Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Advancing to play Kansas would be great exposure

I haven't had a chance to see Northern Iowa play, but I have a good report on them from other coaches.

They are a solid team that will give UNLV a test in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They are a veteran team with all five starters back, and they are disciplined on offense.

They are deliberate and won’t take any bad shots. And they have size on the inside.

I expect it to be a great game. There is no question that UNLV is a lot more athletic. They are quicker and can jump higher.

The winner gets to play Kansas. That's a game either school would love to play in.

You never know what will happen in one game. It's a great opportunity because if you beat Kansas, you are known nationally. While the game might seem impossible to win, it's well worth the risk.

We played Roy Williams' Kansas team one year in the preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden. Kansas beat us because we didn't have Moses Scurry and David Butler, who were both ineligible.

They beat us, but at the end of the year, they weren't in the same class of us.

The first week of the tournament is so exciting. It is a great time of the year.

It's the most exciting because all of those mid-majors get a shot to upset those big-time school. Ultimately, however, you will find that the more established programs most often win because they know how to finish games.

Through the years, I have found most of those mid-majors are right there, but they can't get over the hump.

I'm going to be at the Venetian hosting a March Madness party. I invite all Rebel fans that want to come down.

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