All I want for Christmas: Dedicating holiday songs to UNLV basketball

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 | 2 a.m.

The holiday season is supposed to be about warmth and togetherness and seeing the good in the world, but it's hard to be quite so holly jolly about the UNLV basketball team at this point in the year.

There have been good times, sure — an overtime win at Fresno State gave the fans something to embrace, and Amauri Hardy has been singularly excellent on most nights — but the team has earned more than a few lumps of coal.

As the Runnin' Rebels prepare to wrap up non-conference play, it's a good time to take a step back and assess the program from a big-picture point of view. Seeing as how Christmas is right around the corner, let's look at the state of UNLV hoops through the lens of some classic holiday songs:

All I Want for Christmas is You

We start off this list with the best holiday song, and for Rebels fans this one can only be about David Jenkins. UNLV won't be able to unwrap this 20-point scorer until next year, unfortunately, as the superstar shooting guard is redshirting this season after transferring from South Dakota State. But it's tantalizing to think about what Jenkins will bring to UNLV when he's finally able to suit up — and how much better the team would be if he were playing now.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The 3-point shot is the driving force in T.J. Otzelberger's offense, but so far this year it's been cold outside for most of UNLV's long-range shooters. The Rebels are making 33.5 percent as a team, which is actually down from last year's 33.7 percent under 3-point averse Marvin Menzies. Like the song, this aspect of the team is proving to be problematic in the context of modern times.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

UNLV announced an attendance of 7,023 for Wednesday's home game against Pacific, but there were less than half that many actually in the stands. And the scarlet and grey faithful were not exactly rewarded, as they had to watch as Pacific downed the Rebels, 74-66. Dropping home games to non-Gonzaga WCC schools is not the way to get people back into the Thomas & Mack Center at a time when the sports landscape in Las Vegas has never been more competitive.

What Child is This?

Get to know Zaon Collins, because the young prodigy might be the most important figure in rebuilding the Rebels. Collins is a junior point guard at Bishop Gorman and currently rated as the No. 47 prospect in his class by 247Sports; UNLV has made him its top recruiting target regardless of class, and if he commits for 2021 he'll supercharge the up-tempo attack Otzelberger wants to implement. If Collins announces he is UNLV-bound by next winter, it will be a very happy holiday for Otzelberger.

In the Bleak Midwinter

The theme of this carol is that miracles can sprout from even the most dire circumstances, and that's probably something UNLV fans would like to hear right now. Times are tough at the moment; the roster is thin, the product on the court is not appealing, and fans are staying away. But even at 4-8, things could be worse. Amauri Hardy is progressing, the 2020 recruiting class looks promising and the program has a well-paid coach with a proven system. In hindsight, this bleak midwinter could eventually come to be viewed as the start of something better.

Last Christmas

Is the UNLV program in better shape than it was last year at this time? If a poll had been taken on Christmas Day 2018 the team's approval rating might have been at an all-time low, as they played Bucknell in the Diamond Head Classic and got waxed, 97-72. That dropped the Rebels to 7-6 at the time, which is better than the current 4-8 mark, but getting blown out by a Patriot League opponent on a neutral court still seems worse.

Run Rudolph Run

One semi-bright spot has been the Rebels' transition offense. UNLV is scoring 1.097 points per possession in the open court, which isn't elite by any means, but it's been this team's most efficient way of scoring so far. UNLV is No. 83 in transition efficiency, according to Synergy Sports data, while ranking 250^th in halfcourt efficiency. This team should be running at every opportunity. To paraphrase the lyrics, T.J., you're the mastermind — make it happen.

Little Saint Nick

UNLV fans should very much be looking forward to Nick Blake, the team's top recruit for the Class of 2020. Blake is currently ranked No. 93 in the country by 247Sports, and his shooting touch and open-court scoring ability should earn him minutes right away next year as a freshman. This program needs offense, and the 6-foot-6 Blake projects to be a saintly scorer.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

The circumstances may not be ideal (ie, the weather outside is frightful), but Amauri Hardy is making the most of it. The junior is averaging 17.1 points and 3.3 assists while shooting a team-best 37.0 percent from 3-point range, proving he can be an impact player as a lead guard even as opposing defenses focus all of their attention on stopping him. Now if only the Rebels were able to take some of the pressure off him, that would be so delightful.

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Discipline is important to Otzelberger, and he has been consistent in putting his foot down when necessary. Donnie Tillman has been pulled from the starting lineup twice for transgressions, and Bryce Hamilton has been yanked once for a violation of team rules. After both players were punished against Pacific, Otzelberger said he was going to make the team suffer through a brutally physical practice the following morning. Call Otzelberger a grinch if you must, but his job is to coach the players, not to make friends.

(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays

On the flip side, a couple of local kids have been making the most of their opportunity to suit up for the hometown team. Nick Blair and Marvin Coleman may not be the most talented players on the roster — both were walk-ons as recently as last year — but they play hard. When Tillman and Hamilton were docked against Pacific, Otzelberger turned to Blair and Coleman to take their spots in the starting lineup. Just a couple of Las Vegas kids doing the home team proud.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Is Donnie Tillman getting the message? The junior forward was heralded as a big get when UNLV nabbed him as a transfer from Utah over the summer, but he has underperformed those expectations so far (12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 30.6 3FG%). Throw in the aforementioned discipline problems and it's clear that something is up. Can Otzelberger get through to him over the next two and a half months?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

March used to be the most anticipated month on the calendar for the Rebels, but for now it has been replaced by September. That's when Otzelberger should know which of his coveted 2021 recruits have committed, with Collins being the top priority. If Otzelberger can land another good incoming group, UNLV should be back up and running.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.