Mountain West Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

While finishing with a winning record overall in 2022-23, UNLV sported a losing record in Mountain West play and failed to make the postseason. Yet there are signs the Runnin’ Rebels could be on the way up.

Considering the departures headed into last season, led by Bryce Hamilton, it seemed Kevin Kruger’s team could go off a cliff. But they hung tough all year long, scoring notable wins against the likes of Dayton, Minnesota, and Washington State.

UNLV doesn’t have the most elite talent in the conference, but their rotation is deep. Anyone could go off in a given game and make the plays needed to keep Kruger’s squad on a winning path.

Oklahoma transfer Jalen Hill was a defensive ace with the Sooners and should be able to provide the same boost on that end in Las Vegas. The wing is a good rebounder and finisher, though his shot definitely needs work.

The Boones were also big gets on the transfer market. Keylan Boone will bring the shooting to UNLV after hitting 41 percent of his threes for Pacific last year, doing so with size – he’s 6-foot-8. Senior Kalib Boone, meanwhile, arrives from Oklahoma State to give the Runnin’ Rebels their best interior presence in years. The reunion of the brothers should be a blast in Vegas.

The roster turnover from last season is tough, but that’s the reality in major college hoops these days anyways. UNLV should be able to cope so long as they find perimeter shooting and a primary ballhandler.

This summer, Pete Davidson shot some hoops with the Runnin’ Rebels. He won’t take the floor this season, but UNLV has a collection of rotation members that should make the comedian proud.