Helena Frye
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team has had its fair share of triumphs and setbacks over the years. With a rich history dating back to the 1960s, the team has experienced both highs, such as their record-setting 1977 season, and lows, including recent losses to Utah State and Wyoming. The Rebels play in the Mountain West Conference and have had notable wins against ranked opponents such as Louisville and BYU. The team has also produced future NBA players like Joel Anthony. With a passionate fan base and a history of talented players, the UNLV basketball team continues to be a force in college basketball, striving for success and looking to climb the ranks.
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What You'll Learn
UNLV Runnin' Rebels' historical rankings
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team has had its fair share of successes in its history. In the 1976-77 season, the Rebels had a record of 29-3, reaching the Final Four, where they lost to North Carolina. This team set NCAA records for most points in a season (3,426), most 100-point games (23), and most consecutive 100-point games (12). They also won their first West Regional Championship, finishing third overall.
The 1986-87 Runnin' Rebels squad was also notable as they became the first team to end the regular season as the nation's top-ranked team. The Rebels have had some other notable seasons, including 2006-07, when they started 3-0 and beat a ranked team on the road for the first time since 1991. They finished that season with a respectable 17-13 record. The following season, 2007-08, they exceeded expectations again, starting 12-3 and finishing 27-8, winning the Mountain West tournament and receiving an NCAA Tournament seed.
The Rebels started the 2008-09 season with their best start since 1999, going 5-0. They also had back-to-back 5-0 starts in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, the first time they had done so since 1989-91. They achieved their first national ranking in 14 years during this period and beat highly-ranked opponents such as Louisville and BYU.
More recently, in 2025, the Rebels had a 9-7 record, with a 3-2 conference record in the Mountain West. They have had some notable wins and losses in recent years, including a victory over No. 22 Utah State and losses to New Mexico and Wyoming.
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UNLV's ranking in the NCAA Tournament
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team has had its fair share of success in the NCAA Tournament. In the 1960-61 season, the Runnin' Rebels played at the NSU Gymnasium on the UNLV campus, then known as Nevada Southern University. They played six seasons at the NSU Gymnasium before moving to the Las Vegas Convention Center, where they played 16 seasons.
The 1977 season was a record-setting one for the Runnin' Rebels. With players like Lewis Brown, Glen Gondrezick, and Reggie Theus, the team finished with a 29-3 record and made it to the Final Four. They set NCAA marks for most points in one season (3,426), most 100-point games (23), and most consecutive 100-point games (12). The Runnin' Rebels won their first West Regional Championship but fell short in the semifinals with an 84-83 loss to North Carolina. They ended the season on a high note, defeating North Carolina-Charlotte 106-94 to secure third place.
In the 2007-08 season, the Runnin' Rebels defied expectations by starting the year 12-3, despite being predicted to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference. They ultimately finished second in the conference with a 12-4 record, and went on to win the 2008 Mountain West tournament, defeating BYU with star guard Wink Adams scoring 23 points. They received an eighth seed in the NCAA Tournament, beating Kent State in the First Round before falling to Kansas in the Second Round.
More recently, in the 2024-25 season, the Runnin' Rebels have had mixed results. While they defeated No. 22-ranked Utah State with a strong performance by Dedan Thomas Jr., they also suffered losses to teams like New Mexico and Wyoming. Their performance in the Mountain West Conference Tournament was a mix of victories and defeats, indicating a need for consistency.
The Runnin' Rebels have a rich history, with the Las Vegas Review-Journal ranking the top 100 players in UNLV basketball history. The team has experienced highs, like the record-breaking 1977 season, and more challenging periods, but they continue to strive for success in the highly competitive world of NCAA basketball.
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UNLV's ranking in the Mountain West Conference
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a member of the Mountain West Conference, which was formed in 1999 when Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming broke away from the WAC. Three other schools were later added, bringing the total membership to 16 teams.
In terms of rankings, as of January 12, 2025, UNLV had an overall record of 9-7 and a conference record of 3-2 in the Mountain West. They had a 0-4 Quad I record, a 0-3 Quad II record, a 1-0 Quad III record, and an 8-0 Quad IV record.
In a Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinal, UNLV lost to Utah State with a score of 58-70. However, in the same tournament, UNLV defeated Air Force 68-59 in the quarterfinals.
