The NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four is more than just a place where the national champion is crowned, it is a scheduling bazaar for coaches, where deals are made and matchups sealed with handshakes.

One you hope that University of Hawai'i coach Bob Nash wades into to help finish off the Rainbow Warriors' 2009-10 schedule.

A spokesman said there are some remaining openings on the UH schedule and we'd like to see the finished product emerge as one of the better ones the 'Bows have had in a while. It is definitely overdue.

For sure the upcoming season is one in which you'd like to see the 'Bows challenge themselves. If there is a time to do it and a UH team to do it with, this should be it.

Two years ago UH had a change in coaches and all that entailed. The just-completed season was one of rebuilding after losing four starters and seven seniors.

But with all five starters expected to return and no seniors departing, this sets up as a payoff year of sorts for Nash and the 'Bows. After some progress, going from 11-19 to 13-17, and the likelihood of a contract extension for Nash, it will definitely be a year of expectations. And a better schedule should be one of them.

For example, Pittsburgh — and a return by former UH assistant Jamie Dixon, anyone?

In the recently finished season, just three of UH's 13 nonconference opponents had winning records. None made it to the NCAA Tournament. No team that came to Manoa was what you would call a marquee attraction.

If UH is to make a run at the Western Athletic Conference title, it will require a nonconference schedule that both challenges and prepares it for that task. If UH is to begin filling its 10,300-seat arena to more than half-full, it will need some brand-name opponents. And if UH is to have a shot at an at-large selection for the NCAA Tournament or National Invitation Tournament, it will need to beef up its strength of schedule.

Some of the work will be done for UH by its association with the inaugural Diamond Head Classic, which debuts Dec. 22, 23 and 25 at the Stan Sheriff Center. ESPN Regional Television, which owns and operates the eight-team event, will book and match the teams, including three games for UH.

Pac-10 champion Southern California, College of Charleston, Nevada-Las Vegas and host UH are expected to make up half of the field although matchups have yet to be made.

But there also remains work for UH to do and the Final Four is not a bad place to do it.

Especially for a team that should be on schedule to deliver a promising one.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.