Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
UNLV students wear large 3D paper heads featuring Runnin’ Rebels basketball players during their game against Oregon Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 in the Global Sports Classic. Oregon upset the 18th-ranked Rebels 83-79.
Monday, Nov. 26, 2012 | 11 a.m.
Related Coverage
- ‘Mad’ Rebels get back on track with an 82-70 victory against Iowa State
- No. 18 UNLV can’t overcome its mistakes in 83-79 loss to Oregon
- Analysis: Lessons need to be learned in mistake-filled loss against Oregon
- Competition jumps to another level this weekend for No. 18 UNLV
- All UNLV men's basketball coverage
Following a home loss to Oregon on Friday, UNLV basketball dropped in the polls, moving to No. 24 in the Associated Press and No. 20 in the USA Today/Coaches polls. The Rebels had been ranked No. 18 in both polls.
The Rebels bounced back from that 83-79 loss to the Ducks with an 82-70 victory against Iowa State a day later. Both games were played at the Thomas & Mack Center as part of the Global Sports Classic. Cincinnati won the tournament, moving up at least four spots in each poll to No. 17 (AP) and No. 16 (Coaches).
Mountain West member New Mexico has surged into the rankings behind a 6-0 start, debuting at No. 25 (AP) and No. 23 (Coaches). San Diego State is in the rankings, too, coming in one spot ahead of UNLV in the AP poll and one behind in the Coaches poll.
Indiana is still No. 1 in both polls, followed by Duke, Michigan and Ohio State. The biggest move by any team was UCLA, which dropped 11 spots (13 to 24) in the Coaches poll and went from No. 11 to unranked in the AP poll. The Bruins lost twice list week, including an embarrassing 70-68 loss to Cal Poly on Sunday night.
This week, the Rebels play two games at home. On Wednesday, they host UC Irvine at 7 p.m., then Saturday at 4 p.m. it’s Hawaii. Both games will be televised on Time Warner Cable SportsNet.
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or taylor.bern@lasvegassun.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
To much emphasis is placed on polls. I would rather be the 18th best team in the country in March than the 18th best team in November. Last year the Rebels made it to the top 10 in non- conference play in Nov. and Dec., but were not a top 25 or even 30 team in March.
WB, I totally agree!!
Comment removed by moderator. Name Calling
While a November poll has little meaning in the grand scheme of things. It has a ton of meaning to those kids out their who are going to sign a letter of intent. Big games against ranked opponents on national TV and being ranked are things that will initially attract a future player to the program.
Right now I would be more concerned about the way the team played against an opponent they should have beat, Oregon. It is a long season and the poll just doesn't hold the significance in college basketball as it does in football.
Go Rebels! Proud to be an alum and happy to have you back in the running.