1989–90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team
American college basketball season
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The 1989–90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by 17th-year head coach Jerry Tarkanian. The team played its home games in the Thomas & Mack Center as a member of the Big West Conference. They finished the season 35–5, 16–2 in Big West play to win the regular season championship. They defeated Cal State Fullerton, Pacific, and Long Beach State to win the Big West tournament championship. As a result, the received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the West region. They defeated Arkansas–Little Rock, Ohio State, Ball State, and Loyola Marymount to advance to the school's second Final Four in 4 years. In the Final Four, they defeated Georgia Tech to advance to the championship game where they defeated Duke for the school's only national championship.
| 1989–90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball | |
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| Conference | Big West Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 2 |
| AP | No. 2 |
| Record | 35–5 (16–2 Big West) |
| Head coach |
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| Assistant coaches |
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| Home arena | Thomas & Mack Center |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 24 New Mexico State | 16 | – | 2 | .889 | 26 | – | 5 | .839 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 UNLV† | 16 | – | 2 | .889 | 35 | – | 5 | .875 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UC Santa Barbara | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 21 | – | 9 | .700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long Beach State | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 23 | – | 9 | .719 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah State | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 14 | – | 16 | .467 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pacific | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 15 | – | 14 | .517 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cal State Fullerton | 6 | – | 12 | .333 | 13 | – | 16 | .448 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Jose State | 5 | – | 13 | .278 | 8 | – | 20 | .286 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fresno State | 4 | – | 14 | .222 | 10 | – | 19 | .345 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UC Irvine | 3 | – | 15 | .167 | 5 | – | 23 | .179 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| † 1990 Big West tournament winner Rankings from AP poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Previous season
The Rebels finished the 1988–89 season 25–8, 16–2 in Big West play to win the regular season championship. They defeated UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, and New Mexico State to win the Big West tournament championship. As a result, they received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 4 seed in the West region. They defeated Idaho, DePaul, and No. 1-seeded Arizona to advance to the Elite Eight where they lost to Seton Hall.
Season summary
NCAA tournament
UNLV won three of its tournament games by 30 points, but got a scare from Ball State in the regional semifinal, winning by just two points.
In the 1990 Tournament -
- UNLV at the time had the largest accumulated victory margin (112 points), over the entire tournament by a championship team that played 6 games. They held the record for six years. To date it is the seventh-largest.[1]
- UNLV's 103–73 win over Duke marked the first, (and to date, only), time in the history of the tournament that at least 100 points were scored in the championship game.[2]
- UNLV's 571 points over six games set the record for most points scored by a single team in any one year of the tournament.[3]
- UNLV is the only team in tournament history to average more than 95 points per game, over six games. In six tournament games, they won three by exactly 30 points, while scoring more than 100 points in each 30-point victory.[4]
- UNLV and UCLA in 1965 are the only championship teams in tournament history to win three games all while scoring at least 100 points in each win. (Loyola Marymount also scored at least 100 points in three games in the 1990 tournament, but lost their last game, where they scored 101 points, to UNLV, by 30 points. UNLV also scored at least 100 points in three victories in the 1977 tournament, but their last one was in the Final Four consolation game.)[5]
- UNLV's 30-point margin of victory in the championship game is also a tournament record.[6] ESPN called it the 36th "worst blowout in sports history".[7]
- To date, UNLV remains the last team from a non-power conference (AAC, ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC) to win the national championship, since Louisville in 1986.[2] (Louisville was in The Metro Conference in 1986, which was considered a major, but not “power” basketball conference throughout the conference’s history, 1975 - 1995.)
- The championship game was UNLV's eleventh-consecutive win. They would eventually run the win streak to an astounding 45 games. That is the fourth-longest win streak in NCAA Division 1 basketball history, and the longest win streak since the longest one ever (by UCLA) ended in 1974.[8]
(The nickname "Runnin' Rebels" is unique to men's basketball at UNLV. The default nickname for men's sports teams at the school is simply "Rebels", while all women's teams are known as "Lady Rebels".)
