Seniors Robotham, Clyburn take ownership of UNLV’s rebuild

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Saturday, March 2, 2019 | 2 a.m.

The word “rebuilding” is thrown around a lot in the sports world. For fans and critics alike, it is an easy word to say.

Actually doing it, however, is a very different thing. The work that goes into rebuilding a team is always hard and often thankless, as UNLV seniors Noah Robotham and Kris Clyburn have discovered.

When Clyburn committed to the Rebels in April 2016, he was one of the first players to sign on to Marvin Menzies’s rebuilding project at UNLV. He knew difficult times were ahead, and he lived through them as a starter on a team that compiled an 11-21 record in 2016-17. It was the worst year in program history.

Despite that futile campaign, Robotham transferred in from Akron the following summer. He redshirted during the 2017-18 season, when the Rebels posted a 20-13 record, and assumed the starting point guard job this season, so far leading UNLV to a 15-13 mark that includes a 9-7 showing in Mountain West play.

A large segment of the Rebels’ fan base isn’t buying into the rebuilding talk; they believe UNLV should be able to snap its fingers and reappear in 1991. But for Clyburn, who has actually been on the ground floor doing the heavy lifting, the fact that UNLV is one victory away from posting back-to-back winning seasons is not taken for granted.

“From the first time I signed here, I kind of knew it was going to be a struggle coming in,” Clyburn said. “But I accepted the challenge. Having two winning seasons since the start is just a stepping stone for us to continue the progress of this program. I feel like it’s going to keep rising even after I’m gone, even after Noah’s gone.”

Clyburn and Robotham have started every game so far this season, with Clyburn leading the team in scoring (13.5 points per game) and Robotham leading the team in assists (4.8 per game) and steals (1.1 per game).

With the two veterans set to be honored during a Senior Night ceremony before Saturday’s contest against Boise State, Menzies said both players have laid the foundation for future success at UNLV.

“I don’t think it will be shown maybe in total wins and losses,” Menzies said of their impact on the program’s ongoing turnaround, “but in culture and the things that they laid down that aren’t necessarily statistical, absolutely. Both of them will be able to be very, very proud of the success that we’re about to have.”

Robotham and Clyburn have poured a ton of sweat equity into rebuilding the UNLV program. Clyburn battled through inconsistency and confidence issues in his first two seasons and is now one of the team’s most dependable two-way players, while Robotham took on a leadership role during his redshirt year and is the unquestioned coach on the floor this season.

Robotham said he has tried to set a lasting example for the Rebels on and off the court.

“I think coach Menzies has done an unbelievable job of getting the right kids,” he said. “Guys are committed, doing well in school. Life is bigger than just basketball. I think anytime in life, you want to represent yourself with class and you want to represent your family and be a law-abiding citizen, and coach has put that effort out there. I think as he continues to get better players and better recruits I think UNLV is going to be back where it was in the past. I really see it as an upward direction.”

Barring a miracle run through the Mountain West tournament in two weeks, Robotham and Clyburn realize they won’t be on the team to bask in the glory when UNLV eventually returns to the NCAA tournament. But they put in the time and hard work to rebuild UNLV, and when and if there is a breakthrough under Menzies, both departed seniors should feel like they played a critical role in that turnaround.

No one worked harder to make it happen.

“I’m going to feel good about this team when I leave here,” Clyburn said. “Moving forward, I’m going to make sure I can go to the games and stuff, because I know it’s going to be something special in the future.”

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