LAS CRUCES, N.M. — "But you just got here..." a desk clerk sympathetically reminded some departing University of Hawai'i basketball fans at the teams' hotel here.

Following the UH teams at the Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament means a lot of short stays and quick checkouts these days. It means packing light, being able to scramble in changing flights and, above all, dealing with disappointment of late shots that don't fall and early deficits.

Both the men's and women's teams were eliminated after their first games here, by no means a new phenomenon.

The women have been sent packing after their opening game four consecutive years now. A painful distinction for the veterans who had hoped for a breakthrough.

The men have gone out with the opener three of the past four years. It has been a while since either team made a run to the championship game. Neither since 2002.

This year, then, was a case of double-barreled disappointment. Reinforced when a tournament official sought out some Hawai'i people after the men's elimination and inquired, if they would be needing their seats, tonight.

Ouch.

The Rainbow Wahine had been picked third in the conference preseason poll and returned six seniors. And that had to count for something, didn't it? What's more, they took an eight-game winning streak into the final game of the regular season and had beaten two of the top three teams in the standings to boot. But momentum meant zip once the tournament started. After scoring the first basket against Fresno State, the sluggish Rainbow Wahine were outscored 11-0 and were never really in the 72-47 loss. Having center Brittany Grice hobbled, though gamely putting in an off-the-bench appearance, didn't help.

The men, too, had come in on an inspired run, having won eight of their final 11 games. Here, in the tournament loss to Utah State, they made it close. Had the desperation 25-footer by Matt Lojeski made good at the buzzer, it would have forced overtime. Instead, for the third time in four years, they lost a game when a last shot didn't fall.

Given the players that both teams lost, recruiting these next couple of months will have to provide the difference if either is to fare much better next year. The women must replace three of their top four scorers, Pam Tambini, Janevia Taylor and Grice. The men are only slightly better with departure of Lojseki and Ahmet Gueye, the top two scorers. Both have several scholarships to give.

But, then, the early conference tournament flame-outs might provide the Rainbow Wahine and 'Bows one thing over their conference brethren. Now, at least, they have more time to go out and recruit.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.