The Western Athletic Conference might be a shell of its former self. There may not be an at-large bid to play for, or much national prestige to be had until the March postseason.

Hawaii will try to go out with a bang nonetheless.

UH kicks off its 33rd and final basketball season in the WAC at home on Saturday against San Jose State. The Rainbow Warriors haven’t won a share of the regular-season title since 2002, UH’s last NCAA Tournament appearance.

UH — along with Fresno State and Nevada — departs its longtime league home after this season. The ‘Bows join the Big West Conference in 2012-13, just as the WAC retools with five new (and unheralded) hoops teams.

The ‘Bows were picked to finish fourth of eight teams in 2012 after an 8-8 showing (tied for fifth) last season.

"We’re looking forward to it," UH coach Gib Arnold said. "We talked as a team, and thought that if we continue to get better and continue to work hard, we’ll be able to compete in this conference."

The WAC’s RPI started out 28th of 31 conferences in the preseason, but has climbed to 16th. Yet even with that improvement, it figures to be a one-bid league for the fourth time in five years.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for in the regular season. There is no clear-cut favorite, meaning with a few well-timed road victories, UH could be right in the mix for a high WAC tournament seed at the end of a 14-game league schedule.

Junior forward Joston Thomas was confident after his team closed out its preconference season with some swagger, defeating No. 14 Xavier and Clemson in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, followed by a New Year’s Eve close loss to No. 19 UNLV.

"I think every coach in the country, every team in the country is thinking about conference right now," Thomas said. "Preseason’s just to get us ready for conference play. Without the preseason games, teams wouldn’t know who they would be.

"It’s here. That’s the root of the season and of course we’re serious about it right now. We’re fighting hard, working towards that."

With two new coaches and only two of 10 players back from the 2010-11 All-WAC first and second teams, the league has a decidedly fresh look.

The exception is Nevada, with its entire starting five intact. New Mexico State also returns considerable talent.

Utah State lost most of its key personnel from last season, when it won its fourth straight WAC regular-season title. But the Aggies are still decidedly dangerous under veteran coach Stew Morrill, especially at home.

Six of the eight WAC teams begin conference play today.