The trio of Desi-Rae Young, Justice Ethridge and Essence Booker pushed UNLV past San Diego State in the Mountain West semifinals Tuesday.
Basketball
Julian Strawther started his freshman season nearly three years ago as a reserve on the best team in Gonzaga history — and is likely leaving as a featured forward on another NCAA Tournament-bound team.
Desi-Rae Young was the only DI player in the nation to average 18-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and shoot better than 60 percent. And she wasn’t named conference Player of the Year — a certain mistake.
The debate is over. Las Vegas can stake its claim as the owner of March Madness from this day forward. It’s about to be a wild month, and it could be only the beginning.
The rumors that began Thursday morning were confirmed before the sun set Thursday night. UCLA and USC are leaving the Pac-12 in 2024, they announced via Twitter — and thereby leaving Las Vegas, too.
Kentucky junior forward Dre’una Edwards hit the game-winning shot in the Wildcats’ upset of No. 1-ranked South Carolina in the championship game of the women’s SEC tournament.
Kevin Kruger grew tremendously as a head basketball coach off the court as his players did on it during the 2021-22 season.
The Thomas Mack Center felt just like Laramie, minus about 5,000 feet of elevation. Hosting the MW Tournament isn’t any sort of home-court advantage for UNLV. Hasn’t been for some time.
UNLV’s women’s basketball team is NCAA Tournament bound for the first time since 2002, courtesy of three wins in three days during the conference tournament at Thomas Mack Center.
Air Force could not keep Desi-Rae Young, the UNLV sophomore standout, away from the basket or free-throw line during their Mountain West tournament matchup.
UNLV showed its superior balance, depth and coaching in a victory over Utah State, but the Lady Rebels’ resume isn’t good enough to get an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
No. 1-ranked Gonzaga has the experience and talent to win the national championship. The Bulldogs begin their postseason Monday in the WCC semifinals at Orleans Arena.
Things aren’t stable for Utah State, Colorado State and Boise State, who are not assured inclusion when the 68-team NCAA Tournament field is announced.
Scott Ghertner hasn’t seen it all, but he has seen a lot in 25 years in sports and public relations at MGM Resorts.
Turnover is coming for the UNLV basketball program, and it might not end with the players.