Join our linker program. Just stop it. With 99 Duke they werent even ranked as the number one team in the country. They were the number one team that entire season. This was the first NCAA Tournament to feature all four of the, The Final Four was also the first to include both halves of the. UNLV Rebels Men's. Roster and Stats. UNLV basketball made about $1.5 million during its championship season of 1989-90. . No team has won 40 games or more in a row in the 30 years since. The UNLV men's basketball team, called The Runnin' Rebels, and the women's basketball team, called the Lady Rebels, are NCAA Division I teams and part of the Mountain West Conference. Will Saxon. Just never let down. Do you have a blog? Johnson earned the Naismith College Player of the Year award. From there the gauntlet was thrown, but not before former UCLA ball player Bill Walton wrote in his 1978 book On the Road with the Portland Trail Blazers, UCLA players were so well taken care of far beyond the ground rules of the NCAA that even players from poor backgrounds never left UCLA prematurely (for pro basketball) during John Woodens championship years. Much was expected of him, but he never seemed to get going. The semifinal upset also ended the run of one of the most culturally influential college basketball teams ever. On February 10, #1 UNLV traveled to Fayetteville to face #2 Arkansas. Fresno State is now 5-4 against UNLV in Hutson's five seasons. Any future tournament games played in Charlotte would be played at Spectrum Center (although the Coliseum did host the Final Four in 1994). After a timeout, he calmly swished both free throws. If there was a weakness to Ackles, other than his lack of offensive ability, it was his foul trouble. Justin Webster called the Rebels 91-66 loss Wednesday to Utah State the worst game hes ever played in during his basketball career. But what most didnt realize was that, as superb a returning starting five as UNLV had that evening in 91, Duke put on the floor three players (Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley) who would also be considered among the best in college history. Gilbert, David He also converted a key three-point play with 1:02 remaining. The tournament also returned to Charlotte in 1991, this time to the new Charlotte Coliseum, then the off-campus home of the Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team. Coach K's team stayed reasonably close for the game's first 24 minutes before the roof fell in on them. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 6:03AM. But with three new starters the 1990-91 Duke squad was a much different team both in roster and disposition. And all five UNLV starters would be recognized as All-Americans (Augmon and Johnson as First Teamers; the rest as Honorable Mentions) for their efforts. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. They played championship-caliber ball. "I was pleased we hung in there as long as we did," Heathcote said afterward. Why would anyone want to research someone like Wooden who has been built up saintly? Sidney Green enjoyed a four-year career at the university from 1979-1983 and Dedan Thomas Sr., who ranks sixth all-time in assists for the Rebels, represented the university roughly a decade later . On November 29, 1990, Jerry Tarkanianwho was already in Canada for the teams opening gamereceived a phone call from UNLV President Robert Maxon. Always winning. Before that St. Josephs in 2004. There is no additional information to display. In advance of the rematch on the Aggies' home floor, Utah State took out a full-page ad in the Logan Herald Journal. Anthony was a confident player, tough as nails. Jones and Stanford host Oregon. Do you have a sports website? "As great a team as that UNLV team was, we were a pretty darn good team too," Grant Hill says. And as I look around the college basketball landscape, I see failure and defeats everywhere. After blowout loss, UNLV refocuses for rivalry game with UNR, Lady Rebels rally to complete perfect run through Mountain West, Its been a blessing: UNLV honors seniors ahead of Utah State game, Layup in final seconds gives Rebels victory over Air Force, A privilege: Lady Rebels celebrate banner with fans after blowout, UNLV hopes practice pays off against Air Forces Princeton style, Lady Rebels want fans to help honor history with banner ceremony. The final game on the regular season slate was Cal State Fullertona school with almost nothing to brag about in the basketball department (Leon Wood on the 84 Olympic squad?) You call winning a game by 2-points better? A LITTLE MORE than three months after the title game, the NCAA ruled that UNLV was indeed ineligible for the 1991 postseason due to violations dating back to 1977. Now I know what everyone will say - they didnt even win the title that year! Duke, meanwhile, won the first of five National Championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015) two nights later. