2021–22 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team American college basketball season
The 2021–22 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The Runnin' Rebels were led by first-year head coach Kevin Kruger and played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada as members of the Mountain West Conference . They finished the season 18–14, 10–8 in MWC play to finish in fifth place. They lost to Wyoming in the quarterfinals of the MWC tournament . They failed to receive an invite to a postseason tournament.[ 1]
Previous season
In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , the Runnin' Rebels finished the 2020–21 season 12–15, 12–6 in Mountain West play to finish in seventh place. They defeated Air Force in the first round of the Mountain West tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to Utah State .
On March 18, 2021, head coach T. J. Otzelberger left UNLV after two seasons for the Iowa State head coaching job.[ 2] On March 21, the school announced that assistant coach Kevin Kruger would be promoted to the head coaching position.[ 3]
Offseason
Departures
Name
Number
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Reason for departure
Donovan Yap
0
G
6'3"
175
Freshman
Las Vegas, NV
Transferred to Fresno State
Moses Wood
1
F
6'8"
210
RS Sophomore
Reno, NV
Transferred to Portland
Caleb Grill
3
G
6'3"
195
Sophomore
Wichita, KS
Transferred to Iowa State
David Jenkins Jr.
5
G
6'2"
195
RS Junior
Tacoma, WA
Graduate transferred from Utah
Edoardo Del Cadia
10
F
6'7"
235
Junior
Senigallia, Italy
Transferred to Nicholls
Jhaylon Martinez
12
C
6'11"
260
Freshman
Vallejo, CA
Transferred to UC Riverside
Issac Lindsey
14
G
6'4"
190
Freshman
Mineral Point, WI
Walk-on; transferred to Wisconsin
Nick Blake
22
G
6'6"
220
Freshman
Las Vegas, NV
Transferred to Pacific
Kendrick Gilbert
24
F
6'5"
190
Freshman
Las Vegas, NV
Walk-on; no long on team roster
Devin Tillis
30
F
6'6"
215
Freshman
Los Angeles, CA
Transferred to UC Irvine
Cheikh Mbacke Diong
34
F
6'11"
220
Senior
Dakar, Senegal
Graduate transferred to UCF
Incoming transfers
Name
Number
Pos.
Height
Weight
Year
Hometown
Previous School
Victor Iwuakor
0
F
6'7"
223
Junior
Abuja, Nigeria
Transferred from Oklahoma . Under NCAA transfer rules, Iwuakor will have to sit out for the 2021–22 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Mike Nuga
1
G
6'2"
180
GS Senior
Toronto, ON
Transferred from Kent State . Will be eligible to play immediately since Nuga graduated from Kent State .
Justin Webster
2
G
6'3"
180
Junior
Dallas, TX
Transferred from Hawaii . Under NCAA transfer rules, Webster will have to sit out for the 2021–22 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Donovan Williams
3
G
6’6”
190
Junior
Houston, TX
Transferred from Texas . Under NCAA transfer rules, Williams will have to sit out for the 2021–22 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Jordan McCabe
5
G
6'0"
188
Senior
Kaukauna, WI
Transferred from West Virginia . Will be eligible to play immediately since McCabe graduated from West Virginia .
David Muoka
12
C
6'10"
211
Junior
Hong Kong
Transferred from Lamar . Under NCAA transfer rules, Muoka will have to sit out for the 2021–22 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Royce Hamm Jr.
13
F
6'9"
225
GS Senior
Houston, TX
Transferred from Texas . Will be eligible to play immediately since Hamm Jr. graduated from Texas .
Josh Baker
22
G
6'2"
169
Junior
Tempe, AZ
Junior college transferred from Hutchinson CC .
James Hampshire
30
C
7'1"
242
GS Senior
Flagstaff, AZ
Transferred from Pacific . Will be eligible to play immediately since Hampshire graduated from Pacific .
2021 recruiting class
Roster
2021–22 UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
F
0
Victor Iwuakor
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Jr
Oklahoma
Abuja, Nigeria
G
1
Michael Nuga
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
GS
Kent State
Toronto ON
G
2
Justin Webster
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Jr
Hawaii
Dallas, TX
G
3
Donovan Williams
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Jr
Texas
Houston, TX
G
5
Jordan McCabe
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Sr
West Virginia
Kaukauna, WI
G
10
Keshon Gilbert
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Fr
Vashon HS
Las Vegas, NV
C
12
David Muoka
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Jr
Lamar
Hong Kong
G
13
Bryce Hamilton
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Sr
Pasadena HS
Pasadena, CA
F
14
Royce Hamm Jr.
