Andrew Pace
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin' Rebels is the men's basketball team that represents the university in the Mountain West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Runnin' Rebels have a rich history in basketball, with 14 of their 16 coaches having winning records. The team has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times and won the NCAA Championship in 1990, beating Duke by a record-setting margin. UNLV has also produced several notable players, such as Glen Gondrezick, who played for the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, and Anthony Bennett, a former NBA player and the number one overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. The university provides world-class facilities and support for its student-athletes, fostering both athletic and academic success.
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What You'll Learn
The Runnin' Rebels
The name "Runnin' Rebels" was coined by then-sports information director Dominic Clark in 1974 to describe Coach Jerry Tarkanian's up-tempo basketball squads. Tarkanian, who led the program from 1973 to 1992, is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. During his tenure, the Runnin' Rebels became a college basketball powerhouse, making four Final Four appearances and winning the NCAA Championship in 1990. They defeated Duke by a record-setting margin of 103-73, becoming the first and only team to score over 100 points in the championship game.
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Jerry Tarkanian
In 1961, Tarkanian started his collegiate coaching career at California's Riverside City College. He moved to Pasadena City College in 1966 and then to California State University, Long Beach, in 1968. On March 23, 1973, he was hired as the head coach of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, a position he held until 1992. During his time at UNLV, Tarkanian transformed the team into a national powerhouse, leading them to four Final Four appearances and winning the national championship in 1990. He revolutionized the college game at UNLV with his innovative style, utilizing a pressing defense to fuel a fast-paced offense.
Tarkanian's success at UNLV brought him celebrity status, and he became a well-known figure in the world of college basketball. He was nicknamed "Tark the Shark", and the UNLV arena, the Thomas & Mack Center, became known as the Shark Tank during his tenure. Tarkanian's success also extended beyond the court, as he ignited enthusiasm among fans and increased demand for UNLV merchandise. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, recognizing his significant career highlights and impact on the sport.
After leaving UNLV in 1992, Tarkanian briefly coached the San Antonio Spurs but was fired after only 20 games due to disagreements with the team's owner. He then returned to his alma mater, Fresno State, in 1995, and remained there until his retirement in 2002. Throughout his career, Tarkanian battled accusations of rules violations from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which led to investigations and penalties. However, he consistently denied the allegations and challenged the NCAA to investigate larger universities as well.
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Thomas & Mack Center
The Thomas & Mack Center is an 18,000-18,500-seat multi-purpose arena on the southwest corner of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus. It was opened in 1983 and is named after prominent Nevada bankers E. Parry Thomas and Jerome Mack, who donated the original fund for the feasibility and land studies. The Thomas & Mack Center has been the home of the UNLV men's basketball team, the Runnin' Rebels, since 1983. The arena was nicknamed "the Shark Tank" after UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian, whose nickname was Tark the Shark. Tarkanian led the Runnin' Rebels to victory in the 1990 NCAA Division I tournament Championship, and to the Final Four in 1977, 1987, 1990, and 1991.
The Thomas & Mack Center has hosted a variety of other sporting events, concerts, and notable occasions. It has been the site of the National Finals Rodeo each December since 1985, and the PBR World Finals from 1999 to 2015. In 2005 and 2006, the arena hosted the Arena Football League's ArenaBowl. The FIBA Americas Championship 2007 was held at the Thomas & Mack Center, and it has also hosted numerous WWE events, including No Way Out in 2001 and 2008, Vengeance in 2005, and the all-women's Mae Young Classic tournament in 2017.
The Thomas & Mack Center has welcomed many famous musicians, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Diana Ross, Mötley Crüe, Elton John, AC/DC, Van Halen, Metallica, Kiss, and Aerosmith. The arena has also hosted lectures by Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev as part of UNLV-affiliated lecture series. On October 19, 2016, the Thomas & Mack Center hosted the final Presidential Debate for the 2016 election.
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National Invitation Tournament
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels, the men's basketball team representing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times, with a combined record of 10-12. The NIT is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The NIT predates the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament by one year, having been founded in 1938 by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. From its founding to 2022, the semifinals and finals were always played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament was considered the most prestigious post-season showcase for college basketball before being superseded by the NCAA tournament in the mid-1950s.
The original format of the NIT invited six teams, expanding to eight in 1941, 12 in 1949, 14 in 1965, 16 in 1968, 24 in 1979, 32 in 1980, and 40 from 2002 through 2006. Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament have been played at various sites across the country, with the current format reverting to 32 teams.
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels rose to prominence in the late 1970s under the leadership of head coach Jerry Tarkanian, who guided them to the Final Four in 1977. Tarkanian's success led to his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1983, UNLV moved to the Thomas & Mack Center, an 18,000-seat on-campus arena that became renowned for its extravagance. UNLV won the NCAA Championship in 1990, defeating Duke by a record-setting margin of 103-73.
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Student athlete success
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin' Rebels are the men's basketball team representing the university in the Mountain West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Runnin' Rebels program has a rich history of success, with 14 of its 16 coaches having winning records. The team has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times and won the NCAA Championship in 1990, beating Duke by a record-setting margin of 103-73.
UNLV's basketball success can be largely attributed to its coaches and its campus arena. Coach Jerry Tarkanian, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, led the team to the NCAA Division I tournament Championship in 1990 and the NCAA Regional – NCAA Division I Men's Final Four in 1977, 1987, 1990, and 1991. Tarkanian's success with the team transformed UNLV's reputation from "Tumbleweed Tech" to a basketball powerhouse.
The Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV's 18,000-seat on-campus arena, has also played a pivotal role in the team's success. The arena, which opened in 1983, is known for its extravagance and has become a famous landmark in college basketball. The Runnin' Rebels' success has brought recognition to the university, with ESPNU naming the program the eighth most prestigious collegiate basketball program in the nation since the 1984–85 season.
UNLV's student-athlete success extends beyond the basketball court. In the 2018-19 academic year, UNLV's student athletes achieved a record-setting GPA of 3.09, with 12 teams setting academic records, and one-third of student athletes making the dean's list. This showcases the university's commitment to supporting its student athletes both on and off the field, providing them with opportunities to excel in their sports and academic pursuits.
The university's athletic facilities, world-class infrastructure, cheering fans, generous donations, and athletic advisors all contribute to creating an environment conducive to student athlete success. The tradition of excellence in athletics at UNLV is further enhanced by private support, which empowers student athletes to achieve their full potential and make their mark in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels are the men's basketball team representing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
As of 2023, UNLV has the seventh-highest winning percentage (.687) in Division I history. They are 33-19 all-time in the NCAA tournament with a 63.5% winning percentage. They have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 11 times, with a combined record of 10-12.
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels play at the Thomas & Mack Center, an 18,000-seat multipurpose arena on the southwest corner of the UNLV campus.
Yes, several notable players and coaches have been associated with UNLV. Jerry Tarkanian, the former head coach, is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Rollie Massimino and Lon Kruger are members of the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Notable players include Glen Gondrezick, who played in the NBA for the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, and Anthony Bennett, the number one overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
