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UNLV Rebels build around Tyrin Jones and a rebuilt backcourt in a bid for their first NCAA Tournament trip since 2013
The Las Vegas Sun reports UNLV is counting on forward Tyrin Jones and four new guards to end a March Madness drought dating to 2013. The season opens Nov. 3 after an 18-17 campaign.
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What happened
UNLV basketball is building its new season around forward Tyrin Jones and a reworked group of guards, according to a season preview from the Las Vegas Sun. The Sun published the piece on Oct. 10 in Spanish. It describes Jones as a type of player the program has not had in decades.
The Rebels are trying to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, the Sun reported. UNLV opens its season on Nov. 3.
Why Tyrin Jones is the centerpiece
His freshman numbers
As a freshman last season, Jones averaged 12 points, five rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, according to the Sun. The paper said he seemed to improve every time he took the court. It pointed to his long reach and athletic ability as a hard combination for opponents to handle.
Jones told the Sun that blocking shots is a big part of his game and that a block gives him energy. The paper also noted that he is usually standing and cheering for teammates when he is on the bench.
Staying after a top scorer left
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged more than 20 points per game last season and led the Mountain West in scoring, the Sun reported. When Gibbs-Lawhorn left for Texas Tech in the offseason, Jones renewed his commitment to UNLV.
How the roster changed
Four guards brought in
Coach Josh Pastner made the backcourt his top priority while rebuilding the roster, according to the Sun. During last season's 18-17 campaign, UNLV lacked a true point guard and had little depth at shooting guard.
To address that, Pastner added Cam Miles from Florida State, Terrance Ford Jr. from Tulsa, Sebastian Mack from Missouri and AJ Storr from Mississippi. The Sun reported that Storr is still waiting on a final decision about whether he will be granted an additional year of eligibility.
A returning guard who finished strong
The Rebels also return Issac Williamson, who stood out over the final weeks of last season. During that stretch he averaged 14.3 points and 2.5 steals per game and shot 35% from three-point range, the Sun reported.
What the coach says matters most
Injuries were a significant problem for UNLV last season, according to the Sun. Pastner told the paper the team has to take good care of the ball and stay healthy. He said health may be the most important factor of all, especially for the team's key players.
The Sun noted that with so many new faces, it is not yet clear who will emerge as the top players. It is also unclear how far the team can go, or whether the newcomers from bigger conferences will succeed in the Mountain West.
Why it matters to local fans
The Sun described UNLV as a storied program stuck in a rut and eager to start winning and bring fans back to the Thomas & Mack Center. The paper recalled past standouts, including Bryce Hamilton, who scored nearly 1,800 points over four seasons, and Wink Adams, who helped the Rebels win NCAA Tournament games under Lon Kruger nearly 20 years ago.
Jones gives the Rebels a real reason to believe they can turn things around, the Sun wrote. For more stories about local teams and groups, see our community coverage.
What to watch next
- UNLV opens its season on Nov. 3.
- A final decision is still pending on whether AJ Storr will receive an additional year of eligibility.
- Whether the transfers from bigger conferences succeed in the Mountain West, which the Sun called an open question.
- The Rebels' bid to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