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
GS
Texas
Houston, TX
F
15
Reece Brown
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
RS So
Loomis Chaffee School
Albany, NY
G
22
Josh Baker
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Jr
Hutchinson CC
Tempe, AZ
G
24
Trey Hurlburt (W)
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Sr
Cal State San Marcos
Las Vegas, NV
C
30
James Hampshire
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
GS
Pacific
Flagstaff, AZ
G
31
Marvin Coleman (W)
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
Sr
Foothill HS
Las Vegas, NV
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on
Roster
Schedule and results
Date time, TV
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 10, 2021 *7:00 p.m.
Gardner–Webb
W 64–58
1–0
22 – Hamilton
17 – Hamm Jr.
3 – Baker
Thomas & Mack Center (4,962)Paradise, NV
November 13, 2021 *5:00 p.m., Stadium
California
W 55–52
2–0
12 – Hamilton
7 – Hamm Jr.
3 – Tied
Thomas & Mack Center (4,937)Paradise, NV
November 15, 2021 *7:00 p.m., YurView
North Dakota State Roman Main Event Campus-Site Game
W 64–62
3–0
17 – Hamilton
17 – Hamm Jr.
4 – Coleman
Thomas & Mack Center (4,381)Paradise, NV
November 19, 2021 *9:30 p.m., ESPN2
vs. No. 4 Michigan Roman Main Event Semifinals
L 61–74
3–1
21 – Hamilton
10 – Hamm Jr.
5 – McCabe
T-Mobile Arena Paradise, NV
November 21, 2021 *9:30 p.m., ESPN2
vs. Wichita State Roman Main Event Consolation – 3rd Place
L 73–74
3–2
18 – Hamilton
11 – Hamm Jr.
8 – McCabe
T-Mobile Arena (8,624)Paradise, NV
November 24, 2021 *6:30 p.m.
Whittier
W 101–45
4–2
17 – Webster
9 – Coleman
5 – Webster
Thomas & Mack Center (4,288)Paradise, NV
November 27, 2021 *2:00 p.m., Stadium
No. 2 UCLA
L 51–73
4–3
18 – Hamilton
4 –
5 – McCabe
Thomas & Mack Center (6,392)Paradise, NV
December 1, 2021 *5:00 p.m., ESPN+
at SMU
L 64–83
4–4
13 – Hamm Jr.
10 – Hamm Jr.
5 – McCabe
Moody Coliseum (3,399)Dallas, TX
December 4, 2021 *7:00 p.m.
at San Francisco
L 62–83
4–5
23 – Hamilton
5 – Hamilton
4 – Gilbert
War Memorial Gymnasium (1,327)San Francisco, CA
December 8, 2021 *7:00 p.m.
vs. Seattle UNLV at the Mandalay Bay
W 76–56
5–5
21 – Nuga
14 – Hamm Jr.
8 – Nuga
Michelob Ultra Arena (637)Paradise, NV
December 11, 2021 *7:00 p.m.
vs. Hartford UNLV at the Mandalay Bay
W 95–78
6–5
33 – Hamilton
7 – Hamm Jr.
11 – McCabe
Michelob Ultra Arena (3,257)Paradise, NV
December 15, 2021 *7:00 p.m., YurView
Omaha
W 84–71
7–5
26 – Hamilton
12 – Hamm Jr.
5 –
Thomas & Mack Center (4,345)Paradise, NV
December 22, 2021 *7:00 p.m., YurView
San Diego
W 80–57
8–5
20 –
10 – Hamm Jr.
7 – McCabe
Thomas & Mack Center (4,377)Paradise, NV
Mountain West regular season
January 1, 2022 1:00 p.m., CBS
San Diego State
L 55–62
8–6 (0–1)
16 – Williams
14 – Hamm Jr.
5 – McCabe
Thomas & Mack Center (5,082)Paradise, NV
January 11, 2022 8:00 p.m., CBSSN
New Mexico
W 85–56
9–6 (1–1)
29 – Williams
13 – Hamm Jr.
