Rebounding for Fresno

You’d absolutely expect rebounding to be a point of emphasis for the Rainbow Warriors heading into tonight’s contest against the Fresno State Bulldogs, with the way they got blasted on the glass (46-27) in the loss to Nevada on Thursday. It was by far their worst outing on that front this season.

As intense as Gib Arnold’s closed practices tend to be (and Friday’s was closed to the media) look for UH to come out with a vengeance every time a shot goes up. Vander Joaquim, Joston Thomas, Davis Rozitis and the reinstated Trevor Wiseman will all be counted on to contribute here.

Last time in Fresno, Calif., the ‘Bows won that battle 46-35.

UH (13-10, 5-4 WAC) also needs a win tonight to remain firmly among the top half of the league, although Utah State (5-6) fell to New Mexico State today, giving the ‘Bows some breathing room from the team most likely to shake them from a top-four spot in the WAC tournament.

Here’s what Arnold said on Friday in regard to faded regular-season title hopes and seeding going down the stretch. I didn’t get a chance to use this quote in today’s advancer story.

“I think it’s going to be tough for it to fall all the way to us. But we’re continuing on to play our best ball come March and get everybody on the same page and put ourselves in position to get as high a seed as we can in the tournament. And then, obviously, the goal then, like everybody else, we all gotta win three games. That still remains the goal.”