Duke, meanwhile, won the first of five National Championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015) two nights later. Hill, Christian 1983 Houston and 85 Georgetown were defeated by complete underdogs that many didnt even peg as final fours participants. So the back-on title defense began. Get the 1991 NCAA tournament bracket, scores and more here. Everything came together perfectly. John Bishop and Tyler Clement will call the action. The rodeo came to Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Arena, so UNLV had to find somewhere else to start the season. Updated December 31, 2020 - 7:44 pm. Duke, meanwhile, won the first of five National Championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015) two nights later. On March 2, 1991, before a crowd of 24,310 at Rupp Arena, Kentucky defeats Auburn, 114-93, to claim the best record in the Southeastern Conference and end its two-year probation. Marred records from the Sun Belt, to the American East, to the West Coast Conference, and everywhere in between. Learn more and register, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Blog and Articles. He gave Duke sophomore Christian Laettner (5-of-12 shooting) fits in the final. Tarkanian died in 2015.) Hamilton. Defensively, his foot speed was tremendous, which was crucial for disrupting passing lanes in UNLVs Amoeba Defense. After defeating Dennis Scott and Georgia Tech 90-81 at the Final Four in Denver, the Rebels would face Duke for the national championship. Because as a person he was highly intelligent, republican, business minded and was extremely well spoken in interviews. "I'm not real big on their whole operation," the first-year head coach had said of UNLV. Whats up? 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). On Nov. 29, 1990, the Committee on Infractions announced that, after hearing UNLV's appeal, it was giving the program two options. View Full Bio, Victor All subsequent tournament games played in Atlanta are now played at either the Georgia Dome (since demolished) or Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tarkanian's program was indeed under scrutiny, and speculation had already begun on where his star players would go if UNLV were placed on probation by the NCAA. 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. No title defense. Before that St. Josephs in 2004. Video & Recruiting Coordinator. Lets pick a winner in every mens college basketball conference tournament. He still can't bring himself to click on the link provided by the NCAA's March Madness channel on YouTube. Essence Booker, one of four honored on Senior Salute afternoon, made key plays late to lift UNLV to an 18th straight win in beating San Diego State. It was the lack of having our point guard out there. Why? "They were brutal," he said, and that was just what he expected and wanted. Good body strength and rebounder. Wooden teams were dominant with NBA greats Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). We dont always play well, but weve always played hard and that didnt happen tonight., Duke freshman Grant Hill: I dont think they were used to slowing the ball down and having to look for one shot at the end, he said of a UNLV team which had won by an average of more than 27 points in its 30 games prior to the NCAA tournament. 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. Losing the most lopsided championship game in tournament history had battered Dukes psyche. 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. In the first three rounds, games were shown on a regional basis, except for one game each on Saturday and Sunday in the second round. It almost worked. As the game wore on at timeouts, at halftime we were like, Yo, we can win this.'". 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. DePaul's appearance is, as of 2022, the last appearance of an independent team in the tournament. Three lottery picks and a Hall of Fame coach. There were a few hiccups sure, but nothing that hadnt been ironed out for the 1990 NCAA Tournament. But still, UNLVs last game of a perfect season was played in a gym. The UNLV men's basketball team, called The Runnin' Rebels, and the women's basketball team, called the Lady Rebels, are NCAA Division I teams and part of the Mountain West Conference. "UNLV were so cool and nonchalant like, Yeah, it's going to be a cakewalk. 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. Games played in Detroit since have either been at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Ford Field or, starting in 2018, Little Caesars Arena. Check out the detailed 1990-91 Virginia Tech Hokies Roster and Stats for College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. 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. Augmon would like to refute a few notions surrounding the upset. How about Canada? . Thats like saying the 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpacks victory over Phi Slamma Jamma meant they were better. "Beating that UNLV team was a pivotal moment in Duke basketball history," Grant Hill says. UNLV had reason to be confident entering the 1991 national semifinal game. And many still question the charging call that knocked him from the game with under four minutes to play. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. We had three of the top college players of all time, but we didn't know that then.". What happened: You can count on hand how many times an NCAA final has seen such dominance created by defense. Center, has hosted games since. 1990-91. These sites are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with with these teams or institutions. Today is about the 1991 team. Robinson, Jimmie Im so happy for all of them. ", 'They need to go to the NBA': UNLV's 45-game win streak was historic, and its end was shocking, Edey leads Wooden finalists; Bama's Miller off list, Indiana's Johnson (foot) won't return this season, Davis 3 shy of Maravich; Detroit eyes CBI bid, Vandy's Robbins out rest of season with leg injury, Sources: High Point fires Smith after one season, Davis out as Bucknell coach after 12-20 season, Grill discloses mental illness after Iowa St. exit, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. UAB did the best it could. The 1991 Runnin Rebels are the greatest college basketball team of all time. Men's College Basketball News. 