UNLV Basketball

Wednesday's men's basketball game between UNLV and Dayton was canceled after a shooting was reported on the UNLV campus.

At 11:54 a.m. PT, UNLV told students that university police were responding to a report of a shooting near Beam Hall and that those on campus should shelter in place. Las Vegas police announced at 12:04 p.m. officers were en route to the scene of an active shooter situation.

The LVMPD followed up at 12:37 p.m. to say the shooting suspect "has been located and is deceased."

At a press conference, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said "there are a number of victims that have been transported to area hospitals" but declined to provide any specifics beyond that.

Dayton was scheduled to host UNLV at UD Arena on Wednesday for a 9 p.m. ET tipoff. The Flyers are 6-2 on the season, with the Rebels sitting a .500 (3-3).

UNLV's next three games are all off campus. It plays Loyola Marymount and Creighton as part of the Jack Jones Classic in Henderson, Nevada, and then it matches up with Saint Mary's in Phoenix on Dec. 16. The Rebels' next true home game isn't until Dec. 21 against Hofstra.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is ditching its mascot but retaining its Rebels moniker. 

University president Keith E. Whitfield wrote a letter Tuesday in which he announced the Hey Reb! mascot "has been retired since last spring and there are no plans to bring it back." He added the school isn't presently exploring new mascots to replace Hey Reb!

UNLV will, however, continue to be known as the Rebels:

"Personally, I have always viewed the term 'Rebels' as a strong, nationally recognized brand synonymous with UNLV. I believe the word 'rebel' represents an attitude or spirit. It captures the essence of an iconic city that is unconventional and celebrates its independence, tenacity, and resiliency. Rebels have a purpose or motivation for a greater cause and are not afraid to take risks to make incredible things happen."

Last June, then-president Marta Meana announced that UNLV was removing a statue of Hey Reb! and that school officials were discussing the future of the mascot.

Especially in the wake of nationwide protests against systemic racism and social inequality, some universities and sports franchises have reevaluated their branding. The Washington Football Team and Cleveland's MLB franchise, for example, both moved on from nicknames that are considered derogatory toward Indigenous people.

As Whitfield explained, "rebel" can be a more general term with broad connotations. However, the term has also long been associated with Confederate States of America—the 11 states which seceded from the U.S. and fought against it in the Civil War.

The connection between the Rebels moniker and the Confederacy used to be more overt.

"After establishing the Rebels nickname, Nevada Southern students also created Beauregard, a cartoon wolf with a Confederate uniform, to 'rebel' against [University of Nevada, Reno] and its wolf-pack mascot in the North," UNLV wrote in a history of its nickname.

Criticism arose over Beauregard's depiction in a Confederate uniform, and he was removed in 1976. Hey Reb! was adopted in 1983 and was inspired by "the Western trailblazers of the 1800s who ventured into uncharted Nevada to discover resources and build communities." However, Hey Reb! still saw criticism for its resemblance to cartoon depictions of Confederate soldiers.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, removed the statue of its mascot, Hey Reb!, that was stationed outside of the school's alumni center.

University president Marta Meana announced the statue's removal on Tuesday and added that UNLV is also considering changing its mascot as well:

The step comes as people across the United States and elsewhere are protesting and demonstrating to demand changes addressing systemic racism and social inequality.

College athletes have also shown a willingness to exert the power they can collectively wield as invaluable contributors to a billion-dollar industry.

On Monday, Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard called out head coach Mike Gundy after he was pictured wearing a T-shirt for One America News Network, a far-right media outlet. Student-athletes at Texas also requested the school cease using "The Eyes of Texas" as its official song, among other changes.

According to UNLV, its Rebels moniker goes back to the mid-1950s and reflects "a time when a nation founded by rebels once again became obsessed with the idea of the iconic nonconformist."

The school's mascot was originally Beauregard, a wolf caricature dressed in a Confederate uniform, which was also a nod to the University of Nevada, Reno, which uses Wolf Pack as its nickname. UNLV dropped Beauregard in 1976 and began using Hey Reb! in 1983.  

UNLV has suspended forward Dwayne Morgan indefinitely after an incident with a cab driver Saturday, according to Kevin Bolinger of Fox 5 Las Vegas.

Bolinger added the player will remain suspended from all basketball activities until an investigation has concluded.

Morgan has had a rough college career since joining UNLV. The former 5-star recruit from Baltimore struggled to make an impact in his first two seasons, averaging 5.3 and then 5.5 points per game.

The 6'8" forward considered a transfer after coach Dave Rice was fired, but instead decided to stick around to play with new coach Marvin Menzies.

