Perhaps fittingly, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will open its season tonight in a city of bright lights.

The Rainbow Warriors will play UNLV in the season opener for both teams at Las Vegas. The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. (Hawai'i time) in the Thomas & Mack Center.

It will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio (1420 AM) and via the Internet at www.sportsradio1420.com.

"It's the first game, so you get to see how your team reacts when the lights go on," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "We've put in our practice time, so there's no excuses."

Tonight's game is the first of a home-and-home series between the teams. The Rebels will travel to Honolulu for the return game on Dec. 5.

Hawai'i and UNLV also played a home-and-home series last year, with each team winning at home. However, the game films from last year will be of little help this time.

"We're both very different teams," UNLV head coach Lon Kruger said. "First games are always difficult, but this one especially because we don't know what to expect from both teams."

The 'Bows return two starters from last season's 17-11 team — senior shooting guard Matt Lojeski and senior forward Ahmet Gueye.

However, two other starters, point guard Matt Gibson and small forward Bobby Nash, were part-time starters during the 2004-05 season. Both received medical hardships last season.

Center Stephen Verwers redshirted last season after transferring to Hawai'i from Colorado State.

"I'm comfortable with that first five, because that's a veteran group," Wallace said. "But you can't rely on just five guys, especially on the road."

The 'Bows have five new recruits on the roster. Three will likely have to play crucial reserve roles — sophomore center Todd Follmer, and junior forwards Riley Luettgerodt and P.J. Owsley.

Sophomore point guard Dominic Waters, last season's Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, will also play a key reserve role.

"Hawai'i is always organized and they play hard," Kruger said. "We don't have quite as much size inside. We try to pressure the ball and get after it (defensively)."

The Runnin' Rebels will start four players 6 feet 6 and shorter. The lone "big man" is 6-9 Joel Anthony.

Hawai'i will counter with five starters 6-5 and taller. The 'Bows will have a height advantage at each of the five starting positions.

"They're quicker than we are, no question," Wallace said of the Rebels. "We have to make sure we take care of the ball and stay out of foul trouble."

The Rebels return two starters from last season, guards Jo'Van "Wink" Adams and Michael Umeh. Adams averaged 10.9 points per game; Umeh was scoring 11.0 points per game before suffering a knee injury midway through the season.

Much of UNLV's preseason hype has focused on the arrival of senior point guard Kevin Kruger, who is the coach's son. He averaged 15.0 points and 3.5 assists per game last season at Arizona State, and was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection.

"He really gets them going," Wallace said of Kevin Kruger. "He's a very good point (guard) for that team. He finds the right guys."

The 'Bows arrived in Las Vegas late Wednesday night and had a double-practice yesterday — one in the morning at a recreation center, and then again at night in the Thomas & Mack.

"We're ready," Wallace said.

He even issued a strict curfew for the players because the home opener is Monday against Coppin State.

"This is about basketball, nothing else," Wallace said. "We'll get in and get out ... hopefully with a win."

NOTES

Kendall Wallace, a 6-4 guard at Mountain View High in Mesa, Ariz., signed a letter of intent this week to play for UNLV. He is a grand-nephew of Riley Wallace.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.