My husband and I are having a debate: Do you remember that early 90s UNLV team more for beating Duke by 30 in the 1990 championship game or losing to Duke in ‘91 by 2 the following year?
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Agreed. They were deeper and more experienced than the year prior. Anderson Hunt was one of the classic “amazing in college but couldn’t even play one game in the nba” guys
Losing in 1991. They destroyed #2 Arkansas on the Razorbacks' own court and survived everyone else's best effort until Duke took them out. LJ (consensus national player of the year) should have taken the last shot.
Winning by 30 for sure. We irrationally hated Duke at our house and I freaking had a blast watching an unknown (from a national long term perspective) just destroy them was pure joy.
I remember UNLV far more for losing to Duke in '91, because that was the start of Duke's incredible basketball dynasty and of UNLV's basketball irrelevancy.
1990 was the first year I really got into the tournament. Teenage me was captivated at the way Loyola Marymount went on a Cinderella run after Hank Gathers died.
I remember the 1990 UNLV team as the team that ended that run.
Duke beating them the next year made me a Duke fan for life.
I remember the 30 point win. UNLV’s first national championship. Stacey Augmon, Anderson Hunt,Greg Anthony, David Butler and Larry Johnson. Running’ Rebel Fever.
Beating Duke by 30, not even close. It seemed like you could have dropped that '90 squad into the NBA and they would've had a shot at the playoffs. They stopped Loyola Marymount's "do it for Hank" run cold and turned Laettner and Duke into so many tasty French fries.
I sadly remember being stunned by the ‘91 loss more than enjoying the ‘90 romp. Loved watching UNLV in its heyday. Hard to believe it’s coming up on 35 years.
More for winning it. That team was the first team I truly loved and followed closely. The next year was such a heartbreaker that I buried it deep down inside me and still can’t discuss it. Thanks for bringing it up, Jemele.
Losing to Duke because the 91 season long narrative was all about UNLV going undefeated and they didn’t accomplish it. I loved that UNLV team and was heartbroken they lost to Duke.
I remember the 1991 loss more for UNLV, but it's hard to forget that while the 1990 team blew out Duke to win it, it almost didn't get there. It only beat No. 12 Ball State by two in the West semis, then had to rally by Georgia Tech at the Final Four (with the 30-point rout over LMU in between).
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Still remember Danny Hurley playing sick that game and the commentators wouldn’t shut up about it.
I remember the 1990 UNLV team as the team that ended that run.
Duke beating them the next year made me a Duke fan for life.
EVERYONE.
LJ went missing.
Still one of the great tournament games.
#IHateChristianLaettner
I think all the pieces go together, because you can't just remember 91 without what came before.