Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

rebels basketball:

Analysis: Taking a look at some important games on the UNLV basketball schedule

The Rebels could potentially face off against national power North Carolina at the Orleans Arena

UNC basketball

Associated Press

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams instructs his team against UNC-Pembroke during the first half of an exhibition basketball game Oct. 28 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The UNLV basketball team has made a habit of starting the season on a winning streak.

Last year, the Rebels won 10 consecutive games to open the season, not losing until mid-December in finishing with a 24-9 record and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years. In 2009-10, the Rebels were undefeated in November.

This year, UNLV will have its hands full matching the feat. The Rebels’ schedule starts Friday at home against Division II Grand Canyon, and includes winnable games in the first two weeks at the friendly confines of the Thomas & Mack Center — Nov. 14 against UNR, Nov. 17 against Canisius College; Nov. 20 against Morgan State and Nov. 22 against Cal-Poly.

But after those five relatively leisurely games, UNLV will be tested in a big way.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Rebels will play at the Orleans Arena in the Las Vegas Invitational, potentially facing national power North Carolina.

UNLV opens the tournament Nov. 25 against Southern California, with the winner playing the North Carolina-South Carolina winner the following day.

Southern Cal is far from a walkover, but the reward of getting past the Trojans and facing UNC highlights the schedule.

The Rebels will be looking to make an early statement under first-year coach Dave Rice, and a national stage — the game would be televised on ESPN2 — against an elite program would be a golden opportunity. Imagine legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian sitting courtside and the announcers talking about the glory days of UNLV basketball. It would be a great advertisement for the program.

Here’s a look some other significant games on UNLV’s schedule.

    • UNLV vs. UC Santa Barbara
      Photo by Sam Morris/Las Vegas Sun

      Nov. 30 at Santa Barbara

      The five-hour drive into Southern California to face the Gauchos is UNLV’s first road game of the season, giving the Rebels a chance for redemption after falling last year at home to Santa Barbara, 68-62. UCSB is traditionally one of the Big West Conference’s top teams, serving as a perfect first road game test for the Rebels, who have games in Big 10 country at Wisconsin and Illinois in December. Last year, UNLV’s 10-game winning streak to open the season was snapped by Santa Barbara, which connected on 9-of-19 shots from 3-point range.

    • unlv basketball

      Dec. 10 at Wisconsin

      Talk about a chance for Rice’s team to make a splash on the national stage. Wisconsin enters the season ranked No. 15 by the Associated Press and is surely eager for redemption after falling to UNLV last year in the final seconds. Chace Stanback had arguably his best performance in UNLV’s 68-65 victory, scoring a game-high 25 points in an exciting afternoon game at the Thomas & Mack Center. A Justin Hawkins steal late sealed the victory, giving UNLV one of its signature wins of the season. UNLV travels to the Midwest in consecutive weeks, facing Illinois the following Saturday at the United Center in Chicago. Both games are on the Big 10 Network, giving the Rebels more exposure in their quest to reach new markets on the recruiting trail.

    • NCAA - UNLV vs. Illinois
      Photo by Sam Morris/Las Vegas Sun

      Dec. 17 at Illinois

      This game will have extra significance for UNLV’s returning players, who were dismantled by Illinois in last season’s NCAA Tournament. Illinois made quick work of the Rebels, connecting on 17-of-27 shots in the first half and going on a 15-0 run early to essentially seal the game. It definitely wasn’t pretty as UNLV lost its first tournament game for the second straight season. This is one of the biggest games of the season for UNLV for more than the revenge factor. It’s a team from a big-time conference (the Big 10) and played in a big-time arena (the Chicago Bulls’ United Center). Illinois graduated several of its key players from last year, and with five freshman and just one senior on the roster, will still be experimenting with new pieces during the nonconference season. D.J. Richardson, a Findlay Prep product, is one of Illinois’ top players.

    • UNLV Basketball
      Photo by Justin M. Bowen

      Dec. 23 vs. California

      California enters the year ranked No. 23 by the Associated Press, coming to Las Vegas for a Friday game two days before Christmas. A win against a quality team from a power conference will be beneficial come March, when the Rebels should be jockeying for seeding in the NCAA Tournament. This is the best non-league game on the home schedule — remember, a potential game against North Carolina would be at the Orleans Arena. Cal is led by senior guard Jorge Gutierrez of Findlay Prep. He averaged 14.6 points in 33 minutes per game last year.

    • UNLV vs. New Mexico Basketball
      Photo by Sam Morris/Las Vegas Sun

      Jan. 21 vs. New Mexico; Feb. 18 at New Mexico

      Here’s how significant the games between UNLV and New Mexico are expected to be: the Feb. 18 meeting at The Pit in Albuquerque will be televised by CBS, becoming the second game in Mountain West Conference history on the network. UNLV won both meetings against New Mexico last season, including a three-point overtime victory at The Pit that was one of UNLV’s most impressive of the season. This season, don’t be surprised if these two games decide the regular-season league champion. New Mexico power forward Drew Gordon, who average a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds per game last year, is one of the conference’s top players and has given UNLV fits on the interior.

    • MWC Tournament - UNLV vs. SDSU
      Photo by Sam Morris/Las Vegas Sun

      Jan. 14 at San Diego State; Feb. 11 vs. San Diego State

      San Diego State won’t be the same team that knocked UNLV out of the Mountain West Conference last year, having lost several key components of its best team in school history to graduation and sophomore Kawhi Leonard to the NBA. But the Aztecs still will be one of the Mountain West Conference’s top clubs and will be tough to beat at home. Transfers Garrett Green (LSU) and Xavier Thames (Washington State), and junior point guard Chase Tapley are talented enough to make San Diego State a threat. The Mountain West appears to be a two-bid league this year, meaning the Rebels can’t afford slipping up against the Aztecs.

    Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.

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