Nine teams that participated in the postseason last season are on the University of Hawai'i men's basketball schedule for 2005-06.

"It's actually one of our tougher schedules in the past few years," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "Scheduling good teams is really tough these days, but we were able to get a few of them this year, so we're happy with it."

The complete schedule was released yesterday.

The Rainbow Warriors will open the season at home against Michigan State, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four last season.

Five other teams from last season's NCAA Tournament are on the schedule: Iowa State, Penn, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Nevada and Utah State.

Three teams from last season's National Invitation Tournament are also on the schedule: UNLV, Western Michigan and Oregon State.

"The NCAA (selection committee) likes you to have at least two really good games on your schedule and we think we've got more than two," Wallace said. "Michigan State, obviously, is a tough one. Then you've got Iowa State in the Rainbow Classic, and Penn is in the (NCAA) Tournament every year. And we all know how good Nevada is in the WAC."

The WAC schedule will feature three new teams this season: Utah State, Idaho and New Mexico State.

"It doesn't make the travel any easier, but it's what we have to do," Wallace said.

The WAC will also be a part of ESPN's "Big Monday" this season, and Hawai'i's game at Utah State on Jan. 30 will be televised.

Hawai'i will also host an ESPN Bracket Buster game on Feb. 18, although the opponent will not be announced until January.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.