Everything is bigger in Texas, as they say. For the Hawaii basketball team, it holds true: UH has a huge opportunity to extend an unbeaten start to the season at Texas Tech today.

The Rainbow Warriors (4-0) play their first — and only — road game of the nonconference slate at the Red Raiders’ 15,000-seat United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.

“It’s one of the bigger schools in Texas. As a kid you know about Texas, you know about Texas Tech,” said freshman guard Brocke Stepteau, a Dallas native who expects to have about 30 friends and family at the game. “The opportunity to play there is going to be fun. … It’s going to be a big game.”

Texas Tech (3-1), coached by veteran Tubby Smith, recently returned home from a strong showing in the Puerto Rico Tipoff, where it notched wins over Minnesota and Mississippi State. UH represents the start of an eight-game homestand for TTU.

UH flew through Dallas and arrived in Lubbock without incident Thursday, then enjoyed an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving team meal that night.

First-year coach Eran Ganot said via phone Friday night the travel “went as planned” and he was pleased with his team’s bonding time and rest under the circumstances. UH, which traveled 13 of 15 players on the roster, is expected to be at full strength against a bruising opponent.

Texas Tech is the only Big 12 school UH has never faced. The Rainbows are 0-7 on the road all-time against current members of that power conference, with most of those meetings coming against former WAC opponent Texas Christian.

Hawaii last played in the Lone Star State on Jan. 20, 2005, a 71-70 loss at UTEP. The Miners left the WAC after that season, but UH made similar trips to the Central time zone until 2012 to play the likes of New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech.

“In terms of travel this seems more like when we were in the WAC,” Ganot said. “Right now in the Big West, it’s a flight. When I was here (as an assistant from 2006 to 2010) it was two flights and a bus ride and (this) is more like that. So I’ll lean on some of what we did before.”

UH, keyed by the play of point guard Roderick Bobbitt (7.8 assists per game), has been explosive offensively at home, averaging 84 points per contest. Forward Stefan Jankovic is coming off a career-best 22-point performance in an emphatic 99-74 home win over Nicholls State on Sunday.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us tomorrow,” TTU’s Smith told local media Friday, noting the strong play of Bobbitt, Jankovic and Aaron Valdes (17.0 ppg). “Even though we’re playing with some confidence, it’s always tough coming off the holiday where you haven’t played in a few days now, almost a week. I’m always interested to see how we respond.”

Smith, who won a national championship his first year as head coach at Kentucky (1998-2007), has tried to rebuild a struggling TTU program for the past three years. The Raiders were picked to finish last in the Big 12 after going 3-15 in league play (13-19 overall) last year.

But Texas Tech showed promise in its recent road trip. Its lone loss was by 10 points to then-No. 16 Utah.

“You’re talking about a team that’s well coached, they’re playing well, and they’re at home,” Ganot said. “One thing that’s underrated about them, they return seven of their top eight. … Their future’s bright and they’re dangerous now.”

Tech is led by 6-foot-4 guard Devaugntah Williams (18.8 ppg, 86.7 FT%). Forward Zach Smith adds 10.5 points and point guard Toddrick Gotcher 10.3. UH will also have to contend with 6-foot-10, 260-pound center Norense Odiase.

UH’s last nonconference road win was Dec. 7, 2013, a 10-point decision at Northern Arizona. A 5-0 start would match that of 2010-11, Gib Arnold’s first season.