Life’s good in Las Vegas. UNLV’s flying up and down the court, winning games and seems poised to make a run at a conference title. This quote from guard Anthony Marshall pretty much sums it all up.
“We feel like not even the sky’s the limit,” he told The Las Vegas Sun. “We feel like we have unlimited potential.”
He might be right. The Rebels’ roster is filled with guys like Marshall – fleet, athletic players who defend, attack the basket and knock down shots from beyond the arc. (Not to mention more guys like him are on the way.) They’re 16-2, have beaten North Carolina and have delighted fans with their up-tempo style.
It’s not Tark’s heyday, but it sure feels like it.
As Ray Brewer writes at The Sun, UNLV fans never felt this way about Lon Kruger’s teams, and there wasn’t anything wrong with those squads. He reached a Sweet 16 in 2007, made the NCAA tournament the following four seasons and were always among the Mountain West’s top teams.
But this feels different, mostly for how the Rebels are winning and for what they have coming. (The thought of local prospect Shabazz Muhammad committing to UNLV would be a dream.) Most telling is that they want more.
Makes sense. Coach Dave Rice was a sub on those fabled Jerry Tarkanian teams. He knows what the Rebels can do, now and in future season.
“We finished our nonconference season proud of where we are but not content by any stretch,” Rice said. “We’ve done something that’s really good, and we have a chance to do something that’s great.
“And it starts Saturday [against San Diego State].”
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