Some opposing coaches thought the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team could be a dark horse contender in the Western Athletic Conference this season.

Dark cloud was probably a more appropriate description.

The Rainbow Warriors finished their season 11-19 after a loss to Boise State in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament Thursday.

Bob Nash's first season as head coach was impacted by injuries to several key players, and a seemingly endless list of travel misfortunes.

But it was also a season of hustle and grit, with the 'Bows going all out from the opening tip to final horn of every game, regardless of the score.

"We never gave up," senior guard Riley Luettgerodt said. "It didn't turn out the way we wanted as far as wins and losses. But we gave every team a battle, and I'm proud of that."

Surprisingly, Hawai'i was still in the thick of the WAC race until mid-February.

Now, Nash will have to reconstruct a team that loses seven seniors: Luettgerodt, Jared Dillinger, Matt Gibson, Bobby Nash, P.J. Owsley, Stephen Verwers and Alex Veit.

Six were starters at one time or another this season, and Gibson, Nash, Luettgerodt and Dillinger were the four leading scorers on the team.

"We learned a lot from those guys," freshman point guard Kareem Nitoto said. "But I think we'll be a different team next season. I think we're going to be a much more up-tempo team."

Nitoto will be one of the key returnees next season. Forwards Bill Amis and Adhar Mayen, and center Paul Campbell will also be considered potential starters next season.

Amis started 20 games this season, and averaged 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and led the team with 40 blocked shots.

"I think all the young players showed some potential this year when we had a chance," Nitoto said.

The 'Bows are also expected to get guard Conrad Fitzgerald and forward Ji Xiang on the court next season. Both redshirted this season.

Also, point guard Hiram Thompson will return from a two-year church mission, and Canadian forward Adam Jespersen will come in as a true freshman.

There are at least five available scholarships for new recruits.

"We'll be young," Nitoto said. "But we'll play hard just like we did this year. I think we'll be fun to watch."

Here are some unofficial awards for the 2007-08 season:

Most Valuable Player: Matt Gibson. The 6-5 senior led the team with 17.0 points and 4.8 assists per game, and 47 steals.

He was clearly the team's catalyst on offense, and the energizer on defense.

What's more, he played all season with a sore left knee, and the 'Bows were 1-4 in games he did not play.

Bobby Nash, a 6-7 senior, also deserves recognition for his unselfish versatility. Due to the injuries to other players, he played all five positions at various times during the season, and wound up averaging a team-high 35.5 minutes per game.

Most Inspirational Player: Riley Luettgerodt. The 6-5 senior led the team in rebounding with 4.9 per game, despite playing most of his minutes at the shooting guard position.

He was a tireless worker who turned into the team's most consistent player at the end of the season.

Most Improved Player: Jared Dillinger. After playing a total of six minutes as a junior, he started 25 games this season.

He averaged 9.7 points per game, and finished second on the team with 51 3-pointers.

Rookie of the Year: Bill Amis. The 6-9 sophomore blossomed into the team's top low-post player as the season progressed.

Best Team Statistic: The 'Bows finished with a .741 free-throw percentage, which was the second-best figure in school history (the 1995-96 team finished at .751).

Nash set a single-season record for individual free-throw percentage at .879.

Worst Team Statistic: Opponents had a .477 field-goal percentage against Hawai'i this season. The team's goal was to keep opponents under .400.

It was the highest opponent percentage since the 1990-91 UH team allowed a percentage of .480.

Best Win: A 94-71 home victory over New Mexico State on Jan. 31.

The Aggies were clearly the bigger and more athletic team, but the 'Bows had season-bests of 11 3-pointers and 25 assists.

Worst Loss: An 85-77 home overtime loss to Idaho. Hawai'i wasn't considered a big favorite in too many games, but this was one.

It ended a 27-game road losing streak for the Vandals, and was perhaps the low point of Hawai'i's season-ending seven game losing streak.

Most Memorable Moment: Nash taking off his game jersey to reveal that he was wearing his father's "Fabulous Five" jersey on Senior Night.

If anything, the 'Bows practiced the family theme preached all season by Bob Nash.

Most Forgettable Moment: Senior center Stephen Verwers breaking his left leg during a practice on Christmas Day.

It was the most heartbreaking moment in a season of heartbreak.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.