UNLV creeps closer to Top 25 rankings in coaches, writers polls
A month ago, UNLV was nowhere near the radar in either Top 25 college basketball poll. After upsetting Indiana and Oregon, the Rebels still are unranked, but at least they do appear on the radar screen.
UNLV surfaced in the "Others Receiving Votes" category at 28th in the USA Today coaches poll released today and did not make the cut in The Associated Press poll, either, by landing 30th.
There are probably two reasons for the perceived lack of respect. The Rebels have no true road wins, and their 7-1 record includes victories over a pair of Division-II teams (Chaminade and New Mexico Highlands.)
UNLV plays at Wichita State (3-4) on Wednesday in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge. The Shockers have been injury plagued but are getting healthy again after being ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll.
The Rebels, who were last ranked in January 2013, face No. 12 Arizona in Tucson on Dec. 19. UNLV knocked off then-No. 14 Indiana 72-69 in the Maui Invitational on Nov. 25 and beat then-No. 16 Oregon 80-69 on Friday at the MGM Grand Garden. The Ducks dropped to No. 23 in the USA Today poll.
Michigan State (9-0) took over the No. 1 spot in both polls.
Oklahoma, guided by former UNLV coach Lon Kruger, is 5-0 and ranked No. 8 by the coaches.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247
