Hawaii fan Patrick Williams wants the Rainbow Warriors to make Toby Keith cry, giving the country music star some inspiration for a sad song after his favorite basketball team, Oklahoma, loses in the NCAA Tournament … to the ’Bows, of course.

UH would have to get to the Final Four for another shot at the Sooners. Oklahoma, ranked third in the nation at the time, edged the ‘Bows, 84-81, in the Diamond Head Classic last December, as ESPN showed Keith rejoicing in the Stan Sheriff Center stands. But it was that loss — more than any of their 27 wins — that got Rainbow faithful believing there could be a pot of gold come March.

“Revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-with-laulau,” Williams said in response to my social media call for ’Bow-dacious dreamers. “… The Sooners fall to UH in double overtime!!!!”

My reply was along the lines of, “Why stop there?” Wouldn’t a “true” Hawaii fan have his or her favorite team going all the way, perhaps bringing tears to Kentucky superfan Ashley Judd?

Realistically, though, that ain’t gonna happen … the ’Cats are just a 4 seed.

James Shiroma has filled out just one bracket, and it’s pretty much chalk — except for the 13 seed ’Bows going all the way. In his mind, there is no midnight for this Cinderella.

He’s a lifelong UH fan and a Manoa alumnus. And, as a pastor, he obviously believes in miracles. He’s even got some reasoning … fairly vague, but at least it’s something.

“Roderick Bobbitt, Stefan Jankovic and Aaron Valdes are great players who are the foundation of this team statistically,” Shiroma said, when asked to build a case. “Mike Thomas and Quincy Smith complement them with hard play, hustle and clutch scoring. We have a pretty strong bench as well. What gives me hope is that this team seems to be peaking at the right time.”

Shiroma’s 6-year-old daughter, Sadie, wouldn’t mind seeing Judd cry … but only if they’re tears of joy. Shiroma and his wife, Julie, fill out brackets in what until this year was a two-person pool. This is Sadie’s debut as a bracketeer, and she picked Kentucky to win it all.

Maybe she will grow up to be a bracketology superstar; when Bruno Mars was around Sadie’s age he was the world’s youngest Elvis impersonator.

Bobby Curran and “Anahola” Joel Pahukula did a sports talk show together in the 1990s on KGU. They didn’t agree on much. But now Curran, the voice of the Rainbow Warriors, and Pahukula, the voice of KIF football, both have the end of the Rainbows coming in Louisville, Ky., next week in the Sweet Sixteen.

Curran acknowledges first-round opponent Cal has two players with legit NBA talent in Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb, but feels enough of the individual matchups favor UH to make an upset reasonable.

As for Pahukula: “I have them upsetting Cal and Maryland, but I draw the line at Kansas. Because they’re Kansas and as much as I love da ’Bows I’m also realistic. However, anything is possible.”

Even this? Danielle Lum has Hawaii winning both national championships.

“I base it on my unbelievable faith and knowledge that I have tons of ti leaves and will be waving them like crazy,” she said. “I do follow the women and … I think they can upset UCLA on Saturday based on their outside shooting ability and Megan Huff on the inside. Plus Destiny King plays like she’s 6-feet-8.”

That’s why it’s called March Madness. Sanity is optional when filling out your brackets.

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