The Brigham Young-Hawai'i men's basketball team has everything any team would want: talent, experience and chemistry.

Whether these things translate into a successful season remains to be seen, but coach Ken Wagner is happy with what he has.

"We're really excited about our team," he said. "We're young but we're very big with real good quickness and good shooters."

The Seasiders have only two seniors, but return four starters from last season, including Pacific West Conference Newcomer of the Year Wu Tai-hao.

Wu, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from Taiwan, averaged 9.8 points and 2.9 rebounds last season for the 14-11 Seasiders.

"He's very talented," Wagner said. "Inside he has excellent moves and on the perimeter he's a good shooter. He's a good rebounder with good quickness. He has everything. He just needs to adjust to our game and I thought at times he did last year, but this year we're looking for him to be more consistent."

The other returning starters are guards Eric Boyce (6-0, sr.; 13.1 ppg; 70 of 144 on 3s), Paul Peterson (5-9, jr.; 9.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 steals per game) and Danny Jackson (6-4, jr.; 7.8 ppg; 23 of 50 on 3-pointers).

Wu and Lucas Alves, a 6-9 freshman from Brazil, are expected to provide an inside presence for BYU-Hawai'i.

"Rebounding-wise we're excellent," Wagner said.

BYU-Hawai'i also has Okesene "Junior" Ale of nearby Kahuku High School. The 6-2 guard averaged 23.5 points per game last season and made The Advertiser All-State first team.

"We really like the way he plays," Wagner said.

Ale said the team has already bonded.

"My teammates are like my brothers," he said. "This is a family team right here, we're all brothers on this team. We look out for one another."

BYU-Hawai'i opened the season in the Seasider DII Tournament, which ended last night.

HAWAI'I-HILO

Coach Jeff Law said he'd likely have four newcomers in the starting lineup to open the season.

Justin Dobson (6-5, sr.; 10.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) started 23 games last season for the 16-9 Vulcans. Darryl Harris (6-1, sr.; 4.4 ppg, 1 start) was projected to be in the lineup but he has been slowed by an ankle injury, and Travis Sobers (6-4, sr.; 8.3 ppg, 23 starts) is ineligible until mid-December because of academic issues. He will miss the first nine games.

Law said his primary returnees are "blue collar guys."

He added newcomers Michael Martin (6-7, jr.), Vince Alvarado (6-0, jr.), Samuel Wilhoite (6-7, jr.) and Rashad Bilal (6-5, jr.) would likely start.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," Law said. "There are going to be some nights where everything is clicking and we'll look OK. Other nights we're not sure where the scoring is going to come from."

The Vulcans' tallest players are 6-7, so they'll likely be perimeter oriented.

"I might let them shoot a little more 3s," Law said. "I have guys who like to get to the basket."

Hawai'i-Hilo opens its season tomorrow night against visiting Lewis & Clark College.

HAWAI'I PACIFIC

Coach Darren Vorderbruegge inherited a team that finished 8-19 last season, and he thinks it has made his job a little easier.

"They didn't have success last year, which is unfortunate," he said. "When you come into a situation like that it's easier for the coach because they want a new system. Let's try and do something a little different."

Vorderbruegge, an associate head coach last season at Northwest Missouri State, has six returnees and nine newcomers. The players are from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Texas and Virginia.

"I recruited six years in Missouri," he said. "When you go to Missouri you can go in any direction (to find players). I've recruited all over the Continental U.S. I have connections."

Vorderbruegge said his main players are Adam Reinking (6-4, sr.; 8.7 ppg, 16 starts), Kevin Schneider (6-2, jr.; 6.6 minutes per game), Jarrod Davis (6-7, sr.; 5.1 mpg), and newcomer Mickey Wheeler (6-2, so.).

"I like my guys," Vorderbruegge said. "I think the world of our players. There's no division between the returners and new guys. I think they're ready for some success."

The Sea Warriors also opened the season in the Seasider DII Tournament.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.