Hill: Rebels have to earn spot in big college hoops showcase

UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger stares down a referee during a second-round NIT game between Boston College and UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @madelinepcarter

By Adam Hill / Las Vegas Review-Journal

November 3, 2024 - 6:00 am

The announcement last week of an unbelievable college basketball doubleheader at Allegiant Stadium was an exciting reminder that the Final Four is coming to Las Vegas in 2028.

But seeing a field of Arizona, Duke, Indiana and Kansas coming to Las Vegas in November 2027 had to be tough for longtime Las Vegans and old-school UNLV fans.

Those are some of the school’s biggest rivals from the glory days, and now they will be prominently featured to the nation just down the street from campus.

It would be nice for UNLV to be included in such events, but the Rebels just aren’t on that level at the moment.

Coach Kevin Kruger and company are tasked with getting them back in that conversation. Keeping guys like Dedan Thomas Jr. around can only help that mission.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.

3 takeaways: Short-handed Rebels blow past Pepperdine — PHOTOS

By Callie Fin / RJ

November 21, 2024 - 6:20 pm

Brooklyn Hicks came off the bench to lead the UNLV men’s basketball team in scoring during a rout of Pepperdine on Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Omaha Mavericks forward Joshua Streit, left, and UNLV forward Jeremiah Cherry (45) compete duri ...

Rebels dealing with key injuries before showdown with Pepperdine

By Callie Fin / RJ

November 19, 2024 - 4:22 pm

UNLV’s men’s basketball team will be down three players when it hosts Pepperdine at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Thomas & Mack Center.

‘Her remarkable life’: Lois Tarkanian was pillar of Las Vegas as educator, politician

By Mark Anderson / RJ

November 19, 2024 - 12:53 pm

Lois Tarkanian, the wife of UNLV’s most famous basketball coach who also carved out her own identity in education, politics and community service, has died. She was 90.

Clark standout’s resurgence helps UNLV top Omaha: ‘He’s just a winner’

By Ed Graney / RJ

November 15, 2024 - 7:03 pm

Former Clark standout Jalen Hill, who tore his ACL in January, looked like his old self while leading UNLV to a win over Omaha at Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLV forward Pape N'Diaye (22) looks to shoot the ball during the college basketball game again ...

UNLV frontcourt features international 7-footer with potential

By Callie Fin / RJ

November 14, 2024 - 7:00 am

UNLV men’s basketball coach Kevin Kruger is excited about 7-foot freshman Pape N’Diaye, who came to Las Vegas from the Ivory Coast in 2022.

UNLV Lady Rebels guard Amarachi Kimpson (33) brings the ball up court against Loyola Marymount ...

Lady Rebels take first loss of season: ‘This adversity will be good for us’

By Callie Fin / RJ

November 13, 2024 - 9:58 am

The UNLV women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Tuesday at Arizona, part of a beefed-up nonconference schedule to prepare for the NCAA Tournament.

A rendering of the north-facing side of the LVXP resort planned on Las Vegas Boulevard, between ...

Renderings unveiled of proposed North Strip resort with NBA arena

By Richard N. Velotta / RJ

November 11, 2024 - 4:39 pm

The LVXP resort, which would be slightly taller than Fontainebleau, will be discussed at the Winchester Town Advisory Board meeting.

Southern Utah Thunderbirds head coach Todd Simon in the first half of their NCAA basketball gam ...

Hill: Deadly Las Vegas fire hits close to home for ex-UNLV coach

By Adam Hill / RJ

November 11, 2024 - 10:41 am

Former UNLV coach Todd Simon is now the coach at Bowling Green, and one of his players recently lost four family members in a tragic house fire in Las Vegas.