Some Duke players reportedly cried in the locker room after the 103-73 defeat and starting point guard Bobby Hurley later admitted that during the summer of 1990 he had recurring dreams of swimming with sharks. I dont think they knew what to do theyd never been in that situation before. Instead, the Rebels played without their point guard and managed just three points over their final four possessions. Baker, Trey "In the locker room, my guys were talking about how they were gonna kill these [bleeps]. USU's head coach, Kohn Smith, had broken a taboo of his profession in early 1989 when he went on the record as being "happy" that Tarkanian had lost a road game at Louisville by 18 points. UNLV reeled off its next 16 wins by an average score of 103-71 before encountering what experts forecasted to be an actual challenge, a true road game at Arkansas. Awaiting them was the rare opponent who actually had better size than the Rebels. Regardless though, the real possibility of the Rebels putting out on the floor one of the greatest teams of all time in the 1991 regular season, and then not having the chance to go to the tournament loomed. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. On March 2, 1991, the UNLV Runnin Rebelscoached by perennial NCAA-tormentor Jerry Tarkanian and led by future NBA first rounders Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, and Greg Anthonyfinished off a perfect regular season. There were a few hiccups sure, but nothing that hadnt been ironed out for the 1990 NCAA Tournament. UNLV Rebels Men's. Roster and Stats. "I realized I had to play a near perfect game to beat that team," he says. So the back-on title defense began. Tarkanian grew tired of the NCAAs accusations and their blatant blind eyes to obvious rule breaking by UCLAs boaster Sam Gilbert. And Hurley controlled the tempo, knowing when to attack in transition and when to be patient. At the time, we knew the defeat ended UNLVs undefeated season after 34 wins. The BC Hoopfest 90 was a noble attempt to give basketball a breath of air before hockey season took over. Do you have a sports website? In it, Dukes head coach confesses that the 1990 team were exceptional and destroyed his team. UNLV shredded Duke with an 18-0 second-half run to leave no doubt as to which was the countrys finest team. To make things interesting Coach Jerry Tarkanian always scheduled a tough out of conference schedule that, in 1991, included Arkansas (2), Michigan State (4), and Louisville (23), all top 25 opponents at the time. Not really. But if you really want to talk perfection and dominance, its gotta be the 1991 UNLV Runnin Rebels. What else could he say? Center, has hosted games since. The team blitzed through the regular season. Buckley, Christian Though his team had gone 0-3 against the Rebels that season, Long Beach State head coach Seth Greenberg said Tarkanian's "biggest vulnerability is if Greg [Anthony] gets in foul trouble." Wins over Utah and Seton Hall at the Kingdome in Seattle carried the Rebels to the national semifinals in Indianapolis and a rematch with Duke. Augmon would like to refute a few notions surrounding the upset. The perfect season was over, and so was the pressure that accompanies maintaining perfection. UNLV had its way with UAB. The Rebels met Duke in back-to-back Final Fours in 1990 and 91. Place in Vancouver, Canada on December 1, 1990. Walton went on to write, If the UCLA teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s were subjected to the kind of scrutiny Jerry Tarkanian and his players have been, UCLA would probably have to forfeit about eight national championships and be on probation for the next 100 years. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Muoka, Bryce Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt, George Ackles and their teammates would enter the 1991 Final Four having trailed their opponents for a total of just one minute and 20 seconds in any second half all season. Coleman, Cameron How about Canada? Fresno State enters having made 76.2 percent of its free throws (298-391), which currently would eclipse the school record for single-season free throw percentage (74.2 percent, 484-652, 1991-92). The Rebels eked out a two-point win against surprising No. The following are the sites that were selected to host each round of the 1991 tournament: Regional semifinals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight), National semifinals and championship (Final Four and championship). The official 1990-91 Men's Basketball Roster for the Duke University Florida State by 32. After a freshman season at Georgia Spencer transferred to Connors State Junior College. They were the number one team that entire season. "Our attitude was that if we keep it close, the pressure is on them. Laettner made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left, and Duke won 79-77 