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Hill, Christian On March 2, 1991, the UNLV Runnin Rebelscoached by perennial NCAA-tormentor Jerry Tarkanian and led by future NBA first rounders Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, and Greg Anthonyfinished off a perfect regular season. The timing of the NCAA's ruling left Johnson and Augmon in a difficult spot because by then the 1990 NBA draft had already taken place. We definitely werent backing down from anyone. No post season for the Rebels. Hunt never seemed to missed big shots, and the Rebels were on a historic run during which they seemed unbeatable until the shot hit the back of the rim and bounced away. Hill almost atoned for his mistake, missing a short pull-up, but Laettner grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. But what was pegged a mismatch became one of the most compelling games in NCAA history, with the fallout ushering in a new era in college basketball. Tarkanian's program was indeed under scrutiny, and speculation had already begun on where his star players would go if UNLV were placed on probation by the NCAA. The protagonist/antagonist characters are so striking you would have to be blind not to see. A contested desperation heave didn't have a chance, clanging off the backboard. "Even at halftime, you're thinking we're going to go out and do what we usually do, and it just never happened.". No need. What to do? There was expected to be great turnover on the UNLV basketball roster after a disappointing 12-15 season. Ill see you after the game, Johnson threatened as the referees pulled the players apart. Its simple those teams are mentioned in passing - never with the reverence of 91 UNLV. The Rebels met Duke in back-to-back Final Fours in 1990 and 91. Chappell, DeShawn Yeah, we're about to go back-to-back and go undefeated,'" Hill, Duke's starting two guard, says today. I never felt I could win this. Sure, Duke was a dangerous team, but pre-season, everyone had them pegged as top 3 team. And many still question the charging call that knocked him from the game with under four minutes to play. While they knew they werent thugs or convicts they played with swagger and gave menacing stares after destroying the rim. "I've found out that it's smart never to argue with him," he said, "and I suppose if I were [Knight] I would pick UNLV to win, too.". As 7,963 Canadians looked on (in a stadium that could seat 60,000), the Rebels rolled. Though his team had gone 0-3 against the Rebels that season, Long Beach State head coach Seth Greenberg said Tarkanian's "biggest vulnerability is if Greg [Anthony] gets in foul trouble." Dikembe Mutombo was 7-foot-2, Alonzo Mourning was 6-10 and Georgetown slowed the pace of the game down to a crawl. This is a discussion on PS3 NCAA Basketball 10/March Madness Legacy: 2020-21 and Classic Team Rosters within the EA Sports NCAA Basketball Rosters forums. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. ", The game was referred to in basketball circles afterward as "40 minutes of layups.". And the big fourAnderson, Augmon, Hunt, and Johnsonwere all coming back. Let it burn into your cranium. Simply put, most opponents were already beat before the game even started. All Rights Reserved. Coach Wooden (good) is to this day considered a saint with not a single corrupt bone in his body, while Coach Tarkanian (bad) is viewed as having low morals with little regard for authority. Stacey Augmon, who had set off an impromptu autograph mob scene on the campus of UBC the night before, opened the game with a thunderous dunk. Running their offense above the three-point line created spacing for Hill, who befuddled Johnson with his quickness. Thus concluded UNLVs perfect regular season. One of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history ushered in the Duke Dynasty and ended the run of one of the most influential college basketball teams of all time. The 1990 NCAA tournament concluded with UNLV winning the national championship thanks to a 30-point rout of Duke in the final, 103-73.The margin set the record for largest in championship game . The Hogs even held the halftime lead. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. In the buildup to UNLV's title defense, countless features had been written on how to beat the Rebels. 2023 The Draft Review. 1 seed and arrived at the 1991 round of 32 in Tucson, Arizona, with a 31-0 record. What else could he say? Baker, Trey UNLV came down . Scoring was distributed across the team, too. If Anthony didnt get into foul trouble against Duke, wed almost certainly be talking about UNLVs back-to-back championships today. . "Our attitude was that if we keep it close, the pressure is on them. Hurley, Antonio Larry Johnson shot 66% from the floor for the season. Duke led 79-77 with 12.7 seconds left in the game. "Um, no. Tar Heel Times UNC Sports & Recruiting News. The 1991 Rebels were the bad guys and they loved every minute of their role. Solid scorer; a starter at any other school. Depending on how you wanted to defend UNLV, Hunt could have 15 or 30 points. 1990-91. Bob Knight wasn't going to go that far, but he did predict that the Rebels would beat the team coached by his own onetime player at Army and assistant at Indiana, Krzyzewski. UNLV's semi-final loss in the NCAA tournament brought an end to their astounding 45-game win streak. We got these dudes because they are taking us lightly. Davis, Thomas They were ranked No. UNLV beat in-state rival Nevada by 50. Senior Director of Basketball Administration & Alumni Relations, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Men's Basketball and Volleyball, Allegiant Stadium - UNLV Football Fan Guide, TicketSmarter - Official Ticket Resale Partner, Hide/Show Additional Information For Victor Iwuakor, Hide/Show Additional Information For Michael Nuga, Hide/Show Additional Information For Justin Webster, Hide/Show Additional Information For Donovan Williams, Hide/Show Additional Information For Jordan McCabe, Hide/Show Additional Information For Keshon Gilbert, Hide/Show Additional Information For David Muoka, Hide/Show Additional Information For Bryce Hamilton. For those who think the argument ends with the fact they didnt win. The Bench Evric Gray: Great college player. These sites are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with with these teams or institutions. We may never get the full story because the media creates and destroys what it wants not what it is. The Rebels got some extra time to prepare for Air Forces unique