Looking ahead to the 2025 Mountain West football season, UNLV is considered a favorite, alongside Boise State, with UNLV's success in the transfer portal giving them a good chance to compete for the top spot.
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Top-ranked opponents UNLV has beaten
The UNLV men's basketball team has a history of impressive victories over top-ranked opponents. Here are some notable examples:
In the 2009-10 season, the Rebels had a strong start, winning their first five games. This included a notable victory over the 16th-ranked Louisville team, which was their first home win against a ranked opponent since 2007. This win against Louisville was the highest-ranked opponent the Rebels had beaten since their triumph over the 6th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in 2007.
The 2008-09 season also saw the Rebels achieve success, starting with a 5-0 record, their best start since 1999. On December 31, 2008, they added another remarkable victory to their record by beating the 18th-ranked Louisville on the road, 56-55. This was a significant achievement as it was the highest-ranked opponent the Rebels had defeated on the road since their historic win against a top-ranked team in 1991.
UNLV's 2007-08 campaign was also memorable. Despite predictions of a fifth-place finish in the Mountain West Conference, the Rebels defied expectations and began the year with a 12-3 record. They ultimately secured second place in the conference with a 12-4 record, just behind BYU. In the 2008 Mountain West tournament, UNLV showcased their talent once again by defeating BYU, with star guard Wink Adams scoring 23 points and earning the MVP title.
Additionally, the Rebels' 1986-87 season was truly special. This team became the first in UNLV history to finish the regular season as the nation's top-ranked team. Their success included a spot in the 1977 Final Four, where they ultimately secured third place with a victory over North Carolina-Charlotte, capping off a positive end to their remarkable season.
Lastly, in 2023, the UNLV men’s basketball team added another notable victory to their record by defeating the 22nd-ranked Utah State at the Thomas & Mack Center, thanks to Dedan Thomas Jr.'s late-game heroics.
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UNLV's ranking in AP Polls and USA Today/ESPN Polls
The UNLV football team has had some notable achievements in recent times, making it into The Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in program history in 2024. The Rebels were voted 25th, tied with Texas A&M, after beating Fresno State 59-14 and achieving their first 4-0 start since 1976. However, they fell out of the national rankings after an overtime loss to Syracuse.
UNLV has since climbed back up the rankings, and as of November 18, 2024, they were ranked No.23 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches Polls, their highest ranking ever in program history. This was achieved through wins against Hawai'i and San Diego State.
The UNLV men's basketball team has a rich history, with an overall record of 1185-544 across 55 seasons (1969-70 to 2023-24). They have been ranked in the AP Poll 13 times in the preseason, 16 times in the final poll, and have spent a total of 257 weeks in the rankings. They were NCAA Champions in 1990 and have reached the Final Four on four occasions.
As of January 12, 2025, the UNLV men's basketball team had a NET ranking of 124, with a record of 9-7 (3-2 in the Mountain West Conference). They had a 0-4 Quad I record, a 0-3 Quad II record, a 1-0 Quad III record, and an 8-0 Quad IV record.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2025, the UNLV men's basketball team has a 0-4 Quad I record, a 0-3 Quad II record, a 1-0 Quad III record, and an 8-0 Quad IV record. They are in the Mountain West Conference.
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels have had several notable achievements over the years. In 1977, they made it to the Final Four, setting NCAA records for most points in one season (3,426), most 100-point games (23), and most consecutive 100-point games (12). They also won their first West Regional Championship and finished third overall. In the 1986-87 season, they became the first team to end the regular season as the nation's top-ranked team. More recently, in 2006, they defeated a nationally ranked Air Force squad, earning their first national ranking in 14 years.
Some of the notable players in UNLV basketball history include Lewis Brown, Glen Gondrezick, Larry Moffett, Eddie Owens, Robert Smith, Sam Smith, Tony Smith, and Reggie Theus. In more recent years, players such as Dedan Thomas Jr., Ian Martinez, and Jalen Hill have had standout performances for the team.
The UNLV basketball team has had varying rankings in recent games. In 2023, they lost to Wyoming, falling to a score of 63-61. In 2025, they lost to Utah State in a Mountain West Conference Tournament quarterfinal with a score of 70-58. However, they also had a notable victory over Air Force in the Mountain West Conference Tournament with a score of 68-59.