when Hunt's contested 3 from 25 feet missed long just before time expired. Title. UNLV Rebels Men's. Roster and Stats. Because they were vicious and explosive, while destroying everyone by an average of 26.7 points. One 34-year-old coach in particular had made what turned out to be a strikingly prophetic observation to Sports Illustrated. Yes, the Rebels intensity occasionally boiled over, but mostly Tarks guys stuck to trash talking and winning. The team had only trailed for 38 minutes during the entire campaign. It was, as Im now old enough to say, different times. Hamilton. Everything came together perfectly. As journalists its just easier to say that bad guys wear black and good guys wear white when in truth the real intentions of men are somewhere in the middle called the grey area. 1991 McDonalds All-American Rosters. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Larry Johnson: There may be no greater injustice in college basketball history than Larry Johnson. Fresno State is now 5-4 against UNLV in Hutson's five seasons. Stacey Augmon: To say that Augmon should be ranked among the best defensive players in college basketball history is not an idle boast. The Lions were making a storybook tournament run in the wake of the tragic death of Hank Gathers, but UNLV ended that story with an easy 131-101 victory. The Runnin Rebels of lore were great in a number of ways. It almost worked. UNLV basketball made about $1.5 million during its championship season of 1989-90. . How could he not take up for what he had built? Tarkanian died in 2015.) Now you know what Duke experienced for 40 minutes. The 1990 UNLV Runnin' Rebels are regarded as one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. Its difficult to imagine a group like that making such a decision in todays pro-oriented environment. Solid scorer; a starter at any other school. But still, UNLVs last game of a perfect season was played in a gym. There was no way we were going to beat them. Not #1. While no one could have known of the impending streak, the game did attract national attention for a very different reason. UNLV had now won 45 games in a row, and Tarkanian's men -- who had won their games by an average of 27 points -- were being compared to the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers of 1976. UNLV's roster included three of the eventual top 12 picks in the 1991 NBA Draft: Larry Johnson (first overall), Stacey Augmon (9th) and Greg Anthony (12th). For the second time, Indianapolis was the host of the Final Four, this time at the Hoosier Dome, which would host the Final Four three more times. The 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. Hell, Ill even go on record and say the 1990 UNLV squad belongs in the top 10 of all time teams. The 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball.It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana.A total of 63 games were played. No post season for the Rebels. ", Yet the risk of a mental hangover persisted. The Runnin' Rebels have one Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1991. Unsung hero: David Butler of UNLV, one of the toughest and best defenders in school history. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Why? Laettner was especially good, finishing with 28 points and seven rebounds while holding UNLV star Larry Johnson to 13 points on 10 shots. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The foul would go down in UNLV lore as the questionable call that cost the team a championship. Two of the program's prize recruits, Ed O'Bannon and Shon Tarver, promptly withdrew their verbal commitments to Tarkanian and enrolled at UCLA instead. Either Tarkanian could serve a personal suspension from coaching during the 1991 tournament and watch his team from afar before facing a postseason ban for both himself and the Rebels in 1992, or UNLV could play in the 1991 postseason in exchange for a ban on all live TV appearances and on any postseason play for the 1991-92 season. The final game on the regular season slate was Cal State Fullertona school with almost nothing to brag about in the basketball department (Leon Wood on the 84 Olympic squad?) The two stars could have transferred and received immediate eligibility, but both elected to remain in Vegas. What happened: You can count on hand how many times an NCAA final has seen such dominance created by defense. Greg Anthony: He was quite simply the engine that ran the rebels and quite possibly the most hated Rebel. Hill, Christian It was a strange affair. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 2023 Duke Athletics. The game turned when Anthony fouled out with 3:51 remaining. Its a record that still stands 5th all time. It still hurts," Stacey Augmon says when reached a few days before the 25th anniversary of the game. UNLV came down . Robinson, Jimmie Before the 1990 season Ackles injured his wrist in a pickup game and redshirted. Greenberg added that "Johnson may be the best player in the country, but Anthony is their key.". You call a last second shot that hits the backboard and grazes the rim better? If you doubled Larry Johnson in the post or tried to collapse the driving lanes of Augmon or Anthony, you paid the price. "Beating that UNLV team was a pivotal moment in Duke basketball history," Grant Hill . We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. During the UNLV golden age they won an impressive 45 games straight when you include their final 11 games of the 1990 championship season. Most werent that great. "UNLV were so cool and nonchalant like, Yeah, it's going to be a cakewalk. UNLVs 91 team remains one of historys absolute best, Prime, socially distanced March Madness viewing spots around the Valley, Nevadans in Congress go to bat for resorts as Biden goes after 'junk fees', Video shows CCSD Police slamming Black teen to ground near school, U2 confirms 2023 MSG Sphere residency in Las Vegas, Father, son open their 17th McDonalds location in Las Vegas, Golden Knights win at Minnesota, but lose Thompson to injury. Lets pick a winner in every mens college basketball conference tournament. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Palmer, Clay Krzyzewski. The opponent: Alabama-Birmingham. For the game, Fullerton nearly doubled its average attendance. There is no additional information to display. Whats up? Have you ever felt as if youre in a washing machine on a super speed setting? By continuing to browse or by clicking I Accept Cookies you agree to the storing of first-party and third-party cookies on your device and consent to the disclosure of your personal information to our third party service providers or advertising partners to optimize your experience, analyze traffic and personalize content. And many still question the charging call that knocked him from the game with under four minutes to play. With Anthony on the bench, UNLV managed just three points the rest of the way. You call a jump shooting team getting to the free throw line 23 times to a post oriented teams 15 times better? And Rancho High product Anthony, the point guard, was the glue that held it all together. "We wanted to show him that we were his best team," Grant Hill says. Why many fans could not forget David Butler, coaches proclaimed that Ackles, not Butler, was the better fit despite not being much of a scorer. Rather than no-really-hold-me-back shoving match, Johnson tried a quick jab at Day. March 2, 2018 2:48 pm MT. The guy had the power of a post player with the shooting touch of a perimeter man. On Nov. 29, 1990, the Committee on Infractions announced that, after hearing UNLV's appeal, it was giving the program two options. The core five of Butler (15.8), Anthony (11.2), Augmon (14.2), Hunt (15.9), and Johnson (20.6) each . But what most didnt realize was that, as superb a returning starting five as UNLV had that evening in 91, Duke put on the floor three players (Christian Laettner, Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley) who would also be considered among the best in college history. Some teams were ranked. This isnt the NBA where you need to be consistent in a best of seven series. 1 seed and arrived at the 1991 round of 32 in Tucson, Arizona, with a 31-0 record. These sites are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with with these teams or institutions. Thats the beauty of college basketball and its blemish. A contested desperation heave didn't have a chance, clanging off the backboard. Only Michigans Fab Five in recent memory has captivated the nation like the Rebels did. Fresno State enters having made 76.1 percent of its free throws (289-380), which currently would eclipse the school record for single-season free throw percentage (74.2 percent, 484-652, 1991-92). The UNLV mens basketball team got a steal and a layup in the final seconds to rally past Air Force on Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. On March 2, 1991, the UNLV Runnin' Rebelscoached by perennial NCAA-tormentor Jerry Tarkanian and led by future NBA first rounders Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, and Greg Anthonyfinished off a perfect regular season. A total of 63 games were played. Hartman, Tim They don't think we can beat them.'". Previous Season Next Season. The guy had the power of a post player with the shooting touch of a perimeter man. These publications were digitized by Digital Scholarship@UNLV staff from copies held in . Why? Laettner would make two free throws the 12.7 seconds remaining via a controversial over-the-back call against Evric Gray and UNLVs dynasty would end when Anderson Hunts off-balance 3-point attempt over Hurley wasnt close. 