The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will try to take care of business on and off the court this week in Las Vegas.

The Rainbow Warriors will open their regular season on the road at UNLV on Friday. It is also the first game in a home-and-home series with the Runnin' Rebels.

UNLV will play the 'Bows in the Stan Sheriff Center on Dec. 5.

"The first reason why we did it is because it gives us two good games on our schedule, which we needed," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "It's a straight swap — we go there, they come here. And there's a lot of people from Hawai'i who go to Vegas, so it makes sense to do it with (UNLV) more than any other team."

Wallace said the trip to Las Vegas also gives himself and other members of the Hawai'i athletic department a chance to form business relationships.

"We're looking at (Las Vegas-based companies) for sponsorship down the line," he said.

The 'Bows and Rebels also played a home-and-home series last season, with each team winning at home.

"This is going to get us ready for the season," junior forward Bobby Nash said. "We're going to learn to play on the road early, and we get a look at a team we know we're going to see again. It's almost like playing a (Western Athletic Conference) team."

The only problem might be the date. Nov. 10 is the earliest date a Hawai'i basketball team has ever opened a season. Official practices started on Oct. 13.

"It would be a concern even if we were playing here because you don't know if all your new guys are ready," Wallace said. "When you open this early on the road, it's even more of a concern."

The Thomas & Mack Center — UNLV's home arena — hosts several other events throughout the year, so the Rebels only had a few open dates for the 'Bows.

"We wanted to keep the home-and-home, so we agreed to it," Wallace said.

The game was originally scheduled for late November, but when Hawai'i got invited to the Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 22-25), the schedule had to be shuffled.

What's more, the 'Bows will have to hurry back from Las Vegas because their home opener is scheduled for Nov. 13 against Coppin State.

"We play the game on Friday, we'll come back Saturday, and that gives us Sunday to get ready (for Coppin State)," Wallace said. "Not the ideal situation you'd like, but it's part of the scheduling deal for us."

The 'Bows are scheduled to depart Honolulu on Wednesday afternoon.

"We get in late Wednesday night, but that gives us Thursday to get ready," Wallace said.

GIBSON LOOKING FOR BETTER LUCK IN VEGAS

Junior guard Matt Gibson played in just two games last season before sitting out the rest of the year to receive a medical hardship.

He remembers his game at UNLV last season, but would like to forget it. He scored one point and committed four turnovers in Hawai'i's 67-61 loss to the Rebels.

"It wasn't a good game for the team and I sure didn't help," Gibson said. "But this is a whole new team and a whole new ball game. I'm looking forward to going back there."

Gibson was a reserve in last season's game at UNLV. He is expected to be the starting point guard on Friday.

He had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds, and committed just one turnover in Hawai'i's 83-50 exhibition victory over Hawai'i-Hilo on Saturday.

"This team is fun," Gibson said. "We have fun together, and we play well together. On any given day, anybody can be a leader on this team, and that only makes my job as a point guard easier."

REBELS PREDICTED TO FINISH SIXTH IN MWC

UNLV was picked to finish sixth in the nine-team Mountain West Conference in the preseason poll released two weeks ago.

The Rebels finished 17-13 overall and in fourth place in the conference last season.

Michael Umeh and Jo'Van Adams were starting guards for the Rebels last season, although Umeh's season ended early due to a knee injury.

In the two games against Hawai'i last season, Umeh had 25 points, six assists and five steals; Adams had 19 points, seven assists and six steals.

"They pressured us last year, and their quickness caused a lot of problems," Wallace said. "That's why we're working so hard to get ready for them this time."

The most significant addition to UNLV this season is 6-foot-2 point guard Kevin Kruger, who is the son of head coach Lon Kruger.

Kevin Kruger averaged 15.0 points and 3.5 assists per game last season at Arizona State.

He is eligible to play this season at UNLV because of a new NCAA rule, which allows athletes with a fifth year of eligibility to transfer and play immediately provided they have graduated with a bachelor's degree.

The Rebels are scheduled to play an exhibition game against Dixie State College (Utah) tomorrow.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.