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. Duke, coached by Mike Krzyzewski, won a rematch of the previous year's . "I don't think we were overconfident," he says. Missing two starters, UNLV stayed close with Boise State but still lost its third consecutive game Sunday in Boise, Idaho. The Rebels swallowed up the Blue Devils, overwhelming them from the start and cruising to the biggest rout in a national final. 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. By Ryan Swanson | 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. Why Wooden changed his verbage is unknown, but Im sure some of it had to do with Jerry Tarkanian. Baker, Trey The 1990 NCAA tournament concluded with UNLV winning the national championship thanks to a 30-point rout of Duke in the final, 103-73.The margin set the record for largest in championship game . Games in the Washington area have since been played at either Baltimore, Landover or in Washington itself at Capital One Arena. Simply put, most opponents were already beat before the game even started. Larry Johnson: There may be no greater injustice in college basketball history than Larry Johnson. Title. 27-0. This collection contains programs for UNLV men's basketball games and annual guides for men's and women's basketball. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. "It still hurts. A contested desperation heave didn't have a chance, clanging off the backboard. Video & Recruiting Coordinator. The core five of Butler (15.8), Anthony (11.2), Augmon (14.2), Hunt (15.9), and Johnson (20.6) each . "I think it's the best a team has ever played against me," Krzyzewski said afterward. Stacey Augmon had 31 points, Anderson Hunt. For the first time, CBS Sports showed all 63 tournament games. Muoka, Bryce As 7,963 Canadians looked on (in a stadium that could seat 60,000), the Rebels rolled. To understand just how different it was, consider the following four numbers. [2] This was the first National Championship game for Williams as a head coach. The NCAA had announced in August 1990 that due to recruiting violations committed by Tarkanian and UNLV beginning in 1977 (yes, 77), the school would be banned from the 1991 NCAA Championship. Brown, Josh 4,032 fans showed up to see the Rebels cruise to a 104-83 win. We could have played them 20 times and not beaten them in any.. As the ball left Anderson Hunts hands, we naturally assumed it would find its mark, desperate and deep as the 3-pointer might have been in the waning seconds of the national semifinal game. ESPN and CBS analyst Jay Bilas was a Duke assistant coach for both the 1990 national title game, UNLV's 103-73 rout, and the following year's 79-77 Final Four upset that stopped the Rebels two . He was one of the strongest players in the post with a 36 + vertical, a post-up game, face-up game, ball handling and 3-point range. Solid scorer; a starter at any other school. Plastic Man, with his elastic arms and legs, made it a nightmare for offensive players in an age where defensive player like Shane Battier take acting classes to engage in flopping to gain foul trouble on his match-up. Previous Season Next Season. The BC Hoopfest 90 was a noble attempt to give basketball a breath of air before hockey season took over. Neither team looked the least bit scared. Laettner, Grant Coach: Jerry Tarkanian. 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. A defensive ball hawk and who ran the UNLV offense as smooth as a Cadillac. In advance of the rematch on the Aggies' home floor, Utah State took out a full-page ad in the Logan Herald Journal. Larry Johnson shot 66% from the floor for the season. UNLV had its way with UAB. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. All rights reserved, The All 22 - An Inside Look at Duke Football, Hide/Show Additional Information For Marty Clark, Hide/Show Additional Information For Bill McCaffrey, Hide/Show Additional Information For Bobby Hurley, Hide/Show Additional Information For Antonio Lang, Hide/Show Additional Information For Greg Koubek, Hide/Show Additional Information For Brian Davis, Hide/Show Additional Information For Thomas Hill, Hide/Show Additional Information For Christian Laettner, Hide/Show Additional Information For Grant Hill, Hide/Show Additional Information For Crawford Palmer, Hide/Show Additional Information For Clay Buckley, Hide/Show Additional Information For Christian Ast, Allentown, Pa. / Allentown Central Catholic. 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. 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). 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. Former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton had by this time become a vocal fan of the No. The timing of the NCAA's ruling left Johnson and Augmon in a difficult spot because by then the 1990 NBA draft had already taken place. We havent talked about it once, Tarkanian told the Los Angeles Times when it was all over. By the time he graduated in 1995, he had . No need. 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. On This Day In UK Basketball History On March 2, 1970, Dan Issel scored 42 points against Auburn. Duke led 79-77 with 12.7 seconds left in the game. Then UNLV smashed Duke in the NCAA Championship game. ", The game was referred to in basketball circles afterward as "40 minutes of layups.". 1990-1991 UNLV Runnin . When asked over email to name the most significant change from the 1990 team, Hurley simply replied: "Grant Hill. 1991 UNLV Roll Call: The Starters. Beating UNLV team legitimizes us as a serious program.. You call getting a bogus and now famous Duke charging call that resulted in UNLV Greg Anthonys foul disqualification better? "We wanted to show him that we were his best team," Grant Hill says. From there the gauntlet was thrown, but not before former UCLA ball player Bill Walton wrote in his 1978 book On the Road with the Portland Trail Blazers, UCLA players were so well taken care of far beyond the ground rules of the NCAA that even players from poor backgrounds never left UCLA prematurely (for pro basketball) during John Woodens championship years. 