Roster
| 1989–90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1989-90 UNLV Roster and StatsRebel-Net.com - Best of the 64 Era: The 1990 Runnin' Rebels [9]
Schedule and results
| Date time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | |||||||||||
| November 15, 1989* |
No. 1 | Loyola Marymount Preseason NIT |
W 102–91[10] | 1–0 |
26 – Hunt | 16 – Johnson | 12 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (13,430) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| November 16, 1989* |
No. 1 | California Preseason NIT |
W 101–81[11] | 2–0 |
25 – Johnson | 10 – Johnson | 11 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (11,777) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| November 22, 1989* |
No. 1 | vs. Kansas Preseason NIT Semifinal |
L 77–91 | 2–1 |
21 – Hunt | 9 – Tied | 9 – Anthony | Madison Square Garden (10,546) New York, NY | |||
| November 24, 1989* |
No. 1 | vs. DePaul Preseason NIT Consolation |
W 88–53[12] | 3–1 |
32 – Johnson | 9 – Augmon | 7 – Augmon | Madison Square Garden (15,116) New York, NY | |||
| December 9, 1989* |
No. 5 | at No. 12 Oklahoma | L 81–89[13] | 3–2 |
29 – Johnson | 14 – Johnson | 4 – Tied | Lloyd Noble Center (11,700) Norman, OK | |||
| December 16, 1989 |
No. 14 | at Pacific | W 79–65 | 4–2 (1–0) |
21 – Johnson | 10 – Johnson | 9 – Anthony | Alex G. Spanos Center (6,000) Stockton, CA | |||
| December 23, 1989* |
No. 13 | No. 16 Iowa | W 97–80 | 5–2 |
19 – Tied | 8 – Johnson | 7 – Hunt | Thomas & Mack Center (19,000) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| December 26, 1989 |
No. 12 | Long Beach State | W 78–58 | 6–2 (2–0) |
17 – Johnson | 14 – Johnson | 8 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (18,600) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| January 1, 1990* |
No. 12 | No. 11 Arkansas | W 101–93 | 7–2 |
28 – Hunt | 13 – Butler | 11 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (18,853) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| January 3, 1990 |
No. 10 | Cal State Fullerton | W 94–66 | 8–2 (3–0) |
28 – Hunt | 10 – Tied | 9 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (19,010) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| January 6, 1990 |
No. 10 | at San Jose State | W 100–80 | 9–2 (4–0) |
19 – Butler | 15 – Johnson | 5 – Anthony | Event Center Arena (4,595) San Jose, CA | |||
| January 8, 1990 |
No. 10 | at New Mexico State | L 82–83 | 9–3 (4–1) |
24 – Butler | 11 – Butler | 9 – Anthony | Pan American Center (12,719) Las Cruces, NM | |||
| January 13, 1990* |
No. 7 | at Temple | W 82–76[14][15] | 10–3 |
26 – Johnson | 12 – Johnson | 7 – Augmon | The Spectrum (13,206) Philadelphia, PA | |||
| January 15, 1990 |
No. 7 | at Fresno State | W 84–75 | 11–3 (5–1) |
28 – Johnson | 13 – Butler | 6 – Butler | Selland Arena (10,159) Fresno, CA | |||
| January 18, 1990 |
No. 9 | UC Irvine | W 103–67 | 12–3 (6–1) |
20 – Johnson | 9 – Johnson | 8 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (18,632) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| January 22, 1990 |
No. 9 | at Long Beach State | W 86–77 | 13–3 (7–1) |
30 – Johnson | 12 – Johnson | 5 – Tied | Long Beach Arena (7,438) Long Beach, CA | |||
| January 25, 1990 |
No. 5 | UC Santa Barbara | W 69–67 | 14–3 (8–1) |
28 – Johnson | 14 – Johnson | 4 – Tied | Thomas & Mack Center (19,061) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| January 28, 1990* |
No. 5 | at No. 16 LSU | L 105–107[16] | 14–4 |
31 – Hunt | 9 – Tied | 8 – Anthony | Maravich Assembly Center (14,072) Baton Rouge, LA | |||
| February 1, 1990 |
No. 12 | Utah State | W 124–90 | 15–4 (9–1) |
34 – Augmon | 16 – Johnson | 9 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (18,000) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 3, 1990* |
No. 12 | NC State | W 88–82[17][18] | 16–4 |
24 – Johnson | 16 – Johnson | 7 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (18,295) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 5, 1990* |
No. 12 | San Jose State | W 105–69 | 17–4 (10–1) |
18 – Johnson | 16 – Johnson | 9 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (17,666) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 8, 1990 |
