Billy Tubbs, once a regular visitor to Hawai'i when he was head coach at Texas Christian, is returning for the first time in three seasons, this time as head coach of Lamar.

In the latest chapter of a "friendly rivalry" between coaches, Riley Wallace's Rainbow Warriors will host Tubbs' Cardinals on the opening night of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Their competitive relationship dates to the 1970s, played out on basketball courts and golf courses across the country.

"Some people think we're big rivals who hate each other, but that's not the case," Wallace said. "It's become a fun thing, actually."

Yesterday, they were already having fun talking about tomorrow's match-up.

Traditionally, Hawai'i plays the weakest team in the field on the opening night of the Rainbow Classic to ensure a spot in the winner's bracket.

Lamar, which is 6-3 and among the national leaders with an average of 87.1 points per game, is clearly not the No. 8 seed this week. Still, Tubbs is using it as motivation for the Cardinals.

"It's obvious that Riley is trying to send a message about Lamar basketball," Tubbs said with a sly grin. "We're the eighth seed and he thinks it's a win for him."

With his own sly grin, Wallace replied: "We respect them and he knows it. That's just the way the schedule worked out."

In any case, Wallace and Tubbs offer a contrast in styles, creating a coaching chess match.

• Where: Stan Sheriff Center • Schedule: Tomorrow Game 1: IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) vs. East Tennessee State, 5:05 p.m. Game 2: Hawai'i vs. Lamar, 7:35 p.m. Sunday Game 3: Bowling Green vs. Fairfield, 5:05 p.m. Game 4: American vs. Pepperdine, 7:35 p.m. Monday Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. loser Game 2, 11:05 a.m. Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. loser Game 4, 1:35 p.m. Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. winner Game 4, 5:05 p.m. Game 8: Winner Game 1 vs. winner Game 2, 7:35 p.m. Tuesday Seventh Place, 11:05 a.m. Fifth Place, 1:35 p.m. Third Place, 5:05 p.m. Championship, 7:05 p.m. • Television: Live on KFVE. • Radio: Live on 1420 AM. Webcast link on uhathletics.hawaii.edu • Ticket Prices: Packages: $68 (lower level — single seats only); $52 (upper level). Individual night sessions (on game day only): $16 (lower level — single seats only); $12 (upper level). Individual day sessions: $5 (general admission). • Parking: $3

It has made for some interesting outcomes in the past.

Tubbs first coached at Lamar from 1976-80, then at Oklahoma (1980-94), and TCU (1994-2002). Over those years, he compiled a record of 595-297, including 5-3 against Wallace-coached teams.

The best example of the roller-coaster rivalry came three seasons ago. In January 2001, TCU beat Hawai'i, 103-64. Two months later, the 'Bows beat the Horned Frogs, 99-79.

"It's not necessarily an advantage either way," Tubbs said of tomorrow's game. "They know our system as much as we know theirs."

Hawai'i senior forward Phil Martin was a freshman starter on that 2000-01 UH team.

"I remember when we went up to TCU and just got slapped," he said. "But then we came back and figured it out and we were beating them up and down the floor the next time."

Tubbs left TCU and became athletic director at Lamar — his alma mater — last year. This past March, he added basketball coach to his job description.

"I was happy just being the AD — it was an easy job," he said. "But the president of the school approached me about a change of direction and restoring the tradition of Lamar basketball and I decided to try it."

Earlier this month, Tubbs became the 28th coach in NCAA history to record 600 career victories.

"His teams can make you look ugly," Wallace said. "They go non-stop the whole game, and nobody likes to lose that way. We don't like to lose to each other, put it that way."

Their rivalry is even more intense on the golf course. Wallace and Tubbs are summer golfing buddies, with Tubbs normally getting the better of it.

"Only because he doesn't play the game right by the handicap system," Wallace said. "He says he's a 14 (handicap), but he's really an 8 or 10, so he cons me every year."

Wallace, who picks the first-round pairings for the Rainbow Classic, is hoping to reverse the roles tomorrow on the basketball court.