College basketball’s acoustic version will be on display tonight when Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific tip off their season in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Because of pandemic-related restrictions, fans will not be allowed to attend.

The lower-level stands have been pushed back to create 25-foot distance between the court and the broadcast table. The print media will be assigned seats on the upper level’s concourse.

Arrangements were being finalized for each team’s preparation and meeting area. Since the spring semester, the Rainbow Warriors have not used their locker room. The practice gym has doubled as a locker room.

The delay to the NCAA season, as well safety and health restrictions, factored in the ’Bows’ scrambling for opponents ahead of the Dec. 27 Big West opener against Cal Poly. It took higher-pay-grade approval to secure tonight’s game.

“We’re as ready as we can be for the situation right now,” said Eran Ganot, who begins his sixth season as the ’Bows’ head coach.

The ’Bows will have a new starting lineup this season. Guard Eddie Stansberry and post Zigmars Raimo completed their UH eligibility. Point guard Drew Buggs went to Missouri as a graduate transfer. Center Dawson Carper transferred to Missouri State. And wing Samuta Avea decided to opt out this season. Avea indicated he will return for the 2021-22 season.

The ’Bows are expected to use about 11 players tonight. Bernardo da Silva, a 6-9 post with a 7-2 wing span, resumed practicing the past couple of days as he recovers from an ailment. JoVon McClanahan, a high-scoring guard in junior college, also has overcome an injury to practice the past week. McClanahan is among the candidates at point guard. In the ’Bows’ ball-screen attack, there are some lineups utilizing two point guards.

Ganot praised the leadership of newly named co-captains Justin Webster and Casdon Jardine. Webster, a 6-3 sophomore, can play the point, off guard and small forward.

“He played a lot as a freshman,” Ganot said of Webster, whose 8.8-point average is tops among returning ’Bows. “He’s got total buy-in. He’s got a tremendous attitude. He’s got an infectious zest for life that you can see anytime he walks into a room or walks onto the floor. He’s a tremendous teammate. He’s vocal, and people gravitate toward that.”

Jardine, who is 6-7, transferred from Utah Valley, where he was a double-digit scorer with 39% accuracy on 3s.

“He’s had success at this level,” Ganot said. “He’s very vocal. He’s very mature. It’s a credit to him to make that (good) impression (on teammates). He’s very consistent in his energy. He brings that every day. Combine that with his experience, that’s what we need.”