Editorial: Will the slipper fit?

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

Tonight the men's basketball team from the University of Nevada, Reno continues its improbable run in the NCAA tournament. UNR, ranked 10th in its regional bracket, already has beaten No. 7 seed Michigan State and crushed No. 2 seed Gonzaga. The Cinderella team of the tournament, UNR is the lowest-seeded team to make it to the Sweet Sixteen and is the only one left from west of the Rocky Mountains.

UNR students, alumni and Northern Nevadans will have to excuse those of us from Southern Nevada if we can't get rid of that look of disbelief on our faces. For years now -- no, decades -- the men's basketball team from Reno has been overshadowed by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, particularly during the Jerry Tarkanian years. Even in the 12 years since Tarkanian's departure, as UNLV's program has fallen on hard times, UNR still has been an afterthought in comparison to UNLV. But no more.

While we weren't paying attention down here in Las Vegas, UNR coach Trent Johnson was building an impressive program. In fact, Johnson's success could make recruiting that much more challenging for UNLV's new head coach, Lon Kruger. If UNR is able to maintain its excellence, it could extend the in-state rivalry between the two schools in football to basketball. But for tonight's game at least, even Rebels' fans will be rooting for the team up north to beat Georgia Tech. Go Wolf Pack!