But the Rainbows had no control over a committee -- and they were left out of the NCAA Tournament field yesterday.
Only three teams were picked from the Western Athletic Conference, which left UH head coach Riley Wallace fuming.
"It showed a lack of respect for us and the WAC," Wallace said last night. "It especially bothers me that the Pac-10 got five teams in."
Hawaii did get a pretty nice postseason consolation prize, though, as will host an NIT opening-round game against Oregon at the Special Events Arena on Wednesday.
Still, yesterday's disappointment of being snubbed by the NCAA overshadowed the NIT bid, which is a tribute in itself for a team that wasn't expected to do much -- and played through so much adversity.
Only Utah, New Mexico and Tulsa -- all from the Mountain Division -- were selected from the WAC.
Pacific Division co-champ Fresno State (20-11) was also passed over, along with TCU (21-12), which advanced to the WAC tourney final, and UNLV (20-9).
"We were co-champions of the Pacific and we won 11 out of our last 15, and we won 20 games which is supposed to be the magic number," Wallace said. "We just never get any respect being out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and I wonder if we ever will.''
The team gathered at Wallace's office yesterday when the field was revealed.
"They're disappointed, but we knew it was a slim chance going in," he said. "But we'll practice tomorrow and get ready for the NIT. Maybe some of the disappointment will wear off by then."
Wallace said that he wanted this year's team to enjoy the experience of the NCAAs, just like the 1993-94 Rainbows, who won the WAC tournament to get in.
"We had so much fun in it," he said. "I wanted this team to feel it, too. They certainly deserved it."
Losing starting center Seth Sundberg to a lacerated spleen also was a major factor, Wallace felt.
"We were hoping that they would reward us for a good season, which is supposed to be part of the formula," he said. "But the biggest thing might have been the loss of Seth."
Wallace also blamed WAC commissioner Karl Benson, who said a few weeks ago that he would rather have three strong teams enter the NCAA field.
"The WAC doesn't get the respect and a lot of it comes out of the WAC office," he said. "What really bothers me is the Pac-10 getting five and the Big Ten, which isn't as strong as it used to be, getting six."
Southern Cal (17-10) of the Pac-10 and the Big Ten's Purdue (17-11) were somewhat surprising picks for the NCAAs.
At least the Rainbows will still be playing, which is more than the majority of Division I teams, which all started out with postseason hopes.
"We'll start getting ready and I'm sure this team will get after it," Wallace said. "Hopefully, we'll be playing in front of 10,000 fans and get a second game to get ready for."
Who Hawaii (20-7) vs. Oregon (17-10)
Wednesday
Iona (22-7) at Connecticut (14-14), 2:30 p.m.
Florida State (16-11) at Syracuse (19-12), 2:30 p.m
George Washington (15-13) at Michigan State (16-11), 2:30 p.m.
Bowling Green (22-9) at West Virginia (19-9), 2:30 p.m.
New Orleans (22-6) at Pittsburgh (17-14), 2:30 p.m.
Oral Roberts (21-6) at Notre Dame (14-13), 7:30 p.m.
Drexel (22-8) at Bradley (16-12), 3 p.m.
Northern Arizona (21-6) at Arkansas (15-12), 3p.m.
Washington (17-10) at Nebraska (16-14), 3:05 p.m.
Alabama-Birmingham (18-13) at Texas Christian (21-12), 3:05 p.m.
Southwest Missouri State (24-8) at North Carolina State (16-14), 4:30 p.m.
Nevada (20-9) at Fresno State (20-11), 5 p.m.
Memphis (16-14) at UNLV (20-9), 7 p.m.
Oregon (17-10) at Hawaii (20-7), 7:30 a.m.Thursday
Miami (16-12) at Michigan (19-11), 2 p.m.
Tulane (20-10) at Oklahoma State (16-14), 3 p.m.
March 17 or 18
Sites and Times TBD
Iona-Connecticut winner vs. Drexel-Bradley winner
Nevada-Fresno St. winner vs. Washington-Nebraska winner
Florida St.-Syracuse winner vs. George Washington-Michigan St. winner
SW Missouri St.-N.Carolina St. winner vs. Bowling Green-West Virginia winner
Oral Roberts-Notre Dame winner vs. UAB-Texas Christian winner
Miami-Michigan winner vs. Tulane-Oklahoma St. winner
N.Arizona-Arkansas winner vs. New Orleans-Pittsburgh winner
Memphis-UNLV winner vs. Oregon-Hawaii winner
March 19, 20, or 21
Sites and Times TBD
Iona-Connecticut--Drexel-Bradley winner vs. Nevada-Fresno St.--Washington-Nebraska winner
Florida St.-Syracuse--George Washington-Michigan St. winner vs. SW Missouri St.-N.Carolina St.--Bowling Green-W.Va. winner
Oral Roberts-Notre Dame--UAB-Texas Christian winner vs. Miami-Michigan--Tulane-Oklahoma St. winner
N.Arizona-Arkansas--New Orleans-Pittsburgh winner vs. Memphis-UNLV--Oregon-Hawaii winner
At Madison Square Garden, New York
Tuesday, March 25, Times TBA
Iona-Connecticut-Drexel-Bradley--Nevada-Fresno St.-Washington-Nebraska winner vs. Florida St.-Syracuse-George Washington-Michigan St.--SW Missouri St.-N.Carolina St.--Bowling Green-W.Va. winner
Oral Roberts-Notre Dame-UAB-Texas Christian--Miami-Michigan-Tulane-Oklahoma St. winner vs. N.Arizona-Arkansas-New Orleans-Pittsburgh--Memphis-UNLV-Oregon-Hawaii winner
At Madison Square Garden, New York
Thursday, March 27
Semifinal losers, noon
At Madison Square Garden, New York
Thursday, March 27
Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.