When this game was scheduled, it was one that many, if not all UNLV fans circled on their calendars. A rematch with the Runnin’ Rebels arch rival from the 90’s, featuring teams loaded with 4 and 5 star recruits, and both with aspirations of deep NCAA Tournament runs. All of those remain true for Duke, but not for UNLV.
After the unusual mid season firing of head coach Dave Rice, the terribly handled head coaching search, which featured the even more usual hiring and resigning of a head coach, and the mass exodus of players, it was not expected that UNLV would keep this close.