Nevada started the same five players in all 21 of its games this season. No player has started in all 22 of UH's games.

Nash left it up in the air whether Williams would be on the floor vs. the Bulldogs. The Providence transfer is averaging 14.0 points per game and had a 36-point night this season, but hadn't played or practiced since Jan. 11 at Utah State. He also served a two-game suspension earlier this season for a violation of team rules.

“;Having him makes us have a better chance, as long as we are trying to get things done,”; Nash said. “;So he was in there working hard, just what we expected. ... We'll just have to wait and see.”;

Williams was upbeat after his first practice in weeks. He said he did, however, work out regularly before and after taking a trip to his native San Diego for his cousin's service late last month. He described the ordeal last month as “;difficult.”;

“;You know, it was tough, but at the same time it was good, just to go back and take care and take my visit,”; the 6-foot junior said. “;I'm happy now and I'm in a good place.”;

He felt like he was riding alongside his teammates in spirit, even as they struggled—particularly on offense—in close losses to New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, and at Nevada, as well as a blowout at San Jose State.

“;I'm gonna bring that (offense). I mean, I'm coming back,”; Williams said. “;I've been bummed but, I mean, I still love these guys and I've still been here with them, even though I wasn't physically here with them. I've been here with them. I went through the same stuff as them. So, I mean, I'm just back, and gonna be ready to go.”;

Thompson, meanwhile, was advised by the UH medical staff to sit out of activities, at least for now. He was forced to watch the last few minutes of the Reno game from the sideline as the Wolf Pack outdid the Rainbows at the free-throw line to win.

“;I just tried to swim-move a guy, and right when I tried to push off, my shoulder came out,”; said Thompson, the team captain. “;It went back in, so just trying to see what's wrong with it, rest it. Feels like it's getting (to full range of motion).”;

He is grateful for Williams' return, particularly because UH has been shorthanded at guard. Thompson and Lay played almost all the backcourt minutes together in Williams' absence.

“;It's definitely a plus. It's been tough without him,”; Thompson said. “;Definitely it'd be good to have him in the rotation. He brings a lot to the table, a big scorer, and a great player. So, it's awesome to have him back.”;

FSU beat UH 78-64 on Jan. 9 in Fresno, but sophomore star Paul George—who dominated the Rainbows in that game with 21 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals—is dealing with a severe ankle injury that caused him to miss the last three contests. However, the Fresno Bee reported George will likely make the trip to Honolulu.