The 1990–91 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in NCAA Division I men's competition in the 1990–91 season. The Runnin' Rebels, coached by Jerry Tarkanian, entered the season as defending national champions and entered the 1991 NCAA tournament unbeaten, but lost in the national semifinal to eventual champions Duke when Anderson Hunt's desperation three in the final seconds bounced off the backboard and into the hands of a Duke player, Bobby Hurley, ending a 45-game winning streak that dated back to the previous season. They were the last team to finish the regular season unbeaten before St. Joseph's did it in 2004. They were also the only team since Indiana State in 1979 to enter the NCAA tournament after completing a perfect regular season and winning their postseason conference title until Wichita State did it in 2014.
The team played its home games in the Thomas & Mack Center, and was a member of the Big West Conference.
UNLV’s Final Four loss in the NCAA tournament brought an end to their astounding 45-game win streak. That is the fourth-longest consecutive-game win streak in NCAA Division I basketball history, and the longest win streak since the longest one ever (by UCLA) ended in 1974.
They are often called the greatest college basketball team to not win the championship.
Roster
1990-91 UNLV Roster and Stats
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=| Regular Season
!colspan=12 style=| Big West tournament
!colspan=12 style=| NCAA Tournament
Sources 1990–91 UNLV Schedule and Results
Rankings
Awards and honors Larry Johnson – Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award Stacey Augmon – NABC Defensive Player of the Year (3)
Team players drafted into the NBA 1991 1 1 Larry Johnson Charlotte Hornets 1991 1 9 Stacey Augmon Atlanta Hawks 1991 1 12 Greg Anthony New York Knicks 1991 2 29 George Ackles Miami Heat 1992 1 25 Elmore Spencer Los Angeles Clippers
References