NCAA Basketball: Top 1st-year head coaching performances so far in 2019-20
By Erik Mauro
8. TJ Otzelberger – UNLV
Otzelberger was hired away from South Dakota State after leading them to two NCAA Tournaments and an NIT. Otzelberger replaced Marvin Menzies who was fired after three lackluster years leading the Runnin’ Rebels.
Otzelberger has the Rebels in 2nd place in the Mountain West at the time of this writing at 6-2 and 11-10 overall. Menzies only had a winning record in conference play once in his three years and never finished higher than a tie for fourth.
The big turnaround for the Rebs has been on defense. Last year they allowed 72 PPG and it’s down a full three points this season. Last year, they allowed 36 percent shooting on opponent three pointers, and that’s down to 34 percent this season. UNLV is outrebounding opponents by nine boards this season compared to just four boards last season.
The signature win so far this season for the Rebels is Utah State who did make the tournament last year, and they will be tested this Sunday, as they face off against San Diego State who is going for an undefeated regular season.
Amauri Hardy and Bryce Hamilton lead this team on the court, and Elijah Mitrou-Long from Texas joined as a grad transfer for the season. Otzelberger’s best player at South Dakota State, David Jenkins, has followed him to Las Vegas and will be eligible next season, which will make the Rebels much better.
The schedule picks up a little bit moving forward, as UNLV goes to Utah State, and to The Pit, as well as going to San Diego State to face the Aztecs as well. This was expected to be a rebuilding year, but they are in the top half of the conference and when Otzelberger gets his own team in there, they should be a force in the league.