5 – McCabe
Thomas & Mack Center (3,860)Paradise, NV
January 14, 2022 8:00 p.m., FS1
Fresno State
L 68–73
9–7 (1–2)
24 – Hamilton
8 – Hamm Jr.
3 – McCabe
Thomas & Mack Center (4,976)Paradise, NV
January 17, 2022 6:00 p.m., CBSSN
at San José State Rescheduled from January 5
W 81–56
10–7 (2–2)
20 – Williams
9 – Muoka
5 – McCabe
Provident Credit Union Event Center (1,182)San Jose, CA
January 20, 2022 6:00 p.m., Mountain West Network
at Air Force Rescheduled from January 8
L 62–69
10–8 (2–3)
32 – Hamilton
9 – Hamm Jr.
2 – Tied
Clune Arena (934)Colorado Springs, CO
January 22, 2022 12:00 p.m., Stadium
San José State
W 70–62
11–8 (3–3)
30 – Hamilton
14 – Hamm Jr.
4 – Gilbert
Thomas & Mack Center (4,466)Paradise, NV
January 24, 2022 6:00 p.m., CBSSN
at San Diego State Originally scheduled for Jan. 18
L 55–80
11–9 (3–4)
23 – Hamilton
8 – Muoka
5 – McCabe
Viejas Arena (10,528)San Diego, CA
January 28, 2022 6:00 p.m., FS1
at Colorado State
W 88–74
12–9 (4–4)
45 – Hamilton
7 – Hamilton
5 – Tied
Moby Arena (8,083)Fort Collins, CO
February 1, 2022 7:00 p.m., FS1
Nevada Battle for Nevada
W 69–58
13–9 (5–4)
17 – Tied
8 – Hamm Jr.
5 – Nuga
Thomas & Mack Center (6,670)Paradise, NV
February 5, 2022 4:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Utah State
L 75–90
13–10 (5–5)
33 – Hamilton
5 – Tied
8 – McCabe
Smith Spectrum (9,029)Logan, UT
February 8, 2022 8:00 p.m., MW Network
Air Force
W 78–44
14–10 (6–5)
24 – Hamilton
16 – Hamm, Jr.
10 – McCabe
Thomas & Mack Center (5,312)Paradise, NV
February 11, 2022 8:00 p.m., FS1
at Boise State
L 63–69
14–11 (6–6)
32 – Hamilton
7 – Hamm, Jr.
6 – McCabe
ExtraMile Arena (7,660)Boise, ID
February 16, 2022 7:30 p.m., CBSSN
at Fresno State
W 60–57
15–11 (7–6)
17 – Hamilton
8 – Muoka
4 – Hamilton
Save Mart Center (4,723)Fresno, CA
February 19, 2022 5:00 p.m., CBSSN
Colorado State
W 72–51
16–11 (8–6)
20 – Hamilton
12 – Hamm Jr.
4 – Hamilton
Thomas & Mack Center (6,153)Paradise, NV
February 22, 2022 8:00 p.m., CBSSN
at Nevada Battle for Nevada
W 62–54
17–11 (9–6)
27 – Hamilton
12 – Hamm Jr.
7 – McCabe
Lawlor Events Center (9,148)Reno, NV
February 26, 2022 7:00 p.m., CBSSN
Boise State
L 76–86
17–12 (9–7)
25 – Hamilton
7 – Muoka
5 – McCabe
Thomas & Mack Center (7,176)Paradise, NV
March 2, 2022 7:30 p.m., FS1
Wyoming
W 64–57
18–12 (10–7)
17 – Hamm Jr.
10 – Hamm Jr.
4 – Hamilton
Thomas & Mack Center (6,204)Paradise, NV
March 5, 2022 8:00 p.m., FS1
at New Mexico
L 67–76
18–13 (10–8)
28 – Hamilton
10 – Hamm, Jr.
7 – McCabe
The Pit (9,404)Albuquerque, NM
Mountain West tournament
March 10, 2022 2:30 p.m., CBSSN
(5)
(4) Wyoming Quarterfinals
L 56–59
18–14
22 – Hamilton
7 – Tied
3 – Hamilton
Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, NV
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in
Pacific Time .
Source[ 4]
References
Venues Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics