In an informal poll a few years ago, opposing fans voted University of Hawaii followers the best people to sit with at the annual Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament.

Hawaii partisans got high marks for being friendly. And their willingness to pass around island snacks was much noted. But what has really made them popular over the years is the fact Hawaii teams have regularly gotten knocked out early, leaving Rainbow Warriors/Wahine fans with ticket packages aplenty to dispose of.

It has been six years since a UH men’s team has won a first-round game and eight years since the Rainbow Wahine have won a quarterfinal-round contest, double barreled disappointments they get one last chance to end, beginning today in Las Vegas.

The WAC tournament that opens today for the Rainbow Wahine and Thursday for the ’Bows is the school’s final in 33 years of membership before moving on to the Big West. It would be symbolic, not to mention overdue, to mark the occasion by going out with a championship bang.

That is probably too much to count on when they both have losing records in conference — 6-8 each — and are seeded sixth in eight-team fields.

But after so many years and a couple of coaching changes each without something to write home about from the tournament, a first round victory — or two — isn’t too much to ask for. Getting to the semifinals need not be a once-in-a-decade proposition.

This isn’t the Atlantic Coast Conference after all. This is the WAC and a watered-down, weakened one at that. These aren’t the days when Rick Majerus’ Utah Utes ran roughshod on the men’s side or Louisiana Tech dominated the women’s bracket. Nationally ranked WAC teams have been few and far between since gas was $2 a gallon.

That point was amply driven home this year by the Wahine, who, for the first time in their 11-year series, swept the Lady Techsters. Thumped ’em good, too, both in the Stan Sheriff Center and on Karl Malone’s floor. Now all the Wahine (11-18) have to do to get to the semis is make it three in a row.

That kind of trifecta would likely go a long way toward helping coach Dana Takahara-Dias get an extension to her three-year contract, which is scheduled to expire July 14. Athletic director Jim Donovan has said only that she will be evaluated at the end of the season, a sure suggestion that she can aid her cause with a victory or two.

Meanwhile, the ’Bows (15-15) and their coach, Gib Arnold, have some set-in-stone magic numbers to take aim at in meeting Idaho sans Zane Johnson. Two victories would lighten the load after five consecutive losses and also guarantee a place in the Riley Wallace Invitational, aka the College Insider.com Tournament. Additionally, one more win in the CIT, and 18th overall this season, would automatically give Arnold another year on his contract.

Yes, the Wahine and ’Bows have a lot to play for these next couple of days. Not the least of which are their fans, who would like to be able to use more than one ticket each for a change.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.