This University of Hawaii basketball team brings out the positive and negative in its fans more than others.

Many appreciate that a share of a conference championship is quite an accomplishment in itself. Others are quick to remind us the Big West is not exactly the caliber of the ACC, and UH vs. UC Irvine or Long Beach State will never be mistaken for North Carolina against Duke.

For the well-adjusted fans, UH failing to win the upcoming conference tournament and the NCAA bid that comes with it would not make the season a waste. It would not mean that instead of winning more than 20 games for the third season in a row Hawaii might as well have lost all of them.

There really are those who see it that other way — NCAAs or bust. A couple of them called to tell Chris Hart and me that we’re losers when we recently said on the radio that falling short of The Dance would be a bummer for UH fans, but not signal the end of the world.

Whatever they’re drinking, I don’t want any.

One guy said, “I play sports to win, not to lose.” I bet the closest thing to athletics he’s played in the last 10 years where it matters if you win or lose is wagering the rent money on Draft Kings.

Sure, there would be disappointment, and rightfully so … especially since UH might not be eligible for the NCAAs next year. But the NIT consolation prize would not be bad for a program on its third coach in three years that hasn’t enjoyed any real postseason in 12 years.

The NIT had more prestige in 1974 when UH advanced to the quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. It was a letdown in ’03 after two NCAA appearances in a row. But it gave UH another home game in ’04.

UH has put in a bid to host a first-round NIT game as Plan B, and barring something really disheartening like a first-round Big West tourney collapse against Fullerton, you have to figure that would be a sellout.

Of course winning the Big West tournament and all that comes with it is preferable. But with recent events it doesn’t seem quite as likely as it did a couple of weeks ago.

After Saturday’s loss at Long Beach State to finish the regular season, UH has dropped two of its last four games — and there is as much (or more) focus on that as the overall mark of 24-5.

My first instinct was to say that is unfair, but it really isn’t. A couple of weeks ago Hawaii looked unbeatable. It certainly does not now.

While some might claim the departure of disgruntled guard Isaac Fleming is addition by subtraction, let’s not forget he helped Hawaii get a few of those wins — and UH would have lost one or two without him.

Certainly, the Rainbows can win the Big West Tournament without him. But — as it would be if you deleted any rotation player — it would not be as easy.

If the Rainbow Warriors don’t sweep through the Big West tournament, the season won’t be a bust. If they do, this squad enters the discussion for best UH men’s basketball team ever. Take it a step further and win an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history? In that case there will be no debate.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.