A season of injuries ended with another type of pain for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

The Rainbow Warriors were not selected to participate in the National Invitation Tournament, officially bringing their 2005-06 season to a close yesterday.

"We knew it would be tough to get in," Hawai'i coach Riley Wallace said. "But it's still disappointing because you want to reward the guys who were there all year working hard."

Louisiana Tech was the only team from the Western Athletic Conference to make the 40-team NIT field. WAC champion Nevada and runner-up Utah State made the NCAA Tournament.

"I still think the WAC is a stronger conference than that," Wallace said. "We should have got more than three (into the postseason)."

The 'Bows lost to New Mexico State, 58-57, in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament last week at Reno, Nev.

Hawai'i finished with a 17-11 record, including a 4-4 record against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. The four victories came against Michigan State, Nevada, Northwestern State and Utah State.

"You would think our schedule would be worth more because we played some tough ones," Wallace said. "But they probably took into consideration that we would have to play without Ahmet (Gueye)."

Gueye, the team's starting center, sustained a knee injury in the final week of the regular season. The 'Bows went 0-2 without him.

"I think if he's there, we win both those games and who knows what happens after that," Wallace said.

The 'Bows also lost key reserves Bobby Nash (shoulder) and Matt Gibson (staph infection) to season-ending injuries in December.

"You can't help but think how good we could have been with everybody there," Wallace said.

In any case, there were still many memorable and forgettable moments. Here are some unofficial awards for the season:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Julian Sensley. After some early-season slumps, the 6-foot-9 senior forward emerged as an all-around force in the second half of the season.

He led the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game, was second in rebounding with 5.6 per game and second in assists with 3.2 per game.

He will leave Hawai'i as the only player in the program's history to rank among the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and assists.

MOST INSPIRATIONAL PLAYER

Chris Botez. The 7-foot senior center was a starter all of last season, but accepted his role as the sixth man this season.

He averaged 4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and was second on the team with 37 blocked shots. He led the team in emotional outbursts, which seemed to ignite the fans and his teammates during home games.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Deonte Tatum. This one's not even close.

He lost his starting role late last season, and was supposed to be a reserve player this season.

Instead, the senior point guard started every game, averaging 8.5 points and a team-high 3.6 assists per game. He became the team's unquestioned leader.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Matt Lojeski. The junior guard beat out returnees Matt Gibson and Bobby Nash for the starting role, and then carried the shooting load when Gibson and Nash were lost for the season.

He finished second on the team with 13.6 points per game, and led the team with 56 3-pointers. His 85.9 free-throw percentage is the third best in UH history.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Ahmet Gueye. The 6-7 junior played like a 7-footer in the low post.

He led the team with 7.7 rebounds per game, and his 65 blocked shots is the fourth-best single-season mark in UH history.

BEST TEAM STATISTIC

Led by Gueye and Botez, Hawai'i established a school record with 166 blocked shots.

With a depleted bench for most of the season, defense is what kept the 'Bows in many games.

WORST TEAM STATISTIC

Hawai'i's team free-throw percentage of 63.5 percent was the second-worst in school history.

Did all those "free" misses cost the 'Bows a shot at the NIT?

BEST VICTORY

An 84-62 home victory over then-No. 4 Michigan State.

Doesn't it seem like forever ago when this state was talking NCAA Sweet 16 after the upset of the Spartans?

WORST LOSS

Last week's 58-57 heartbreaker to New Mexico State in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals.

Wallace figured a victory in that game could have clinched an NIT bid. Instead, Sensley's tough shot from the baseline and Matthew Gipson's putback attempt both bounced off the rim in the closing seconds.

MOST EXCITING WIN

A 61-60 victory at San Jose State.

Julian Sensley's 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining was the winning shot. It was the only time during the game that Hawai'i led.

MOST FRUSTRATING LOSS

A 51-48 home loss to Louisiana Tech on Senior Night.

The 'Bows led by 11 at halftime, but managed to score just 12 points in the second half.

ALL-OPPONENT TEAM

UNLV forward Louis Amundson (19.5 points and 16.0 rebounds per game in two games).

Nevada forward Nick Fazekas (28.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game in two games)

Louisiana Tech forward Paul Millsap (21.5 points and an astounding 20.5 rebounds per game in two games).

Fresno State forward Quinton Hosley (21.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in two games).

New Mexico State forward Tyrone Nelson (20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in three games).

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.