McALLEN - Nothing less than an 8-0 start will be expected of new coach Clay Moser and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

While that might seem a little unreasonable if not entirely realistic, but the Vipers' 2008-09 schedule that was released by the NBA Development League on Tuesday should enable them to get off to a fast start. The Vipers open with eight consecutive home games, including the Friday, Nov. 28 season-opener against Tulsa at Dodge Arena.

On the flip side, the Vipers face a road-heavy stretch from Feb. 18 to March 20 during which they play 11 of 13 games away from Dodge Arena.

"It's like with every schedule; there's positives and negatives of every aspect of it," Moser said. "The positive is you can get off to a good start. The negative is you have to make those games up on the road. It'll be crucial we take care of business those eight then be prepared to go on the road and have a chance to equalize that at some point. You don't expect to go undefeated at home and you don't expect to go winless on the road."

The 50-game schedule, which includes 24 home games and two games at the NBA D-League Showcase in Orem, Utah, also features three home games against the rival Austin Toros, who are owned by the San Antonio Spurs.

"We are all extremely excited to get underway with our second NBA D-League season this November," Vipers owner Alonzo Cantu said. "Once again the Vipers are committed to entertaining our fans with high-quality basketball and exciting family entertainment."

The Vipers will once again be in the Southwest Division of the 16-team D-League. RGV's division opponents are Albuquerque, Austin, Colorado and Tulsa.

"I think what's going to be great about our schedule is it gives an opportunity for Coach Moser to get his feet wet at home and have the advantage of starting off at home," Vipers Assistant General Manager Bert Garcia said. "And it gives us the opportunity to bring out the things we've been working so hard on in the summer, the entertainment factor, right off the bat."

Todd Mavreles covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.

2008-09 RGV Vipers schedule

All times local

Nov. 28 - vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.

Nov. 29 - vs. Utah, 7 p.m.

Dec. 3 - vs. Erie, 7 p.m.

Dec. 4 - vs. Dakota, 7 p.m.

Dec. 7 - vs. Idaho, 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 9 - vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.

Dec. 11 - vs. Sioux Falls, 11 a.m.

Dec. 14 - vs. Albuquerque, 5 p.m.

Dec. 16 - at Colorado, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18 - at Tulsa, 11 a.m.

Dec. 19 - at Iowa, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21 - at Austin, 3 p.m.

Dec. 26 - vs. Los Angeles, 7 p.m.

Dec. 28 - at Dakota, 6 p.m.

Jan. 2 - vs. Albuquerque, 7 p.m.

Jan. 3 - vs. Albuquerque, 7 p.m.

Jan. 5-8 - NBA D-League Showcase, Orem, Utah

Jan. 9 - at Albuquerque, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10 - at Albuquerque, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 - Colorado, 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 - at Tulsa, 7 p.m.

Jan. 20 - vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 - vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.

Jan. 23 - at Austin, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 - vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.

Jan. 31 - vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 - vs. Austin, 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 - at Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Feb. 20 - at Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 - at Bakersfield, 8 p.m.

Feb. 26 - Fort Wayne, 7 p.m.

Feb. 27 - at Erie, 7 p.m.

March 1 - at Fort Wayne, 6 p.m.

March 3 - vs. Albuquerque, 7 p.m.

March 7 - at Tulsa, 7 p.m.

March 8 - at Tulsa, 3 p.m.

March 10 - at Colorado, 7 p.m.

March 12 - at Colorado, 7 p.m.

March 14 - at Idaho, 7 p.m.

March 20 - at Albuquerque, 7 p.m.

March 22 - vs. Austin, 3:30 p.m.

March 27 - vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.

March 28 - vs. Bakersfield, 7 p.m.

April 1 - at Utah, 7 p.m.

April 2 - at Reno, 7 p.m.

April 5 - vs. Iowa, 5 p.m.

April 8 - at Austin, 7:30 p.m.

April 10 - at Austin, 8:30 p.m.

April 11 - vs. Austin, 7 p.m.