The road back to the postseason will begin on the road for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

The Rainbow Warriors, who missed the postseason the past two seasons after four consecutive appearances from 2001 to '04, will open this season tomorrow at UNLV.

Thanks in part to participation in two eight-team tournaments (Great Alaska Shootout and Rainbow Classic), the 'Bows will play a school-record 30 regular-season games this season.

As head coach Riley Wallace sees it, the increased load of games will give his team an increased chance at a 20-win season.

For amusement purposes only, here is an unscientific prognostication of the 2006-07 regular season:

Tomorrow at UNLV: Loss. The 'Bows should have waited a week or two before scheduling a road game. Record: 0-1

Nov. 13 vs. Coppin State: Win. Now this is more like what a season-opener should look like. Record: 1-1

Nov. 19 vs. Oregon State: Win. Two weeks before the football Warriors host Oregon State, the 'Bows should take care of the basketball Beavers. Record: 2-1

Nov. 22 vs. Hofstra (first round, Great Alaska Shootout): Loss. Unlike the Rainbow Classic, the 'Bows don't get to set the match-ups in Alaska. The Pride could be one of the best teams Hawai'i faces all season. Record: 2-2

Nov. 23 vs. Marshall (projected opponent, Great Alaska Shootout): Win. The 'Bows should warm up on the second day despite what could be sub-zero temperatures. Record: 3-2

Nov. 24 vs. Missouri-Kansas City (projected opponent, Great Alaska Shootout): Win. Prevailing in two out of three games would be a significant improvement over Hawai'i's last trip to Alaska, which resulted in three blowout losses in 1993. Record: 4-2

Nov. 29 at Santa Clara: Loss. Honolulu to Anchorage and then to Santa Clara makes for a long road trip for the 'Bows. Record: 4-3

Dec. 5 vs. UNLV: Win. Vegas is a great place to visit, but there's no place like home. Record: 5-3

Dec. 16 vs. Northwestern State: Win. The Demons advanced to the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament, but only one starter is returning. Record: 6-3

Dec. 20 vs. San Francisco (first round, Rainbow Classic): Win. The 'Bows always get to pick their first-round opponent of the Rainbow Classic. That's one reason why they always advance to the semifinals. Record: 7-3

Dec. 22 vs. Nebraska (projected opponent, Rainbow Classic): Win. New Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler went 3-0 against Hawai'i when he was head coach at Texas-El Paso. The Cornhuskers aren't quite as good as those UTEP teams. Record: 8-3

Dec. 23 vs. Creighton (projected opponent, Rainbow Classic): Loss. The Blue Jays are ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press preseason poll. They could be ranked even higher by the time they fly in here. Record: 8-4

Dec. 28 vs. Tennessee-Martin: Win. This should be the perfect remedy for the post-Rainbow Classic blues. Record: 9-4

Jan. 4 at New Mexico State: Loss. The Aggies have four immediate-impact transfers from NCAA Division I programs. Oh yeah, and All-WAC forward Tyrone Nelson is back, too. Record: 9-5 overall, 0-1 Western Athletic Conference

Jan. 6 at Louisiana Tech: Win. Rebounding machine Paul Millsap is now in the NBA. It should give the 'Bows a chance to end a five-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Record: 10-5, 1-1 WAC

Jan. 11 vs. Fresno State: Win. Somewhat like Hawai'i, the Bulldogs do not travel well. Fresno State went 3-11 on the road last season. Record: 11-5, 2-1 WAC

Jan. 13 vs. Nevada: Loss. The Wolf Pack is to WAC basketball what Boise State is to WAC football. Five starters return from last season's 27-6 team, including two-time WAC Player of the Year Nick Fazekas. Record: 11-6, 2-2 WAC

Jan. 18 at Idaho: Win. The Vandals went 4-25 last season, and the top scorer and top rebounder from that team are gone. Record: 12-6, 3-2 WAC

Jan. 20 at Boise State: Loss. The Broncos are setting a trap for the 'Bows. This game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m., giving the 'Bows less time to travel and prepare. Record: 12-7, 3-3 WAC

Jan. 25 vs. San Jose State: Win. The Spartans have won 10 WAC games over the past four seasons. Hawai'i won 10 last season alone, including a sweep of the Spartans. Record: 13-7, 4-3 WAC

Jan. 29 vs. Utah State: Win. This will be a tough road trip for the Aggies. At Nevada on Jan. 27, then fly to Honolulu for this one. Record: 14-7, 5-3 WAC

Feb. 1 at Fresno State: Loss. Guard Ja'Vance Coleman and forward Quinton Hosley form the most talented duo in the WAC. They combined to score 79 points in two games against Hawai'i last season. Record: 14-8, 5-4 WAC

Feb. 3 at Nevada: Loss. The 'Bows are 0-8 against the Wolf Pack in Reno. Record: 14-9, 5-5 WAC

Feb. 10 vs. Louisiana Tech: Win. The 'Bows will be out for revenge because the Bulldogs upset Hawai'i on Senior Night last season. Record: 15-9, 6-5 WAC

Feb. 12 vs. New Mexico State: Win. The Aggies are receiving a lot of hype, but it remains to be seen how all their transfers blend together. Record: 16-9, 7-5 WAC

Feb. 14 at Utah State: Loss. Another trap. Hawai'i has a home game on Feb. 12, and has to get to Logan, Utah, less than 48 hours later. Record: 16-10, 7-6 WAC

Feb. 17 at an opponent to be named for ESPN BracketBusters: Win. The 'Bows always seemed to play inspired for the BracketBusters. Record: 17-10

Feb. 24 at San Jose State: Win. The 'Bows have won three straight at San Jose, Calif. That's the longest road winning streak for Hawai'i against any WAC team. Record: 18-10, 8-6 WAC

March 1 vs. Idaho: Win. The Vandals won just one WAC game last season. They might have a hard time matching that. Record: 19-10, 9-6 WAC

March 3 vs. Boise State: Win. The 'Bows are 14-5 on Senior Night with Wallace as head coach. Will it be his farewell game as well? Record: 20-10, 10-6 WAC

Predicted regular-season record: 20-10 overall, 10-6 WAC.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.