Relax and enjoy Rebels’ quest

For a second, forget about the 8-9 line of the Midwest bracket in the NCAA Tournament. Forget about Northern Iowa's halfcourt defense, its balanced offense, a terrific 7-foot center named Jordan Eglseder. Forget about Kansas lurking Saturday.

Forget and enjoy.

That part doesn't happen enough.

UNLV basketball on Sunday returned to March Madness in a year UCLA and North Carolina and Connecticut had no reason to watch the selection show. The Rebels are dancing while some of the most storied programs in history are not.

It's a truth that for some reason gets lost on many, that making the NCAAs is not the inherent right of any program, no matter what its lineage suggests.

"It's huge, especially for all but some of the traditional BCS powers like Kentucky and Kansas and Carolina," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "For a majority of teams, (making the tournament) is the goal.

"It seems like there are a lot of people who are like, 'Well, we should always be in the NCAA Tournament.' That's fans. That's healthy. That's everywhere. That's how they feel about their program. But it's not easy."

Think about it: San Diego State won the Mountain West Conference Tournament and awoke Sunday morning with an RPI of 18. It received a No. 11 seed in the Midwest bracket, meaning had they lost to UNLV on Saturday, the Aztecs would likely be preparing for another first-round NIT game today.

There is nothing guaranteed in March, except for Dick Vitale wondering why the ACC didn't receive more berths and a record number of Google searches for the name "Joe Lunardi."

UNLV has now advanced to three NCAA fields the past four years, and a victory over Northern Iowa in Oklahoma City would mean the Rebels will have gotten to least the second round each time.

That's significant. It means you have a program, not just a team. It doesn't mean UNLV fans shouldn't continue hoping the Rebels one day return to the Final Four, that they won't know such glory again.

But this isn't the college basketball landscape of 1990 and those who believe it is usually waste their time complaining about what the program doesn't do instead of celebrating what it has.

"Not to say we're not concerned about those people or that we're not interested in their opinion," Kruger said. "I know they hurt when we don't get to the tournament, but, realistically, it's hard based on statistics."

The Rebels lost four starters from last season and still won 25 games. They now have every opportunity to win a first-round matchup. This is more stability than progress, and you would pick stability every day of the week.

It won't be easy to win Thursday. Games on the 8-9 line are more pick 'em than anything, and when preparing for any team this time of year, three things that are tough to scheme against are a quality center, a team that can defend and guards who make shots.

In other words, Northern Iowa.

You can applaud the committee for showing the Mountain West respect by inviting four teams, but then you look at how close San Diego State came to being out and temper such praise.

But it means a ton for the conference. No one should take for granted making this tournament, and if you don't believe that, what do you suppose they're thinking today in Westwood or Chapel Hill, N.C., or Storrs, Conn.?

"You know, it is strange, because obviously those are formidable teams, with great traditions (not in the tournament)," said selection committee chairman Dan Guerrero, UCLA's athletic director. "But I believe it's reflective of the culture of college basketball this year. Believe me, every one of those teams would have loved to have been represented in this tournament, but it didn't happen.

"As a result of that, there's an opportunity for other teams out there, maybe teams that wouldn't have gotten in if those teams were back in, to create their own great stories.

"That's why this tournament is so fantastic. The opportunity for some teams that haven't been in in a long time gives someone an opportunity to possibly make some magic. That's why it's a good tournament."

For a second, forget about anything but this:

North Carolina vs. William & Mary.

Connecticut vs. Northeastern.

UNR vs. Wichita State.

All are first-round NIT games.

UNLV basketball today is back dancing. The song might end by Thursday night and, if not, history suggests it will by Saturday evening.

For now, enjoy.

Too often, people forget that part.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney's can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.