Remember this comeback
- Thread starter Doneoett
- Start date
Great find. I remember it as well as I can considering it was nearly 35 years ago. Hey, everyone’s favorite is the ‘90 team, of course. And the ‘91 team. You just can’t help it. But I’m telling you, that 86-87 was incredibly special. My first love. They really were. So much fun, so much personality. They were insanely fun to watch. So many comebacks where you were dead in the water, culminating with that amazing 2nd half comeback vs Iowa in the Elite 8, still one of my favorite games.
Im not a skier, but I was I Brianhead when the Temple games and the game you posted, vs Western Kentucky, were played. I was 19 or 20 at the time. Just a boys weekend of being stupid and getting drunk, frat boy style. Just good old American fun. I got fierce strep throat on that trip. I was a freshman at UNLV. But I was glued to the TV for those games. My friends didn’t understand it, they weren’t big UNLV fans at all, these were childhood friends I was with, none went to college. And you know what? I can see where it didn’t make a lot of sense to them. I’m currently somewhere around 710 straight home games attended. By the time they hit NYC for the Preseason NIT, I was a whopping 3 games into that streak, last home game of the 85-86 season (Fresno, I think), and the first two rounds of the preseason NIT were at the Mack (Arizona and Oklahoma if I recall correctly). I would have, nobody would have … expected to attend every home game since then.
But when I say first love, I mean it. I graduated from Gorman in the spring before the 86-87 season, was all slated to go to UNR (because they had the med school, figured undergrad then medical even though I wasn’t sure what I was going to do). Family tragedy hit in June, most of you know that story well enough … super tight knit family, it floored us, I figured since everything was so raw, I’d put Reno off for a year. The freshman classes would all transfer, no harm in putting it off. Still, my mind wasn’t straight, had good friends and great family, but still lost after the tragedy, just kind of wandering, searching … and then this team comes along. I immediately drew a ton of personal connection with that team given my family history, at least through my eyes. The Rebels were hated except by the few that loved them unconditionally. They were perceived to be bad guys, but they weren’t. They didn’t care that they were perceived that way. They didn’t make excuses, they didn’t play the victim, they just pushed forward not caring what everyone else that didn’t matter to them thought about them. They were fun, big personality. They were hunted, unfairly. They were judged, unfairly. But it didn’t stop them, they just didn’t care. So yeah, it was a strong magnet for me.
It was an amazing year. We only had the controversial loss at Oklahoma during the regular season and lost in the Final Four vs Indiana. I remember on Senior night, I snuck my mom down in the student section with me. She wasn’t a Rebel fan per se, but loved sports, and she knew what that team meant to me. Plus, she was thankful, given the tumultuous months after the tragedy, that the Rebels gave me some focus, some joy, something to keep me afloat when I needed it.
Now, I didn’t know whether we were going to win the national championship or not, but felt good about our chances. After that last home game, we applauded as the buzzer sounded and we sent the team off to the Big West tournament. It was an easy win, I think over Pacific. But as we applauded, I was emotional. My mom asked me what was wrong. I told her this team was truly special and we weren’t going to witness anything like this again. Obviously, I was wrong, it only took a couple years to do more. But I recognized what that team had given me at that point in my life and I was truly grateful. I was at a harsh crossroad, who knows how it could have gone? Truly grateful. And loyal to them for giving more than they could ever know.
And of course, I decided, solely because of basketball, that I would remain a student at UNLV instead of going to UNR.
Obviously, we’ve had far more down times that good times since Maxson and his cronies buried the program. I‘m not a fair weather type of guy, I can handle all the losing. But more than that, loyalty to the 86-87 is what kept me going strong, kept me going when I really didn’t feel like it anymore. I’d think back and say, “I owe them”. That greatly faded, my “debt” has long been paid, nobody associated with the program back then is here now. We don’t have those same values, the same strength, same tenacity, same … anything … that those teams had. They stood for something, we just “exist” now and go through the motions as a mediocre team in a poor conference, just playing out the string hoping to bite a couple of teams along the way. Habit and the consecutive streak is what keeps me going more than anything at this point. It really faded hard and fast during Kruger’s second year. It wasn’t anybody’s fault, it was probably more timing than anything. The S16 in his third year revitalized me a bit, it was a great time. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all bad. We are currently in the midst of the worst stretch of hoops. But from after Tark until now, still some great, great times. But they’ve been fleeting. Worth it, but fleeting. Then we got Rice, recruiting really ramped up a lot and we started getting some huge non conference wins that “felt” right. So that perked me up, plus he was a Rebel from back then and understood what it meant to this town and our fans more than anyone. So that re-energized me a bit. I liked that we were disliked, it felt more relatable, it felt more old school. But, unfortunately, that was fleeting also. Now going to the games - it’s definitely more going through the motions, just doing what I've always done. Rooting for a win, hoping for the best, but the losing doesn’t hurt at all and when we get a good win, it’s cool as hell but for the briefest of moments. It’s just been way overplayed. I was going to intentionally snap the streak awhile back, but that last coach wasn’t going to last longer than me, he was truly awful as a coach and everything else. I refused to bail at the lowest of lows. I don’t know what we will do with Otz ultimately, I like him and think he’s got some things going right and he can have some success here. I really hope he does. I’d like It to point in that direction and feel more at ease and then just walk away and watch from afar, more casually. I know it’ll never be the same or even similar and it’s an unfair bar to hold over someone. But I came to that conclusion 10-15 years ago.
Those anti-Tark people sure did a number on this program.
