Sometimes coaches' schedules can tell you a lot more than just who their teams are going to play.

In the case of University of Hawai'i men's basketball coach Riley Wallace, his schedules often have transparency of purpose, providing a revealing glimpse into what he is thinking as well.

A glance at the non-conference opponents gives you a feeling for what kind of season he's expecting for the Rainbow Warriors. There are, for example, get-us-to-the-NCAA Tournament schedules, deliver-us-to-the-National Invitation Tournament schedules and, in truly desperate years, just-get-our-contracts-renewed schedules. In going on this, his 19th season as UH head coach, we've seen them all.

The just-announced 2005-06 schedule is, thankfully, one of the former. This one has NCAA hopes — big dance or bust — written all over it.

While scheduling is sometimes a hit-or-miss proposition and can be difficult for a school 2,500 miles from its nearest Division I opponent, this one says a lot about intentions. With Michigan State, a Final Four team, to open, Nevada-Las Vegas at home and on the road, Saint Louis, Iowa State, Oregon State, etc., it says Wallace is confident enough in his returning cast and incoming recruits to dive into this season, not wade in gingerly.

It says the 'Bows think they can measure up and want a test early. Not to mention the potential Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) points come tournament selection time.

Perhaps Wallace also wants his 300th UH victory — he's 299-241 now — to really mean something when it comes. Or, maybe Rent-A-Twinkie was all booked out.

Either way, there is none of this Mississippi Valley State, Tennessee-Martin or Norfolk State stuff to open. It is straight to the real opponents.

Perhaps not since 1997-98, when UH debuted with Bob Knight and Indiana, have the 'Bows bitten off this much of a challenge this early. That season also featured a visit — and victory over — Kansas.

Back then Wallace was emboldened in his schedule making by the return of Anthony Carter, Alika Smith & Co., after a 21-8 campaign. Ironically, however, while UH managed victories over IU and KU, it was some of the smaller ones that got away, like San Diego State (twice), that sunk the NCAA hopes in a 21-9 season

But back to this season, when the 'Bows return three starters and five of their top seven scorers. Enough promise for Wallace to take some chances.

Of course, with this schedule, the 'Bows probably aren't going to start 8-0 as they did last year before limping to a 16-13 finish. But if they do manage a good record to start, it is going to mean something.

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