offense, but are likely to be without two starters again as they try to snap a three-game losing skid. We became a great program at that moment.". ESPN and CBS analyst Jay Bilas was a Duke assistant coach for both the 1990 national title game, UNLV's 103-73 rout, and the following year's 79-77 Final Four upset that stopped the Rebels two . Many locals can tell you exactly where they were when Hunts shot just missed its mark. Tarkanian's group easily captured the Big West's automatic bid and, at 29-5, was given the top seed in the West region. This isnt the NBA where you need to be consistent in a best of seven series. UNLV Rebels Men's. Roster and Stats. Now free to defend its title, UNLV was expected to confront its first real test in December when it played Steve Smith and Michigan State at the two-year-old Palace of Auburn Hills. "I think it's the best a team has ever played against me," Krzyzewski said afterward. To this day, the Rebels are the only team to top 100 points in the title game, and the win over Duke still stands as the largest margin of victory ever recorded in a championship final. Royce Coach: Jerry Tarkanian. Tarkanian grew tired of the NCAAs accusations and their blatant blind eyes to obvious rule breaking by UCLAs boaster Sam Gilbert. UAB did the best it could. When Krzyzewski was asked about that image at the Sunday news conference, he replied, "It really doesn't bother me.". There is no additional information to display: For the first time, CBS Sports showed all 63 tournament games. The two stars could have transferred and received immediate eligibility, but both elected to remain in Vegas. One 34-year-old coach in particular had made what turned out to be a strikingly prophetic observation to Sports Illustrated. THIS WAS THE the first Final Four called by Jim Nantz for CBS, and his future broadcast partner, Grant Hill, was a freshman for the Blue Devils. On This Day In UK Basketball History On March 2, 1970, Dan Issel scored 42 points against Auburn. Everyone, and I mean everyone, hated UNLV. Defensively, Ackles was intimidating, often blocking shots out of position and using his length to grab rebounds. But he picked up his dribble and passed to Hunt, who was about 30 feet from the basket. More School Info. It still hurts," Stacey Augmon says when reached a few days before the 25th anniversary of the game. Missing two starters, UNLV stayed close with Boise State but still lost its third consecutive game Sunday in Boise, Idaho. Either Tarkanian could serve a personal suspension from coaching during the 1991 tournament and watch his team from afar before facing a postseason ban for both himself and the Rebels in 1992, or UNLV could play in the 1991 postseason in exchange for a ban on all live TV appearances and on any postseason play for the 1991-92 season. And Rancho High product Anthony, the point guard, was the glue that held it all together. Johnson then tied the game after hitting one of three free throws -- Thomas Hill was called for a lane violation. But what makes them different than, say, 83 Houston, 85 Georgetown or 99 Duke? The game turned when UNLV point guard Greg Anthony fouled out with 3:51 remaining. I love the city of Las Vegas. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). A total of 63 games were played. Can we imagine a recent Duke or Kansas or Kentucky team finishing off a regular season in such a humble circumstances? "I still look at those games like, Wow' when I see the level we were playing. And it wasnt really that close. You only have to beat a team once to win. After defeating Dennis Scott and Georgia Tech 90-81 at the Final Four in Denver, the Rebels would face Duke for the national championship. Georgia Tech, with Kenny Anderson and Dennis Scott, gave UNLV a game in the Final Four, but UNLV pulled out a 90-81 victory. "Let's show UNLV fans and players that we at Utah State University are a class act," USU's president and athletic director jointly urged in the ad. Krzyzewski. An Ackles tip-in on the ensuing possession pushed the lead to five, but UNLV was disjointed without their point guard and Duke went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead 77-76. Menu. "In hindsight, I think it's less of a surprise that we won that game than when it happened. Why? The Rebels earned their second consecutive West region No. Unsung hero: David Butler of UNLV, one of the toughest and best defenders in school history. Losing the most lopsided championship game in tournament history had battered Dukes psyche. Athletic Trainer. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Until 48 hours before the season tipped off, UNLV was ineligible to defend its National title. Equally impressive was Augmons ability to finish in transition. Buckley, Brandon By this point in his career he had already taken the NCAA all the way to the Supreme Court. Christian Laettner, a progenitor of the stretch big, further opened up the court with long jump shots. Hell, Ill even go on record and say the 1990 UNLV squad belongs in the top 10 of all time teams. It wasn't. Weve never discussed going undefeated.. It was the lack of having our point guard out there. Hill, Crawford Anderson Hunt: He was one of the most dangerous players on the team. Todd Day, Oliver Miller, and Lee Mayberry anchored the Arkansas squad. As it happened, that loyalty would be rewarded by the least likely entity of all, the NCAA itself. Things got interesting with 2:27 to go when Day and Johnson got tangled up under the basket. To mimic the Runnin' Rebels' swarming defense -- which shifted between man-to-man and the Amoeba, a 1-1-3 zone that combined ball pressure and corner traps with man-to-man concepts -- Duke starters played 5-on-7 against the bench in practice.