Sorry for the very long, nostalgic post. You asked if I remembered the comeback. Yes, I do, like yesterday. Thanks for the reminder.
That game was one of Gary Graham’s finest. Believe the Rebels were down about 15 when Mark Wade fouled out. Gary had some big baskets along with his usual stellar defense.
Jerry told Freddie at half time to keep his confidence up and wanted him to handle the ball some more than usual. He had several assists in the game. His endurance was also outstanding. Believe he only sat for about 2 minutes the entire game.
The call to go to a zone defense was also critical. Their big man Tellis Frank was really good, but the zone did slow him down some.
Jerry loved that 86-87 team. I remember how emotional he was during the pre-game activities prior to the Pacific game. They were the best group of over achievers he coached. They practiced so hard and their mental focus never dropped off at any point in the season.
Jerry told Freddie at half time to keep his confidence up and wanted him to handle the ball some more than usual. He had several assists in the game. His endurance was also outstanding. Believe he only sat for about 2 minutes the entire game.
The call to go to a zone defense was also critical. Their big man Tellis Frank was really good, but the zone did slow him down some.
Jerry loved that 86-87 team. I remember how emotional he was during the pre-game activities prior to the Pacific game. They were the best group of over achievers he coached. They practiced so hard and their mental focus never dropped off at any point in the season.
Wow, great game, and great team! Between the Hardway Eight and the 89-90 & 90-91 teams I think they are somewhat under-appreciated. Watching them play, especially on defense, had me wondering why we can't have teams like that anymore. Then Grg popped into my head.
Didn't know you were ticketed for Reno, Joe. Can't even imagine. Seems like such an ill fit. Not educationally, but personally. Probably because we didn't meet until you were well and truly Rebelfan.
Didn't know you were ticketed for Reno, Joe. Can't even imagine. Seems like such an ill fit. Not educationally, but personally. Probably because we didn't meet until you were well and truly Rebelfan.
We started six vs Pacific, too, didn’t we? West, Leon, Mark, Freddie, Armon (en), and Gary.
I love that we have something to remember.
I hate that almost all we have is memories.
I hate that almost all we have is memories.
It was Eldridge, Freddie, Armon, Mark, Leon and Gary. Eldridge gave a really good speech before the game, even shed some tears. The guys gave him a hard time afterwards about what it would do for his tough guy image. Gary either had his career high or came close to it. He only missed a couple of shots against Pacific.
Lawrence West was suppose to be a part of the 87-88 team but missed summer school class and was going to be academically ineligible. The expectation was for him to probably start. Jerry got up with his good friend Abe Lemons who was the coach at Oklahoma City University which was NAIA and got Lawrence there.
Jerry did it in 90-91 with Larry, Stacey, Greg, Ackles, Rice and Jeter against Irvine.
Don’t know how I forgot El Hud. I remember West wasn’t on the next season’s team (not very good by Tark standards but still respectable nationally) and not having West, so I assumed he was a senior.
Two things stand out about Gary. I didn’t specifically recall that offensive output vs WKU. He was a strong perimeter defender all year long; just a decent three point shooter ... but those late FT’s vs Iowa. That’s what stood out to me. Most important moment of his life up to that point and he didn’t think much of it, just drained both freebies with ease.
Speaking of ineligible players, just think how stacked the Rebel backcourt would've been from '89 to '91 if Karl James didn't flunk out of school in '88.
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I meant to say backcourt. My bad.
Still remember staying up and watching those UNLV teams in late 80s.
Wasn't '88 UNLV the first team to defeat the Soviet National team after the USSR won the gold medal?
'87 UNLV is still my favorite basketball team of all time.
I remember George Dare (RIP) coming to my school to sing Running Rebel Fever during that season.
I remember George Dare (RIP) coming to my school to sing Running Rebel Fever during that season.
Man, that was intense. An exhibition game that was electric as hell. They were a good team. I don’t think Arvidyas played, but Sarunas M played, I think Volkov and Kurtinitis, couple other nice players too. They were grown men ... but so were the Rebels. Don’t hold me to the Soviet spellings please.
Electric. But the Mack always was back then.
I remember Richard Robinson having a career game against the Soviets. I thought he was going to own that year but he just went back to being the old Richard Robinson we always knew.
Richard did play very well in that game. Believe he had around 15/16 points, 12/13 rebounds. Jerry was very pleased with him after the game and he was even named a captain along with Jarvis for the season.
But it never materialized into the season. Richard had a few moments here and there like hitting some clutch free throws late told hold off a Fresno State rally.
Jerry had the great line about Richard, “he plays great on Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Fridays.” Those were days when UNLV typically didn’t play that season.
Correct, the Soviets came in to the game in 88 undefeated with wins over Kansas, UNC and NC State among others. That was the game the Rebels wore the road uniforms at home.
Sabonis didn’t play in any of the games. A couple of them I know he was rehabbing knee injuries which plagued him throughout his career.
Believe the Rebels are the only team to play the Soviets multiple times back then and went undefeated (4-0).
I disappointingly didn't get to attend many UNLV at the T&M, but I did attend that Soviet game and the Georgetown game with Patrick Ewing. Awesome memories. The place was just electric. The whole town was around UNLV. I remember our class took a field trip to UNLV and we saw a few Rebel players on campus. We looked up the Rebel players like they were rock stars.
I remember there was some USA chants at the end of the Soviet game as well.
Electric will always be the most fitting word. I can’t describe it super well to those that never experienced it. Part of it was Vegas was so tiny and it felt like an intimate bond with the team and other Las Vegans. We all knew we were on the same team. Very cool time.
