Six weeks ago, six weeks seemed an eternity to prepare.

On Thursday, a day out from Hawaii’s 2015-16 season opener, new coach Eran Ganot found himself wanting.

"I think all coaches in general, it’s funny, you get to this point (and) you wish you had more time," the former Saint Mary’s and UH assistant coach said.

Ready or not, the Rainbow Warriors host Montana State today in a "Green-Out" game at 7:30 p.m. on Day 1 of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic. UH plays three games in four days.

Using a free-flowing pressing style last year under interim coach Benjy Taylor, the Rainbows surprised many with a 22-13 record in the face of an NCAA investigation on the heels of Gib Arnold’s preseason firing.

Discipline was lacking in some areas, however, and that’s something Ganot’s staff has sought to instill with the nine returning letterwinners.

"It was a lot of drama last year," senior guard Quincy Smith said. "This year we’ve been really more able to focus. Just focus on the game plan, focus on ourselves. … We don’t have those distractions this year. We have no excuse not to produce."

For much of the UH fan base, the roster is mostly familiar, but the style of play foreign. UH has implemented a four-out, one-in motion-style offense akin to the one Ganot learned at Saint Mary’s. It will still sometimes press up on defense, but with accountability in mind for the men behind them.

UH is expected to start Roderick Bobbitt at point guard, Smith at shooting guard, Aaron Valdes at small forward, Mike Thomas at power forward and Stefan Jankovic at center. The team lost key contributors Garrett Nevels and Negus Webster-Chan from last season.

UH follows against Coastal Carolina at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and against former WAC foe Nevada at 11 p.m. Monday. The latter is a nationally televised meeting as part of ESPN’s College Hoops Tip-off Marathon.

Coastal Carolina, the two-time defending Big South champion, meets Nevada at 4:30 p.m. today to kick off the tournament.

For Ganot, it’s not actually his Division I coaching debut. As an associate head coach with the Gaels last season, he filled in for suspended head coach Randy Bennett for five games at the start of West Coast Conference play. A Saint Mary’s spokesperson said the Gaels’ 3-2 record over that span goes on Ganot’s permanent ledger.

But it is his first time heading up his own program. Ganot has made it his mission since April to get the returnees to buy into his system. Maybe more importantly, his philosophies. It was a mixed bag in a 101-96 exhibition win over Chaminade last week; UH trailed by 22 and had to rally to send the game to overtime.

"Motivated. Determined. Tireless," Thomas said to describe his new coach. "He definitely loves to get after us and makes us work hard, but also makes us better people, I think."

Montana State of the Big Sky Conference would seem to be an ideal first foe for the retooled ‘Bows. The Bobcats went 7-23 last season under first-year head coach Brian Fish, a former assistant at Oregon.

It was the program’s fifth straight year with a losing record, matching the longest run in its history. MSU’s last winning season was 2010 (15-14), also the last time it opened the season at Hawaii. UH won 77-59 as Arnold made his coaching debut.

Senior guard Marcus Colbert, at 5 feet 11, is the biggest threat for the Bobcats, who return three of their top four scorers. The Big Sky Reserve of the Year scored a combined 53 points in MSU’s final two-game road trip last season, hiking his season average to 13.1.

"We’ve brought in eight new guys, so now we’ve got a chance to grow and get better," Fish said. "It’s almost like Year 1 over again.

"I don’t think we’re going to be very good early, but as the season goes along I think we’ll get a lot better and be competitive in our league."

The UH coaches urged their players not to underestimate the visitors in scout preparation.

"We watched film on them. They can shoot the ball, I know that," Thomas said. "We just have to get after them and play them aggressively, like we play any other team."

UH guard Isaac Fleming, who missed a chunk of the preseason due to what the team called "personal issues," practiced with the second team this week and is expected to come off the bench.

Maui Invitational lineup

The Maui Jim Maui Invitational announced its 2017 field on Thursday.

Host Chaminade will be joined by California, LSU, Marquette, Michigan, Notre Dame, VCU and Wichita State.

The 2015 Maui Invitational — the visiting teams are Indiana, Kansas, St. John’s, UCLA, UNLV, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest — takes place Nov. 23-25 at the Lahaina Civic Center.