Ready or not, Brandon Adams needs to be a key contributor for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

Three weeks ago, Adams was considering sitting out the season as a redshirt. Now, he's battling for the starting role at power forward for the Rainbow Warriors.

"Yeah, I've heard people say they're glad that I didn't redshirt," said Adams, a 6-foot-7 junior forward. "I'm just trying to help the team out."

Adams made his first start of the season in Hawai'i's last game, and could be in the starting lineup again tomorrow when the 'Bows host Iowa State at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said Adams was placed in the starting lineup to help boost the 'Bows' rebounding.

"Brandon gives us athleticism," Nash said. "He's a quick jumper, a quick rebounder."

Adams was admittedly nervous in Hawai'i's season opener, when he went scoreless and grabbed one rebound. But in his last two games, he averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

"I'm not going to come in here and be an overnight success," he said. "I have to get used to a lot of things, still. But I'm starting to get more confident, and I just want to get better with each game."

Adams and Hawai'i's other "big men" will have to play big against an Iowa State team that has four players 6-10 or taller. The best is Craig Brackins, a 6-10, 230-pound sophomore who averages 17.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

MONDAY NIGHT HOOPS

After opening the season with three games in four days, Hawai'i's next three games will be spread over three weeks, and all of them will be played on Mondays. The 'Bows host Iowa State tomorrow, Prairie View A&M on Dec. 1, then play at Illinois on Dec. 8.