1 UNLV Runnin' Rebels during this 1990-91 season, and he was afforded a special seat for the contest. Four of Fresno State's 10 wins have come in true road games (three in conference play). No need. There is no additional information to display. Yet for my money, there was no greater team in college basketball than the one that came next, even if its final shot happened not to go through the hoop. Join our linker program. Games in the Washington area have since been played at either Baltimore, Landover or in Washington itself at Capital One Arena. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. and playing out the string on another losing Big West season on March 2, 1991. The wins came one after another. Varnado Jr. Bryan Chappell, DeShawn Greg was our leader.". Thats like saying the 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpacks victory over Phi Slamma Jamma meant they were better. Laettner, Davis and Grant Hill were able to find gaps in UNLV's interior defense, and remarkably, the Blue Devils shot 52% on their 2s as Laettner rang up 28 points. In this March 30, 1991, file photo, UNLV's Anderson Hunt (12) and unidentified teammates leave the floor after losing to Duke in an NCAA national semifinal game in Indianapolis. Lang, Greg 2023 The Draft Review. UNLV came down court with one final chance at keeping its dreams alive, but Anderson Hunt's 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play bounced off the rim. Record: 34-1 (18-0, 1st in Big West MBB ) Rank: 1st in the Final AP Poll. But he picked up his dribble and passed to Hunt, who was about 30 feet from the basket. What happened: As upsets go, this is considered one of NCAA lore. Anthony's shot on the play went in the basket, and if it had counted, the Rebels would have had a 76-71 lead. Williams, Jordan And as I look around the college basketball landscape, I see failure and defeats everywhere. If Anthony didnt get into foul trouble against Duke, wed almost certainly be talking about UNLVs back-to-back championships today. . Larry Johnson shot 66% from the floor for the season. Augmon, Anderson, and Hunt had led UNLV to the Elite Eight the year before. This is a discussion on PS3 NCAA Basketball 10/March Madness Legacy: 2020-21 and Classic Team Rosters within the EA Sports NCAA Basketball Rosters forums. An Ackles tip-in on the ensuing possession pushed the lead to five, but UNLV was disjointed without their point guard and Duke went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead 77-76. What to do? If this two-time all American honors and 1991 Wooden Award winner isnt in your list of top 20 college players of all time, chances are you need to get some old film and watch pure dominance at work. The game turned when UNLV point guard Greg Anthony fouled out with 3:51 remaining. Russell Westbrook is being left wide open on offense, and hes still hurting the Clippers. He also doesn't put stock in the theory that UNLV did not execute down the stretch because of a lack of playing close games. By the time he graduated in 1995, he had . Maxon informed Tarkanian that the NCAA had heard UNLVs appeal and offered a choice: UNLV could play out the 90-91 season in its entirety (tournament and all) if the school agreed to a post-season and television ban for 91-92. Heck, I was a kid living in Canada and I couldnt get enough of Greg Anthony, Stacey Augmon, Anderson Hunt, and Larry Johnson (and I guess we can toss George Ackles in there too). Buckley, Brandon Everyone, and I mean everyone, hated UNLV. All Rights Reserved. After blowout loss, UNLV refocuses for rivalry game with UNR, Lady Rebels rally to complete perfect run through Mountain West, Its been a blessing: UNLV honors seniors ahead of Utah State game, Layup in final seconds gives Rebels victory over Air Force, A privilege: Lady Rebels celebrate banner with fans after blowout, UNLV hopes practice pays off against Air Forces Princeton style, Lady Rebels want fans to help honor history with banner ceremony. They put on a show, soaring down the court in transition, and harassing opponents on defense. Former KU player Milt Newton called the NCAA's decision on UNLV "gutless and spineless.". "Beating that UNLV team was a pivotal moment in Duke basketball history," Grant Hill says. If there was a weakness to Ackles, other than his lack of offensive ability, it was his foul trouble. The game was not televised. I never felt I could win this. 103-73. UNLV had reason to be confident entering the 1991 national semifinal game. Instead of using the traditional players' entrance to the arena, Tarkanian had the UNLV bus pull up to Barnhill's main gate on game day. Simply put, most opponents were already beat before the game even started. "We knew we had a target on our back in every game and had to play our best.". Ackles was an extremely athletic player who often finished around the basket with authority. It would easy for people to say Im not seeing the big picture when talking about this team. During the weekend of the second round, the national telecast began at noon, with the regional windows (three on Saturday, two on Sunday) following. "We heard some of the worst comments," Tarkanian would recall in 2009. Johnson joined an already loaded squad. You call getting a bogus and now famous Duke charging call that resulted in UNLV Greg Anthonys foul disqualification better? Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. UNLV crushed Utah State, then had a party on the court with its fans Thursday to celebrate its back-to-back Mountain West regular-season championships. Kansas defeated Williams' mentor Dean Smith and North Carolina (where Williams later coached) in the semifinal. We may never get the full story because the media creates and destroys what it wants not what it is. Still, those of us who grew up with Jerry Tarkanians Rebels will tell you, theres been no team better in the history of college basketball history than those 1990-1991 Runnin Rebels, even without a championship cherry on top. United States top collegiate-level basketball tournament for 1991, 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, East Regional East Rutherford, New Jersey, Southeast Regional Charlotte, North Carolina, 1991 NCAA Basketball National Championship Game, NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournaments, Duke Blue Devils men's basketball 199091 NCAA champions, 1991 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, 1991 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1991 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament, 1991 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament, 1991 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, 1991 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament, 1991 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament, 1991 National Women's Invitation Tournament, 1991 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament, 1991 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament, "Florida Gulf Coast vs. Georgetown Game Recap March 22, 2013 ESPN", "College Basketball; Smith Ejected on 2 Technicals", "Fordham's road to NCAA blocked by St. Francis, 7064", "The longest winning streaks in college basketball history | NCAA.com", Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Series, 1988 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, 1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, 1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sports, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1991_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament&oldid=1136549342, 199091 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Basketball competitions in Charlotte, North Carolina, March 1991 sports events in the United States, April 1991 sports events in the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Bobby Dibler, David Bair, and Harrell Allen, This was Duke's fourth (of five) consecutive Final Four trip, the first team to achieve such a feat since UCLA. The Rebels swallowed up the Blue Devils, overwhelming them from the start and cruising to the biggest rout in a national final. I love the city of Las Vegas. #1 UNLV Runnin' Rebels travelled to the Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, AR to take on the #2 Arkansas Razorbacks. Its simple those teams are mentioned in passing - never with the reverence of 91 UNLV. "I sure wish they'd given us a multiple-choice penalty," third-year Kansas coach Roy Williams said of the NCAA. Men's 2021 Final Four: Will anyone disrupt the Gonzaga-Baylor collision course? The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. View Full Bio, Marty 12 seed Ball State in a regional semifinal and then faced Loyola Marymount in the Elite Eight in Oakland. It was, at a minimum, a pivotal turning point. Big Sky Tournament 2023: Bracket, schedule, scores, teams, and more, Patriot League Tournament 2023: Bracket, schedule, scores, teams, and more, Purdue Mens Basketball is the 2022-2023 Outright Big Ten Champion, Takeaways from Michigans double overtime loss to Illinois. Jones and Stanford host Oregon. "They were brutal," he said, and that was just what he expected and wanted. Christian Laettner of Duke was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Lindl, MS, LAT, ATC, Connor When talk began to hit the Wizard of Westwood ears, the typically humble and reserved Wooden quickly spoke that his UCLA teams were better than UNLV, but also quickly recanted in a separate interview proclaiming that 1991 UNLV is up there and no college basketball team is the best ever. Larry Johnson, a 67 monster of a power forward, with a terrorizing combination of skill and on-the-court fury, picked UNLV as his landing spot for the 89-90 season after a stint at Odessa College. 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