Shark’s Gone But Unlv Has Some Bite Rebels Contend For Postseason For First Time Without Tarkanian

First, there was the matter of Jerry Tarkanian to settle.

Now, UNLV’s Runnin’ Rebels have something else in mind - making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Tarkanian’s powerhouse 1991 team was upset by Duke in the national semifinals.

Having finally exorcised the ghost of Tarkanian with a win over Fresno State last week, UNLV finds itself on a roll as it goes on the road for its final two regular-season games.

Not only are the Rebels running again, they’re riding a five-game winning streak that has put 20 wins in sight in Bill Bayno’s second season as head coach.

If UNLV can beat Wyoming and Colorado State to finish the regular season, all the Rebels might need is a decent showing in the Western Athletic Conference tournament for a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Bayno said. “But I think we’re firmly on the bubble.”

UNLV hasn’t lost since a last-second shot that didn’t fall cost the Rebels a Feb. 6 game at Hawaii. Since then, UNLV has won five in a row, including last week’s win over Fresno State in Tarkanian’s homecoming.

The Rebels are 18-7 on the year and tied for second place in the WAC Pacific Division at 10-4, quite a turnaround from last year’s team that was 10-16, and 7-11 in the weak Big West Conference.

“There’s no slowing down,” said forward Warren Rosegreen. “There can’t be a letdown. Not now.”

The play of Rosegreen has been responsible for much of UNLV’s recent success. He reached double figures in rebounding in three of the five wins, - including 21 rebounds against Fresno State and 17 against Texas Christian.

The 6-foot-5 Rosegreen exemplifies the approach Bayno wants from his team, clawing his way inside for rebounds against bigger opponents and playing tenacious defense.

“I’ve put pressure on him to really lead this team,” Bayno said. “You can’t count on him having a game like Fresno State or TCU every night, but the emotion and the fire in his eyes really provides a spark.”

More than 18,000 were on hand to watch the Fresno State game, and UNLV is averaging nearly 14,000 a game at home.

It won’t hurt that the WAC post-season tournament will be held on UNLV’s home floor, lured to Las Vegas by a $1 million guarantee from the city’s tourism bureau.

Realistically, UNLV needs to at least make the tournament semifinals to get a spot in the NCAA tournament in a league that features Top 25 teams in Utah, New Mexico and potential NCAA Tournament teams like Hawaii, Tulsa and Fresno State.