Throw an asterisk on the asterisk when the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine take on Hawaii Hilo in a basketball exhibition tonight.

In addition to the game’s unofficial classification as a preseason tune-up, UH might be without several key players.

"There’s things I want to see, but I’m also not putting too much on it," second-year Wahine coach Laura Beeman said Tuesday.

With the Nov. 9 regular-season opener at Arizona State a little more than a week away, fans will undoubtedly seek signs of improvement coming off last season’s successful 17-14 (13-5 Big West) season that culminated in the program’s first WNIT appearance in a decade.

But several players have missed practices recently because of illnesses, including returning All-Big West first-team forward Kamilah Jackson and sophomore point guard Marissa Wimbley. UH will also be small with center Kalei Adolpho still with the UH volleyball team and Mt. San Antonio College posts Ashley Burchfield and Shawlina Segovia ruled academically ineligible this season. Anywhere from six to 11 players could be suited up.

When healthy, UH has its core of Jackson, wings Shawna Kuehu and Ashleigh Karaitiana and defensive stopper Sydney Haydel. Morgan Mason, a transfer from Mt. SAC, has taken over the point guard job for now.

"What we have retained from last year, we’re going to revisit some things because they should know it," Beeman said. "And then how we’re going to execute some of our newer offense looks and push tempo, kind of get up and down the floor. I’m hoping to see some of the same chippiness and competitiveness that I’ve been seeing in practice."

On Tuesday, Beeman named Kuehu, a senior, and Mason, a junior, as team captains.

Kuehu thought the team’s preseason went smoother than last, even with myriad injuries and illnesses sweeping through the team.

"Last year we got the encyclopedia version, compared to this year, they’re getting Cliff’s Notes," Kuehu said of instructions for the team’s four newcomers. "So it’s a little bit different. They have to feed off of us, which is good because Coach Beeman has molded us into what she wants and the direction this program needs to be going in."

As the reigning BWC Defensive Player of the Year Haydel said: "I think right now we’re in a very good place. We’re still building. But the core of the team and the newcomers, we’re meshing very well together."

UHH returns just two players from last year’s 13-11 (10-7 PacWest) squad. Top player Kamie Imai is back coming off averages of 10.9 points and 7.3 rebounds.

"We are very grateful for the opportunity Coach Beeman has given our program," Hilo coach David Kaneshiro said. "To play in the Stan Sheriff Center is a great experience for all of our players. Add on top of that the top-quality team we’re going to play against, it’s just a good experience for us individually and collectively."