He then appeared in just nine games in the 2016-17 season before shoulder and hip injuries ended his campaign.

Morgan has at least one year of eligibility remaining and possibly two if the NCAA grants him a medical hardship waiver. However, the latest incident could put his future with the program in jeopardy.

Recruit ranking courtesy of Scout.com.

Brandon McCoy, a 5-star center hailing from San Diego, California, is headed to the UNLV Rebels next season after formally committing Tuesday.

McCoy broke the news on his Twitter page:

A true seven-footer, McCoy established himself as one of the premier bigs in the class of 2017. According to Scout.com, the Cathedral Catholic High School product is the 12th-ranked player overall and the fifth-ranked player at his position among all 2017 recruits.

He's also the second-ranked center in the West Region and California's No. 1 prospect among 5s.

On tape, McCoy immediately stands out for a couple of reasons.

Not only does he tower over the competition, but he possesses a deft touch from the outside for a player his size. Now, that doesn't mean McCoy makes a living on jumpers from the free-throw line and beyond.

However, a bit of range means McCoy can provide supplementary outside scoring in ways other bigs at the college level can't.

McCoy's most valuable asset, though, is his rim protection.

A mobile athlete with a 7'0" wingspan, per DraftExpress.com, McCoy can serve as a one-man wrecking crew below the free-throw line based on the way he blocks shots and deters penetrating guards from hoisting them in the first place.

For the Runnin' Rebels, nabbing McCoy is a major win considering powerhouses such as Arizona, Oregon and Michigan State were in hot pursuit of the McDonald's All-American.

But now that he's signed on with UNLV, McCoy projects as an instant-impact contributor who should slot into the starting lineup from the moment he arrives on campus.

McCoy's ability to protect the rim is a true game-changer, and the Rebels won't be able to keep a player of his defensive caliber on the bench for long stretches.

McCoy could stand to add some weight as his time in Sin City progresses, but he should be able to hold his own as a defensive ace who can also provide stability on the other end by carving out deep post position or stepping out and knocking down mid-range jumpers.

Following the sudden departure of Chris Beard, UNLV wasted no time in securing its next head coach, reportedly filling the vacancy with New Mexico State's Marvin Menzies.

Jeff Goodman of ESPN reported Menzies and UNLV verbally agreed to a deal.

On Friday, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports first reported Menzies was a candidate for UNLV's head-coaching vacancy.

Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Menzies and UNLV have negotiated "over the phone," while Gary Parrish of CBS Sports reported "the consensus in basketball circles" is Menzies is expected to be the next UNLV head coach.

Katz reported, citing a source, that former Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl, who was a candidate for the UNLV job, is trying to determine if he wants to return to the bench so soon after a "difficult" tenure in Sacramento. Katz also reported Karl is dealing with a knee injury.

On Friday, Dan Wolken of USA Today reported Karl was interested in the UNLV job and had already spoken with school officials.

Beard departed UNLV for Texas Tech on Friday, per Goodman, less than a week after officially being named the Runnin' Rebels head coach.

On April 15, Parrish reported former UNLV coach Ryan Miller was flying to meet with school officials on Friday. 

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The UNLV Rebels men's basketball team hired Chris Beard to be its head coach in March, but he's now headed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein reported the Red Raiders have hired Beard, while Jeff Goodman of ESPN confirmed.

Jeff Borzello of ESPN provided UNLV's official statement on Beard:

Texas Tech was without a coach after Memphis announced it hired Tubby Smith to fill its vacancy Thursday. Smith led the Red Raiders to the NCAA tournament this season and won the national championship in 1997-98 as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats.

According Goodman of ESPN.com, Beard has three daughters who live close to Texas Tech’s campus and “is intrigued largely because of his background” at the school.

Beard was an assistant coach for the Red Raiders for 10 seasons.

UNLV is not primed to compete in 2016-17 thanks to plenty of roster turnover after graduations, transfers and departures to the NBA draft. 

Beard went 30-5 last season at Arkansas-Little Rock. He won the regular-season Sun Belt championship and shocked the No. 5-seeded Purdue Boilermakers in the first round of the NCAA tournament before eventually bowing out to the No. 4-seeded Iowa State Cyclones.

Beard brought a defense-first philosophy to Arkansas-Little Rock and used a slow tempo to dictate games throughout the 2015-16 season. According to KenPom.com, Arkansas-Little Rock was No. 32 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency and No. 345 in adjusted tempo, which means it shortened games with a glacial pace and played tough enough defense to win with that style.

Better defense would be a welcome change at Texas Tech after the Red Raiders were 93rd in adjusted defensive efficiency last season, per KenPom.com.

