Editorial: Fitting recognition for Tarkanian

Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005 | 7:19 a.m.

Tonight, when the UNLV men's basketball team hosts UNR at the Thomas & Mack Center, former coach Jerry Tarkanian is scheduled to be there when the basketball court is officially dedicated to him. Among all men's college basketball coaches -- past and present -- Tarkanian is a legend.

He coached UNLV from 1973 to 1992, amassing an incredible 509 wins against just 105 losses. Tarkanian's 1990 team won the NCAA national basketball championship, and his team the next season arguably was just as great, going undefeated during the regular season only to be upset by Duke in the semifinals of the 1991 NCAA Tournament.

The signature mark of Tarkanian's teams was an aggressive, unrelenting defense. The reason why the Rebels consistently were such phenomenally high-scoring teams was because their defense not only would result in the other team committing turnovers but that it would also wear down the opponent, particularly late in the game. Tarkanian's teams were special, and the bond formed between them and the city was strong. The atmosphere in Las Vegas and especially in the Thomas & Mack Center during home games was downright electric when the Rebels played.

It is fitting -- and long overdue -- that UNLV tonight recognizes Tarkanian in this way. Thanks for the memories, Coach.