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. Its a record that still stands 5th all time. The Tarkanian connection began before the Sharks coaching career at UNLV when, at Long Beach State, Tarks growing program was continually investigated by the NCAA. To mimic the Runnin' Rebels' swarming defense -- which shifted between man-to-man and the Amoeba, a 1-1-3 zone that combined ball pressure and corner traps with man-to-man concepts -- Duke starters played 5-on-7 against the bench in practice. . UNLV came down . Greg Anthony: He was quite simply the engine that ran the rebels and quite possibly the most hated Rebel. The two stars could have transferred and received immediate eligibility, but both elected to remain in Vegas. 103-73. Some teams were ranked. Anderson Hunt: He was one of the most dangerous players on the team. The game turned when UNLV point guard Greg Anthony fouled out with 3:51 remaining. The Duke and UNLV programs went on wildly divergent paths following the game. Yes, the Rebels intensity occasionally boiled over, but mostly Tarks guys stuck to trash talking and winning. Best NCAA Tournament Player: Was it Carmelo Anthony or Christian Laettner? Only Michigans Fab Five in recent memory has captivated the nation like the Rebels did. "Even at halftime, you're thinking we're going to go out and do what we usually do, and it just never happened.". West Boys Roster. Instead, the Rebels played without their point guard and managed just three points over their final four possessions. Stanford Cardinal (13-17, 7-12 Pac-12) at Oregon Ducks (17 . Its difficult to imagine a group like that making such a decision in todays pro-oriented environment. Richmond became the . You call holding two All-Americans in Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon to a combined 16 points better? So weve made it to March. Koubek, Brian With Anthony on the bench, UNLV managed just three points the rest of the way. Stoeckinger. In fact, the team that beat them (Connecticut) spent more time on the court as the #1 team in comparison to Duke. Many locals can tell you exactly where they were when Hunts shot just missed its mark. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. UNLV had a 23-point lead late in the second half when Tarkanian pulled his starters, and a 3 at the buzzer for the Razorbacks cut the final margin to 112-105. The perfect season was over, and so was the pressure that accompanies maintaining perfection. A fourth player, George Ackles, went . ", Duke had also added a freshman sensation. Two nights later, Duke concluded its NCAA run by beating Kansas 72-65 to claim the title. 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. During the UNLV golden age they won an impressive 45 games straight when you include their final 11 games of the 1990 championship season. Hampshire, Marvin The game was not televised. You call winning a game by 2-points better? In it, Dukes head coach confesses that the 1990 team were exceptional and destroyed his team. Spencer was considered by many to be a top 25 high school player. At the time, we knew the defeat ended UNLVs undefeated season after 34 wins. UNLV stormed back in the fourth quarter to beat UNR in Reno and finish off an 18-0 season in the Mountain West. If youre a basketball nut like me, you saw HBOs UNLV documentary. 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. 25 years later, UNLV players still feel the heartbreak of losing toDuke, The Clippers Russell Westbrook experiment is off to a terrible start. All either failed to respond to numerous messages or affirmatively declined to be interviewed. Director of Basketball Operations. Johnson rang up 35 points and was termed "a man among boys" by MSU head coach Jud Heathcote. Ja Morants allegations of aggression off the court, explained. But that wide-ranging influence was rooted first in UNLV's dominance on the basketball court. Daly, Torrence 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. "In the locker room, my guys were talking about how they were gonna kill these [bleeps]. Previous Season Next Season. 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. But if you really want to talk perfection and dominance, its gotta be the 1991 UNLV Runnin Rebels. 1991 McDonalds All-American Rosters - High School Basketball - RealGM. Fresno State is now 5-4 against UNLV in Hutson's five seasons. Senior Director of Basketball Administration & Alumni Relations. Athletic Trainer. Quinn Buckner, for one, had already stated his belief that UNLV was actually superior to his own team. He had made his famous The NCAA was so mad at Kentucky they gave Cleveland State two more years of probation quip. To this day, the Rebels are the only team to top 100 points in the title game, and the win over Duke still stands as the largest margin of victory ever recorded in a championship final. We may never get the full story because the media creates and destroys what it wants not what it is. UNLVs 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). 1 in what would become the fourth-longest win streak in the history of Division I men's basketball was recorded at Utah State on March 1, 1990. Basketball; Basketball Recruiting; Football; Football Recruiting; Baseball; Women's BB; Tweets; Shop; Tickets; More; 1991-92 UNC Basketball Roster. Johnson joined an already loaded squad. Let it burn into your cranium. "I would watch their games. After all, in the big scheme of things they didnt win. It was a strange affair. Christian Laettner of Duke was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. 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Quick Links. Larry Johnson had 22 points and 11 rebounds while Final Four Most Valuable Player Anderson Hunt scored 29 for a UNLV team that shot a sizzling 61 percent. It was, as Im now old enough to say, different times. We became a great program at that moment.". "We had something to prove.