LAS VEGAS — UNLV has not played in the NCAA Tournament since 2013, and Josh Pastner’s second schedule gives the Runnin’ Rebels more chances to build the type of résumé that could eventually change that.
UNLV announced three exhibitions, 15 nonconference games and an 18-game Mountain West schedule Tuesday. The regular season could include 12 meetings with eight teams that reached the postseason last year.
“We have put together a very challenging schedule with a lot of quality teams, and that’s exactly what we want for our program,” Pastner said. “Our non-conference slate will test us in a number of different ways and prepare us for the new-look Mountain West that we know will be extremely competitive.”
UNLV will get three games against high-major opponents before any result counts. Utah visits the Thomas & Mack Center for an exhibition Oct. 7, BYU follows Oct. 24 and Missouri closes the exhibition schedule Oct. 29. Northern Arizona comes to Las Vegas for the regular-season opener Nov. 3, followed by Samford on Nov. 7.
The first significant résumé opportunity comes Nov. 13 when Stanford visits the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV beat the Cardinal 75-74 in Palo Alto last December, while Stanford finished 20-13 and played in the College Basketball Crown.
Four days later, UNLV opens Players Era against Kansas at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Jayhawks went 24-11 last season, tied for third in the Big 12 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
A win over Kansas sends UNLV to a Nov. 18 semifinal against Auburn or West Virginia; a loss puts it in a consolation game against the other first-round loser. Auburn won last season’s NIT, and West Virginia won the College Basketball Crown.
The Nov. 19 opponent will be Houston, Rutgers, Florida or Notre Dame. Houston reached the Sweet 16 and Florida the NCAA Tournament’s second round last season.
That gives UNLV three games in three days with Kansas guaranteed and several other possible opponents coming off postseason runs. All three games will air on ESPN networks.
Tyrin Jones and Issac Williamson are the two returners in a mostly rebuilt roster. Jones led the Mountain West with 2.2 blocks per game as a freshman and earned All-Defensive Team recognition.
Terrance Ford Jr., Jeremy Foumena, Tyler Harris, Jackson Kiss, Moustapha Loum, Sebastian Mack, Cam Miles, Kota Suttle, MJ Thomas and Dontrez Williams make up the 10 newcomers.
UNLV finished 18-17 in Pastner’s first season and reached the second round of the NIT. The Rebels return to the Thomas & Mack Center after Players Era to play Eastern Washington on Nov. 23 and UTRGV on Nov. 28 before December takes them away from home.
The only two true nonconference road games come four days apart. UNLV plays at San Francisco on Dec. 2 before going to Viejas Arena to face San Diego State on Dec. 5.
San Diego State swept UNLV last season and now belongs to the Pac-12. The Dec. 5 trip to Viejas Arena becomes a nonconference résumé opportunity.
Washington State follows Dec. 12 in the Jack Jones Classic at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson. The Cougars spent last season in the West Coast Conference before returning to the Pac-12.
UNLV then heads to Phoenix to face SMU in the Hall of Fame Phoenix at Mortgage Matchup Center on Dec. 19. SMU finished 20-14 and earned an NCAA Tournament First Four berth out of the ACC. Arizona and Arkansas will play the other game in the event.
Cal Poly, Westminster University and North Dakota close the nonconference schedule at the Thomas & Mack Center before Mountain West play begins Jan. 5 at Grand Canyon.
The new-look Mountain West has 10 basketball teams after Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State left for the Pac-12. Hawai‘i, UC Davis and UTEP have joined, while Grand Canyon begins its second season in the league. UNLV will play each of the other nine teams once at home and once on the road.
There are still postseason teams on the conference schedule. New Mexico finished 26-11 and reached the NIT semifinals last season. Hawai‘i won the Big West Tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament before joining the Mountain West. Wyoming and Reno also played in the NIT, with the Wolf Pack reaching the third round.
UNLV opens Mountain West play Jan. 5 at Grand Canyon after splitting two games with the Lopes last season. Reno remains a twice-a-year Mountain West rivalry.
Reno visits Jan. 30, followed by UNLV’s Feb. 27 trip to Reno. The teams split last season, and the Rebels close the regular season March 6 at Hawai‘i.
Pastner also wanted to keep UNLV in front of its own fans as much as possible. The Rebels will have 20 opportunities to play at home when the three exhibitions are included, with additional Las Vegas-area games at Michelob ULTRA Arena and Lee’s Family Forum.
“Having 20 opportunities to play at home, including our exhibition games, is also extremely important for our program,” Pastner said. “We want the Thomas & Mack Center to be a place where our fans create a tremendous home-court advantage, and we’re excited to play so many games in front of them this season.”
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