Riley Wallace's farewell tour through the Western Athletic Conference begins tomorrow in Las Cruces, N.M.

The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will open the 2007 WAC season with road games at New Mexico State tomorrow, and at Louisiana Tech Saturday.

Whether or not the Rainbow Warriors can create a happily-ever-after finish for their head coach — Wallace's resignation will take effect on April 30 — will rely on their ability to finish road games.

"Conditioning is a big key," Wallace said. "The travel is tougher in this league than any other league, especially for us, coming from Hawai'i. The team that comes out ahead (in the standings) will be the team that wins on the road."

Hawai'i will make five WAC road trips during the regular season, and then will return to Las Cruces in March for the WAC Tournament. All told, the 'Bows will travel more than 30,000 miles on those six trips.

In any case, the WAC appears to be top-heavy this season.

Nationally ranked Nevada, Fresno State and New Mexico State were the most impressive WAC teams in the nonconference games. The three-time defending WAC champion Wolf Pack is off to a 12-1 start. Fresno State is 11-2, and New Mexico State is 10-3.

"It's shaping up the way people thought it would," Wallace said. "Nevada, obviously, you have to look at them first. But Fresno State is right there with some big wins, and New Mexico State is coming on strong."

Hawai'i, Utah State and Boise State are considered the dark-horse contenders. The 'Bows are 9-4, and on a five-game winning streak. Utah State is 10-3, although it did not have a strong nonconference schedule. Boise State is 6-5.

"I think the biggest surprise is Boise," Wallace said. "You have to look at them now, so that gives you (six) teams that think they have a shot at it."

Idaho, Louisiana Tech and San Jose State are at the bottom. Those teams have a combined record of 5-31 so far this season.

But Wallace noted: "There are no gimmes in this league. Idaho and Louisiana Tech are tough places to get to, so that's their advantage. San Jose State, I just watched them on TV stay with Duke for 32 minutes, so they've got some athletes."

The WAC will have its share of individual stars this season, led by All-American Nick Fazekas of Nevada. The 6-foot-11 senior is averaging 20.9 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. He is the two-time defending WAC Player of the Year.

Utah State has sharpshooter Jaycee Carroll; Fresno State has a trio of triple-double threats (Quinton Hosley, Dominic McGuire and Ja'Vance Coleman); New Mexico State has six players averaging double-figure points; Hawai'i has the outside-inside combination of Matt Lojeski and Ahmet Gueye; Boise State has one of the top all-around talents in the WAC in Coby Karl.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.