Ask a coach how a guaranteed nonconference game against a quality opponent sounds, and most would be all for it.

For coaches in the Big 12 and Pac 10 conferences, those games are now a reality.

Iowa State will take on Oregon State on Friday in Corvallis, Ore., in the Cyclones’ first game of the new Big 12/Pac 10 Hardwood Series, a yearly series that pits teams from the two conferences against each other.

“It gets another name game on your schedule where you are playing on your home floor in a home-and-home situation,” Cyclone coach Greg McDermott said.

The Hardwood Series aims to match up teams of similar talent levels. The two schools will play in consecutive years, with each team getting one home game. To make the numbers match up and get every Big 12 team involved, two Pac 10 schools will play twice. This set of games was set up prior to last season.

Talks between the two leagues have been going for a few years, ever since the coaches from each division first discussed the possibility of a series. Both groups of coaches decided to let the conference offices take the talks to the next level, said Rob Carolla, director of communications for the Big 12.

When the Big 12 coaches met for preliminary talks, the Pac 10 was found to be the obvious choice for an opposing conference. The Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big Ten have had a similar series since 1999, and the Southeastern Conference and the Big East Conference are in the process of starting a series. That left the Pac 10 as the only option of the six major conferences.

The ACC/Big Ten agreement has been a huge draw, both for fans and for TV networks. Those TV deals, along with giving fans more good early-season games, were factors in finalizing the Hardwood Series.

“The Big 12 television agreement is with ESPN; the Pac 10 with FSN. So that made it attractive to both TV networks to get teams they normally don’t broadcast,” Carolla said.

For the coaches, the main draw was getting another quality early-season opponent they knew would stay on the schedule.

Many of the early-season games occur during tournaments, in which a team is playing multiple times in a short span of time. A game from this series gives coaches and players a chance to get back into a more normal routine while, at the same time, facing a big-conference opponent in preparation for the conference schedule.

“It’s a good game for the kids – the timing of the game is . when we start the season, conditions aren’t normal with the tournaments and the cramped schedule,” said Oregon State coach Jay John. “It’s just a good opportunity.”

As of now, the arrangement between the leagues is only for four years. After the current matchups are concluded, another set of home-and-homes will be lined up for the final two years. Those competitions may be chosen following this season or during the 2007-08 season. But the continuation of the agreement beyond 2011 is still undecided.