UNLV Rebels
Mountain West (25-9, 10-6)
As a sixth seed in the tournament a year ago, the Rebels were knocked out in their opening game against 11 seed Colorado. This year the Rebels obviously have the potential to make it past the first game. While UNLV may not have many signature wins, they impressed early only losing to top teams such as Oregon and North Carolina, while garnering a wins over tough Mountain West foes like New Mexico and Colorado State.
Big Wins: 1/16 at San Diego State (82-75), 2/09 New Mexico (64-55), 2/20 Colorado State (61-59)
Bad Losses: 2/06 at Fresno State (55-64), 2/13 at Air Force (56-71), 3/09 Fresno State (52-61)
Coach: Dave Rice (2 seasons at UNLV)
Why They Can Surprise:
The “Anthony Attack” may take someone victim this March. Anthony Bennett is scoring 16.1 points a game and still picks up around eight rebounds a game. He often is fed the ball from Anthony Marshall, who’s averaging nearly six assist per game. But don’t leave Marshall alone, he can shoot as well averaging double digits in scoring. Collectively UNLV plays a very solid game shooting just under 45 percent from the field, and is always steady at the free throw line, shooting over 70 percent.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The Rebels can disappoint like any team in the field this year by just having one tough game. This season has seen no consistency at the top of the ranking with top teams losing each week, but it seems teams like UNLV are really among the more steady teams that are just somewhat laying low. If there was ever a year that a true Cinderella would go all the way and win the title, it will be this year. Although, once they run into a another top team in the tournament, UNLV will need to have their Anthonys going and they can’t get into foul trouble with their relatively inexperienced and short bench.
Probable Starters:
Anthony Marshall, Senior, Guard, 10.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 4.0 rpg
Katin Reinhardt, Freshman, Guard, 10.1 ppg, 2.5 apg
Bryce Dejean-Jones, Sophomore, Guard, 10.1 ppg, 2.4 apg, 4.5 rpg
Mike Moser, Junior, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Anthony Bennett, Freshman, Forward, 16.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Quintrell Thomas, Senior, Forward, 3.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Khem Birch, Sophomore, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Justin Hawkins, Senior, Guard, 5.0 ppg, 1.8 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 72.0 (67th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 63.2 (90, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.1 (129, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.5 (16, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.4 (143, 5)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.1 (211, 6)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.6 (129, 6)
Rebound Margin: 6.8 (14, 2)
Assists Per Game: 16.6 (9, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.3 (245, 9)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
2012 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Colorado
2011 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Illinois
2010 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Northern Iowa
2009 NIT First Round loss to Kentucky
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Kent State
2008 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Kansas
2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Georgia Tech
2007 NCAA Round of 32 win over Wisconsin
2007 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Kansas
*all team stats through 3/10
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
