A year ago, the Mountain West was rated college basketball’s No. 3 conference. This time around, it’s not nearly as strong, and it can’t count on sending five teams to the NCAA Tournament again.
UNLV Basketball
A majority of what Carlos Lopez-Sosa does to help UNLV win basketball games is not showing up on a stat sheet. The senior forward is getting fewer opportunities than he ever imagined.
The fifth straight win was as impressive as the previous four, which is to say UNLV’s basketball team has found a consistent rhythm in beating opponents it should. Teams that just aren’t very good.
Deville Smith scored 15 points and Roscoe Smith had 12 points and 12 rebounds to help the Rebels to an 82-66 victory over Mississippi State in the Las Vegas Classic championship on Monday at Orleans Arena.
What the Rebels participated in Friday night resembled a scrimmage, but at least it was one they won with ease.
UNLV has developed a troubling tendency to play down to the level of many opponents over the last few years. That trend was bucked on Friday night as UNLV put an early 18-0 run on Sacred Heart en route to an 82-50 victory.
It can be a lonely existence at the end of the bench, as Demetris Morant is discovering. He’s getting a lot of time to think and little playing time.
Only once this season did Khem Birch feel that UNLV was outmanned on the front line, and that was early this month against No. 1 Arizona.
UNLV seemed to be matching the lack of energy that came from the small and less-than-enthusiastic crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center for much of the first half on Wednesday night.
College players asked to embrace a reserve role can often act immaturely and pout about the supposed demotion. Others can accept the challenge and try to prove they deserve more minutes. UNLV junior Jelan Kendrick chose the latter path on Wednesday night
In Chris Wood’s dreams, he’s in a one-on-one matchup with Kevin Durant and matching the three-time NBA scoring champion shot for shot.
In the offseason, when plans are formed and promises made, coach Dave Rice presented a vision of UNLV attacking with full-court pressure defense and running opponents ragged in offensive transition.
Brandon Ashley’s layup with 28 seconds remaining helped No. 2 Arizona hold on for a 63-58 victory over UNLV at the McKale Center.
In the two years he spent at Findlay Prep, Nick Johnson showed star potential. He was the leading man on one of the nation’s top high school basketball teams. Fast forward the film, and nothing has changed
In his seventh game as UNLV basketball coach, Dave Rice played the underdog role to perfection, directing his team to a stunning knockout of top-ranked North Carolina. A little more than two years later, Rice is back in the dog house, so to speak.
