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UNLV RUNNIN' REBEL BASKETBALL
Winning is the Only Option.
UNLV holds the third-best winning-percentage of all-time among Division-I college basketball programs. 
1. Kentucky
2. North Carolina
3. UNLV
4. Kansas
5. UCLA
In August 2008, ESPN.com ranked UNLV as the eighth most prestigious college basketball program in the nation during the modern era (1984 to present).
The Runnin’ Rebels have done it all.
- Conference Titles
- NCAA Tournament Success
- 30 win seasons
- Four Final Four appearances
- 1990 National Champions
The Rebelution has begun.
The Lon Kruger Era (2004-present)
Over the past two seasons (2006-07 and 2007-08), UCLA and UNLV stand alone atop the West.
UCLA is the only team in the West with more wins than UNLV’s 57 during the past two seasons. The Bruins are also the only team in the West with more NCAA Tournament victories than UNLV during that period. 
Despite losing five seniors (including four starters) from its 30-win, Sweet 16 team in 2006-07, UNLV advanced again in the 2007-08 NCAA Tournament and posted an amazing 27-win season. The Runnin’ Rebels also successfully defended their title as Mountain West Conference Tournament Champions.
At UNLV, tradition doesn’t graduate.
Kruger's hand-picked coaching staff has helped lead the revitalization of the UNLV program. The staff consists of assistant coaches Greg Grensing, Steve Henson and Lew Hill and director of basketball operations Mike Shepherd. Grensing also served on Kruger's staffs at Texas-Pan American and Kansas State while Henson starred for Kruger at Kansas State prior to playing in the NBA. Hill, a junior college All-American as a player, came to UNLV from Texas A&M's staff while Shepherd has served on Kruger's staffs at Kansas State, Florida, Illinois and with the Atlanta Hawks.
Also helping to lead the Rebelution: video coordinator Rich Hilliard; strength and conditioning coach Jason Kabo; academic advisor David Jackson; athletic trainer David Tomcheck and equipment manager Rocky Rutledge.
UNLV: A pipeline to the NBA
UNLV has sent 52 players to the NBA – including 13 first-round picks. In 1991, Larry Johnson was the No. 1 pick overall in the draft. That same year, his Runnin’ Rebel teammates Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony were also picked in the first round. (Many basketball experts consider that Runnin’ Rebel squad the greatest college basketball team ever assembled.)
Current Runnin’ Rebels in The League include All-Star Shawn Marion (drafted No. 9 overall out of UNLV), Marcus Banks, Joel Anthony and Lou Amundson.
As importantly, UNLV head coach Lon Kruger is a former NBA head coach – and that experience is paying off in player development. If a young player has the natural skills to be a possible NBA player, Kruger and his staff know what it takes to help the player have a chance to play in The League.
 No one does basketball like Vegas.
- From 2006-2008, Las Vegas was home to Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade and the rest of Team USA as they prepared to bring home the Olympic gold from Beijing.
- 2007 NBA All-Star Game
- NBA Summer League
- Home to Mountain West Conference and West Coast Conference basketball tournaments
- Various college tournaments
- Top AAU tournaments in the nation
The eyes of the world are watching when you play in Vegas!
Some Rebelicious facts:
- The Thomas and Mack Center – home of the Runnin’ Rebels – is a state-of-the-art facility that can hold up to 18,500 fans during a basketball game. The arena underwent technology enhancements in August 2008 to protect its status as one of the premier arenas in all of college basketball.
- UNLV is an astonishing 347-68 on its home court since the T&M opened in 1983 (entering the 2008-09 season). That’s a winning percentage of .836 making it one of the most difficult arenas in America for opponents to travel to.
- UNLV’s 103-73 victory over Duke in 1990 is the biggest blowout ever in a national title game.
- The Runnin’ Rebels hold the record for most consecutive games played having hit a three-pointer – and it is still going. (703 games dating back to the 1986-1987 season).
- In 2007, the Thomas & Mack Center hosted the NBA All-Star Game. Kobe Bryant was named MVP of the game as the West won, 152-132. Bryant racked up 31 points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals while Amare Stoudemire added 29 points and nine boards and Carmelo Anthony had 20 and nine for the West. 2006 All-Star MVP LeBron James led the Eastern Conference with 28 points, six rebounds and six assists and Dwight Howard tallied 20 points and 12 boards. (The game marked the only time an arena which isn’t the home arena to an NBA team hosted the game.)
For more information on the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, visit the official athletic website of UNLV at UNLVRebels.com.
For more information on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, visit www.unlv.edu, the university’s official website.
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