No. 9 | Pacific | W 116–76 | 18–4 (11–1) |
20 – Young | 8 – Butler | 7 – Cvijanovich | Thomas & Mack Center (17,685) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 10, 1990* |
No. 9 | Oklahoma State | W 100–84 | 19–4 |
23 – Scurry | 15 – Johnson | 10 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (18,780) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 12, 1990 |
No. 9 | Fresno State | W 69–64 | 20–4 (12–1) |
23 – Johnson | 14 – Johnson | 6 – Hunt | Thomas & Mack Center (17,885) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 15, 1990 |
No. 7 | No. 25 New Mexico State | W 109–86[19] | 21–4 (13–1) |
31 – Hunt | 13 – Johnson | 6 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (18,790) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 18, 1990* |
No. 7 | No. 20 Arizona | W 95–87[20] | 22–4 |
26 – Johnson | 12 – Augmon | 7 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (19,034) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 22, 1990 |
No. 4 | at UC Irvine | W 99–77 | 23–4 (14–1) |
25 – Hunt | 11 – Johnson | 10 – Anthony | Bren Events Center (5,000) Irvine, CA | |||
| February 24, 1990* |
No. 4 | No. 16 Louisville | W 91–81[21] | 24–4 |
22 – Johnson | 15 – Johnson | 9 – Anthony | Thomas & Mack Center (19,099) Las Vegas, NV | |||
| February 26, 1990 |
No. 4 | at UC Santa Barbara | L 70–78 | 24–5 (14–2) |
18 – Anthony | 9 – Butler | 6 – Anthony | The Thunderdome (6,387) Santa Barbara, CA | |||
| March 1, 1990 |
No. 2 | at Utah State | W 84–82 | 25–5 (15–2) |
31 – Johnson | 12 – Butler | 7 – Tied | Smith Spectrum (10,270) Logan, UT | |||
| March 3, 1990 |
No. 2 | at Cal State Fullerton | W 103–85 | 26–5 (16–2) |
26 – Butler | 12 – Johnson | 10 – Hunt | Titan Gym (4,003) Fullerton, CA | |||
| Big West tournament | |||||||||||
| March 8, 1990* |
(2) No. 3 | (7) Cal State Fullerton Quarterfinals |
W 115–93 | 27–5 |
32 – Johnson | 14 – Johnson | 11 – Anthony | Long Beach Arena (9,025) Long Beach, CA | |||
| March 9, 1990* |
(2) No. 3 | (6) Pacific Semifinals |
W 99–72 | 28–5 |
20 – Johnson | 9 – Augmon | 10 – Anthony | Long Beach Arena (10,597) Long Beach, CA | |||
| March 10, 1990* |
(2) No. 3 | (5) Long Beach State Championship |
W 92–74 | 29–5 |
19 – Butler | 15 – Johnson | 7 – Anthony | Long Beach Arena (9,607) Long Beach, CA | |||
| NCAA Tournament | |||||||||||
| March 15, 1990* CBS |
(1 W) No. 2 | vs. (16 W) Arkansas–Little Rock First Round |
W 102–72[22] | 30–5 |
16 – Augmon | 12 – Johnson | 5 – Tied | Jon M. Huntsman Center (11,809) Salt Lake City, UT | |||
| March 17, 1990* CBS |
(1 W) No. 2 | vs. (8 W) Ohio State Second Round |
W 76–65[23] | 31–5 |
23 – Johnson | 16 – Johnson | 5 – Anthony | Jon M. Huntsman Center (12,896) Salt Lake City, UT | |||
| March 23, 1990* CBS |
(1 W) No. 2 | vs. (12 W) Ball State Sweet Sixteen |
W 69–67[24][25] | 32–5 |
20 – Tied | 13 – Johnson | 9 – Anthony | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena (14,262) Oakland, CA | |||
| March 25, 1990* CBS |
(1 W) No. 2 | vs. (11 W) No. 21 Loyola Marymount Elite Eight |
W 131–101[26][27] | 33–5 |
33 – Augmon | 18 – Johnson | 13 – Hunt | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena (14,298) Oakland, CA | |||
| March 31, 1990* CBS |
(1 W) No. 2 | vs. (4 SE) No. 9 Georgia Tech Final Four |
W 90–81[28] | 34–5 |
22 – Augmon | 10 – Butler | 7 – Hunt | McNichols Sports Arena (17,675) Denver, CO | |||
| April 2, 1990* CBS |
(1 W) No. 2 | vs. (3 E) No. 9 Duke National Championship |
W 103–73[29][30][31][32] | 35–5 |
29 – Hunt | 11 – Johnson | 7 – Augmon | McNichols Sports Arena (17,675) Denver, CO | |||
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. | |||||||||||
Sources Rebel-Net.com - Best of the 64 Era: The 1990 Runnin' Rebels1989-90 UNLV Schedule and Results[33] [34]
Rankings
Awards and honors
Team players drafted into the NBA
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | NBA club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1 | 1 | Larry Johnson | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1991 | 1 | 9 | Stacey Augmon | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1991 | 1 | 12 | Greg Anthony | New York Knicks |
| 1991 | 2 | 29 | George Ackles | Miami Heat |