ANAHEIM, CALIF. >> When the basketball season was put to sleep, Hawaii coach Eran Ganot did not experience sweet dreams.

“It was hard to go to bed,” Ganot said of the Rainbow Warriors’ ouster in Thursday’s opening round of the Big West tournament. “But then you get up the next day, and life goes on. The sun rises. Fortunately, the sun came up, and you get back to the competitive mode, and you get after it. Our job is to lead, and make sure they’re prepped for the next step.”

The official end to the 2018-19 season came when UH declined an opportunity to pursue a berth in the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament. UH athletic director David Matlin said the season’s length — it began in August with four exhibition games in Australia — and the team’s overall health factored in the decision. Although there were preliminary discussions, none of the talks progressed to financial issues.

With that, the Rainbows finished 18-13, including 9-7 in Big West regular-season games. Ganot said he will not dwell on the final game, in which his team squandered an 18-point lead against Long Beach State’s full-court press.

“We’re not going to sit there feeling sorry for ourselves and pouting,” Ganot said. “With perspective, there were a lot of good things that happened (during the season) and for the long term of the program.”

Here is what’s next for the ’Bows:

Training

Following next week’s spring break, the ’Bows begin limited-hours spring workouts. “We’re going to set the tone for next year with a good spring,” Ganot said.

Recruiting

Forward Jack Purchase, wing Sheriff Drammeh and guard Brocke Stepteau completed their UH eligibility. One of those scholarships will be filled by former Kahuku High guard Jessiya Villa, the state’s 2017 player of the year. Villa, who committed two years ago, is finishing a church mission and will join the ’Bows this summer.

UH targeted several prospects for the fall signing period, but commitments did not materialize. “If we didn’t get the top targets (in the fall),” Ganot said, “we wanted to save (the two scholarships) for the spring. We didn’t want to settle. We knew we could get some good ones in the spring.”

Ganot would like to add a “dynamic” forward and guard. “We lose some shooting with Jack and Brocke,” Ganot said.

The pool is deeper in the spring because of the expanding transfer market. During Ganot’s four years as UH head coach, the ’Bows added transfers from Division I programs (Sai Tummala, Noah Allen and Purchase) and junior colleges (Gibson Johnson and Eddie Stansberry).

“We’re a good transfer destination,” Ganot said. “It’s worked out well for a lot of guys. We want to make sure we stay involved whether it’s a guy who can play now or maybe, in some cases, a guy who can sit out. Jack Purchase was one of those, and he had a heck of a career for us.”

Purchase, who redshirted after transferring from Auburn, set the program’s record for most career 3-pointers made and attempted.

Development

Ganot noted that every season there appears to be a returning player who improves dramatically. Ganot cited Stepteau, who went from walk-on to team captain; Quincy Smith; Aaron Valdes; and Zigmars Raimo. Ganot said wing Samuta Avea, who moved into the rotation this season, and Justin Hemsley are poised to have expanded roles next season.

Ganot said this year’s three 7-foot freshmen — Dawson Carper, Mate Colina and Owen Hulland — also should improve. Hulland is a candidate for a medical hardship after being limited to eight games because of a foot ailment this season.

Scheduling

Ganot acknowledged the challenges of piecing together a schedule. The Power Five conferences are moving toward playing 20 league games, limiting their teams’ availability for nonconference meetings. Ganot said UH had willing opponents for this past season but the available dates and facilities did not mesh.

UH is looking into the possibility of creating another tournament to entice teams. Because of financial and travel constraints, UH might seek to schedule more teams from the West Coast and Mountain West conferences instead of Power Five teams.

With the Rainbow Classic field set to be finalized in a couple of weeks, the ’Bows are hopeful of assembling the rest of the schedule earlier than it was last year.

“We’re working from the lead instead of scrambling late,” said Ganot, adding, “it’s all about filling the puka.”