Texas Tech reached the Big Dance in 2016 for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign. Adding an up-and-coming coach such as Beard, who is fresh off one of the biggest upsets of the NCAA tournament, should help the program maintain that momentum and compete in the difficult Big 12.

The hectic search for the next coach of the UNLV Rebels men's basketball team has come to an end, as Chris Beard has been named the program's next head coach.

Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun passed along the program's release confirming the hire:

Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported the deal on Sunday, with ESPN's Jeff Goodman reporting that it's a five-year deal.

Beard was the head coach of the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans this year, his first as a Division I head coach. He led the Trojans to a 30-5 record and a spot in the NCAA tournament, where they defeated the Purdue Boilermakers as a No. 12 seed.

UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy addressed the hire in a statement:

In Chris Beard, we have selected a head coach who understands exactly what it takes to transform a program. His coaching philosophy has been heavily shaped by legends such as Bobby Knight and Bill Self. He is committed to the academic, athletic and social development of his student-athletes, and he believes in toughness and effort.

The road to finding a new head coach was a bumpy one for UNLV.

After the team fired former head coach Dave Rice, assistant coach Todd Simon took the helm, and the Rebels went 9-8 before losing in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West tournament.

Simon, along with fellow assistants Stacey Augmon and Ryan Miller, interviewed for the position March 15, according to Anderson. While Augmon and Miller gained no traction, Southern Utah named Simon its head coach Tuesday.

The day prior, Anderson reported UNLV received permission to interview Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Mick Cronin, and Goodman reported UNLV and Cronin were "headed in the direction of a marriage" after an interview Wednesday. After another meeting with Kunzer-Murphy on Thursday, Cronin returned to Cincinnati without a deal.

Cronin decided to remain at Cincinnati on Friday, but Kunzer-Murphy told ESPN 1100 in Las Vegas that the two sides had a deal in place:

Afterward, UNLV moved quickly to interview New Mexico State head coach Marvin Menzies, along with Beard, according to Anderson. Anderson also reported Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett was in the running but turned down a $1.5 million offer.

Menzies interviewed for the position Saturday but accepted a contract extension with New Mexico State late Sunday evening, per Anderson. Shortly thereafter, Anderson reported Beard had agreed to take the UNLV job. Beard's journey as a coach will come full circle, per ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello:

Beard's contract will be brought up in discussion at a later meeting by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. Beard's four-year contract he signed at Little Rock in 2015 was for a base salary of $230,000 a year.

Once Beard's hiring becomes official, he will take over a program that faces much uncertainty heading into next year.

The Rebels have already lost sophomore wing Dwayne Morgan to transfer, as he's heading back to his home state of Maryland to be close to his ill mother. UNLV freshman center Stephen Zimmerman will put his name into the NBA draft in the summer, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, and chances remain high that sophomore guard Patrick McCaw will follow suit and go pro.

UNLV could have a complete roster overhaul next year; however, the team is putting its faith in Beard and seems set on making him its coach of the future.

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UNLV has reportedly finally found its next head basketball coach after the firing of Dave Rice in January.

Continue for updates. 

Beard Slated to Become Next UNLV Coach

Sunday, March 27

Arkansas-Little Rock head coach Chris Beard has agreed "in principle" to be the next head coach at UNLV, according to Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

ESPN's Jeff Goodman added the contract will be for five years. 

Menzies Drops Out of Running for UNLV Job

Sunday, March 27

New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies has withdrawn his name from consideration for the UNLV opening, according to Mark Rudi of the Las Cruces Sun-News. According to Anderson, Menzies received an extension to stay at New Mexico State.

Earlier on Sunday, Goodman reported Menzies was a finalist for the position. 

Jeff Borzello of ESPN reported on Saturday that Menzies was in Las Vegas to interview for the position.

UNLV Exploring Other Avenues After Cronin Decision

Friday, March 25

UNLV expressed interest in the University of Cincinnati's Mick Cronin to fill its vacant head coaching position, but the school will need to look elsewhere after Cronin announced on the Bearcats' athletics website Friday he's staying with the university.  

According to Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun (via the Salt Lake Tribune's Steve Luhm), Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett could be an option now for the Runnin' Rebels. 

"We have many outstanding candidates that are interested in this job, some we have already interviewed and others that we will be speaking with in the coming days," UNLV said in a statement, according to Borzello. "We have said all along that our target timeframe to have this search completed by is the Final Four, and we remain on track." 

Rice was with the Runnin' Rebels for four-and-a-half seasons, but they failed to make the NCAA tournament during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns after qualifying during each of his first two years on the bench.