Thompson, Wiseman reflect

Last week’s road trip to Boise State and Idaho was an interesting one for vastly different reasons for Hawaii senior point guard Hiram Thompson and freshman forward Trevor Wiseman.

Thompson suffered an elbow-induced gash just above his eye in the opening minute of the 73-66 win at Boise State. He got six stitches mid-game and returned to play 16 minutes. Then in the 75-61 loss at Idaho, he started but played only 8 minutes because he felt sick both in the first half and at halftime. Miah Ostrowski shouldered a greater workload both times, playing 37 and 28 minutes, respectively.

The stitches remained today, running straight down from his forehead through his right eyebrow. The tri-captain said he’d be getting them out tomorrow (Thursday) prior to the team’s scheduled late-night practice.

“It was a tough road trip for me but I’m feeling better now,” Thompson said prior to an individual workout session today. “The cut’s healed up, the swelling’s down. … (at first) I couldn’t really see out of that eye. I’m feeling pretty much back to normal now.

“I wasn’t feeling too good the next couple days after that. I tried to give it a go (against UI), but I wasn’t all there. Not really sure (if it was related to the gash), bad headache and not feeling good. I don’t know what it was from, but feel better now.”

He rated it “on the lower side” of the numerous physical ailments he’s overcome in his UH career.

“There’s been a lot,”  he said.

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Wiseman missed the Boise State game on Thursday because the UH coaches felt he couldn’t afford to miss any more class time. They flew him up after the last of his classes on Friday and he met the team the morning of its game in Moscow, Idaho, on Saturday.

He felt bad about missing time for a self-inflicted reason. It was the first game he missed all season for 13-10 (4-7 WAC) UH.

“It’s hard for me … not being able to travel to one of my games in the second semester, it’s really hard for me,” Wiseman said. “I’m coping with it, I think. Try harder to do better in my classes. That’s pretty much it.”

Team video coordinator John Spruance escorted Wiseman up.

“It wasn’t that bad, but I think it was bad, not being with my teammates,” Wiseman said. “(The Boise win) is a relief. I think it is. Zane (Johnson) wasn’t there neither (due to concussion-like symptoms), so it was hard. I didn’t know how they were going to adapt to that. But I think they did well.”

Several Rainbows played heavier minutes than normal in the BSU win, so Wiseman tried to pick up the team with his trademark energy in the Idaho game. He had five rebounds, two points, two assists, a steal and a block in 19 minutes.

“I think everyone was tired, everyone looked tired,” he said. “I wanted to go in there and give some energy. I think I did that, but it wasn’t enough for us to win the game.”

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Tomorrow’s practice is much later than usual for the second time this season because of an evening return from a recruiting trip by coach Gib Arnold.