What those who remained home didn’t see: A team in UNLV that, while hardly perfect at either end, made more winning plays when arriving at the critical juncture of five minutes remaining.
Ed Graney
Ed Graney is a sports columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, covering a variety of topics and the Las Vegas sports scene.
egraney@reviewjournal.com … @edgraney on Twitter. 702-383-4618
Ronda Rousey returned to the UFC on Friday for the first time in more than a year, but it took about five seconds to realize one of the most dominant athletes in MMA history had met her end in a land far, far away.
A few things are undeniable: UNLV is likely a few recruiting classes from being NCAA Tournament worthy, and yet its fan base expects a nonconference schedule littered with high major opponents.
The Wolf Pack are proving a formidable group with the look of one that could have success if placed in an NCAA bracket, having captured their fifth straight victory Wednesday by beating Towson 81-72.
UNLV’s basketball team has ensured itself a winning record in the non-conference portion of its schedule, news that wouldn’t make headlines for countless programs across the country, but significant for the Rebels.
MW officials want you to believe this is merely a momentary downturn in what is a cyclical process that will soon rebound to a time of multiple NCAA bids. That’s a huge stretch.
In one week, T-Mobile Arena played host to four programs that could cut down nets in Arizona come April, offering just days before Christmas the sort of electric atmosphere more reserved for Sweet 16 or Elite Eight games.
Sports marketing has come to define the destination that is Las Vegas in a time of year when beds are always difficult to fill.
Even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was positive in his comments about Las Vegas, which doesn’t necessarily mean hell has frozen over but requires you to wear a parka.
Duke beat UNLV 94-45, and it might have been the best thing that could have happened for the Rebels.
Duke and UNLV have taken separate, very different journeys through the college landscape since that Final Four game in 1991, when Bobby Hurley as the Blue Devils point guard helped guide his team to an upset that was viewed as improbable as it was historic.
The long and painstakingly slow process for the NHL and its Las Vegas team to unveil the nickname at a celebration outside T-Mobile Arena last month, added a new chapter to the saga when its trademark request was denied.
There aren’t many better opening scenes than a player (Donnel Pumphrey of San Diego State) returning home needing 108 rushing yards against the country’s No. 2 run defense to become the NCAA’s all-time leader.
So you want to ride bulls, huh? Try something a lot more tame. Like football.
The calendar flipped to December and with it has arrived a predicted reality for UNLV’s basketball team, where Marvin Menzies might not have a more significant stretch of games this season in which to guide and, yes, challenge his players.