Otzelberger Gets His 1st Win In Vegas

Author: Matt Raftery

T.J. Otzelberger has already secured his first win as the new Runnin’ Rebels basketball coach and he hasn’t even coached his first practice at UNLV. After arriving in style, coach Otz won the press conference. The atmosphere in the room was the most joyful and optimistic in recent UNLV MBB history.

Otzelberger was greeted with a helicopter ride around the city and welcomed with open arms by those present at the press conference. UNLV Athletic Director Desiree Reed-Francois briefly spoke and said that she was looking for a coach that “embodies the spirit of Las Vegas.” She goes on to say that she was looking for someone that is a winner and is going to lead the Runnin’ Rebels to compete for conference and national championships.

As Otzelberger took the podium, his confidence in his body language was contagious and his smile illuminated the whole room. Coach O mentioned that he has a great connection with former Runnin’ Rebels coach Lon Kruger and that the two discussed how Kruger constructed practices at UNLV along with other aspects of the university. This is a significant mention because Coach Kruger was a proven winner for UNLV and consistently had the Rebels contending for conference championships and NCAA Tournament bids along with compiling a 161-71 record as the leader of the Runnin’ Rebels. Coach Otzelberger went on to say that his number one priority was to “re-recruit these young men.” This is a significant step in the right direction and I feel will expedite the rebuild process at UNLV.

Otzelberger also made reference to the storied 1990 UNLV Basketball Team and recalled watching them as a 7th grader in his hometown of Milwaukee. He said that “we will get that same magic back.” When asked about the type of basketball he desires to bring to UNLV, he responded by saying that the Runnin’ Rebels will play a “up-tempo, fun style of basketball.” Another question that was proposed to Coach Otzelberger was what he would define as a good first season given that Desiree Reed-Francois has had a win-now type of mentality recently. His response was one that should make every Runnin’ Rebels fan excited. “We’re here to win basketball games,” said Otzelberger.

As the press conference came to a conclusion, one more critical question was asked about how he felt about scheduling non-conference opponents. His answer was a bigger slam dunk than a Cheikh Mbacke Diong slam dunk. “We want to take on college basketball’s elite,” responded Otzelberger. Clearly a bold and exciting statement from a coach hired by an athletic director who has been just as bold recently. This is what UNLV needs. They need to be challenged with upper-level competition to offset a Mountain West Conference that is expected to take a decline in the level of competition with the departures of Jalen McDaniels from San Diego State and Caroline and the Martin twins from Reno.

The door is opened for UNLV to be known again in the Mountain West Conference. I can’t wait for Coach Otzelberger to lead us through that open door and get the fans back in the red seats of the Mack. Check off the win the press conference box. Now onto re-recruiting the UNLV players currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal and recruiting new talent to compliment the talent already on the roster. I know it’s early, but watch out for the fast-paced Runnin’ Rebels in 2019-2020.