A month ago as this Western Athletic Conference men's basketball season began, any use of University of Hawai'i and "win the conference" in the same sentence by head coach Bob Nash would have prompted laughter, if not outright derision.

It is still a longshot, but when, in response to a question about the Rainbow Warriors' goals, Nash last night linked the two once disparate elements, saying, "Whether we can win the conference, we're going to give it our best effort," there wasn't so much as a snicker in the post-game press conference.

In the wake of a 71-57 thumping of Louisiana Tech last night that left the 'Bows 6-3 in the conference — and in a tie for third place, a game out of first place — UH is sitting pretty.

Pretty amazing, really.

For here is a team that got skunked — 0-3 — in its own Rainbow Classic and then proceeded to lose two of its first three WAC games. Hardly your precursor of success.

But since then, these 'Bows have won five of six games, including three in a row. Remarkable, really, when you consider that three of their biggest players, 6-foot-11 Stephen Verwers, 6-10 Ji Xiang and 6-8 P. J. Owsley were sitting side-by-side on the bench last night in street clothes. Only Owsley, who has a knee injury, might make it back.

"I'm sure they (the other WAC schools) are scratching their heads and trying to figure out how we're getting it done with all these injuries and problems," Nash said. "I'd probably scratch my head, too, about where we are at this point."

Where a team that was picked to finish sixth in the nine-team conference is at the moment might be disbelieved. But how they have gotten there shouldn't be. Coaching and some unselfish and inspired teamwork are the leading reasons why the 'Bows, who are 10-11 overall, are hanging in the WAC race which started its second half last night.

Nash and his brain trust have gotten the most out of what they have, which meant adroitly managing the bench and playing — and getting contributions from — all nine players against Tech.

Matt Gibson looks and functions like an honest-to-Anthony Carter point guard. With 18 assists over the last two games — to go with 34 points — there is no longer a round peg trying to fit a square hole. Jared Dillinger has provided game-settling sparks and Riley Luettgerodt is helping on the backboards.

Everybody, it seems, is finding a role and filling it.

"That's the thing we're trying to build here," Nash said. "We play as an 'ohana; we play for each other."

And, on "family night" what could have been more appropriate for a team that wants to be a WAC contender?

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.