back in this era, espn had this gimmick called "big monday". they'd run a game from the big east (i was in l.a. at the time, so it was like "the big east....who cares?", then the big 10, and then one from the big west (which this is). i had been into unlv for a few years by here (they're the only team i've ever rooted for), as their home games were on channel 9 in l a., and the games,where the rebs had to go to the thunderdome were the highlights of the regular season. they wouldn't start until like 9:00 west coast time, which gave all the ucsb students all day to drink and get keyed up and crazy. tark and ucsb's coach, jerry pimm, were really good friends, and pimm would host tark on his boat when unlv came to santa barbara. if you think your arena is loud, it isn't. THIS is loud. i know i stayed up late to watch this the first time.
1:03:23 Think about how ridiculous this quote must have sounded at the time. Some guy you never heard of saying he would break the long jump record. And then he actually did it 18 months later.
For an Indiana kid learning to love basketball during this era of minimal TV coverage, these were mysterious teams that we knew only from their high rankings, the one-paragraph UPI game summaries or occasional astounding boxscore in the newspaper, or the rare Sports Illustrated article…I imagine that West Coast kids had a similar relationship to the emerging Indiana Univ. teams of the 1970s.
The McKale Center! Living in Big Ten country we were always fascinated seeing the West regional tournament venues: Provo, Pocatello, Eugene, Tempe, Tucson, Albuquerque, Long Beach, etc. They all seemed so exotic and new and warm (no digging through a foot of snow just to get to the gate).
I WATCHED THIS GAME IN MY BASEMENT WITH A FRIEND OF MINE WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL. CAN STILL REMEMBER EATING THE BIGFOOT PIZZA, DRINKING PEPSI AND SEEING JR GO OFF.
Once Tark left rebel basketball never regained its buzz and glory in the city of sin. What a time to be alive back in the mid 80’s to 1991 watching greatness.
Saturday Jan 3rd 1987 KVVU Local Fox5. What a 86-87 season the Runnin Rebels had! The city was buzzin, only 2 losses. A shame they didn’t win the chip that year. Rip The Hammer.
Larry Johnson was a MAN among boys and the UNLV fast break was incredible. As soon as UNLV gets a defensive rebound, it's off to the races, ignited by a great outlet pass.
Had to pause this game because I don't know if I can stand the disappointment I did when I was a kid. I was crushed. To think if we won we would have faced Indiana again who we beat at home that year I think. I think that game in on you tube as well. Number 1 vs number 2. Perhaps I will watch the rest of this sometime. This was the beat Iowa men's basketball team in many generations. Bj Armstrong was my favorite. Still have a picture taken of me and him at Iowa's basketball camp that I attended during this time. Still remember first year coach Dr tom saying I looked like brad lohaus. Also remember watching Robocop with brad and other hawks during basketball camp. Good memories.
45:57 i love when Vitale suggests a T.O. UNLV must be the 1st program to be wearing nike uniforms. IOWA 24 t.o in 1st half, awful Feel sorry for Dick V having to work with Gary Bender, he knows nothing,Its embarrassing actually, Dick V is a very generous sportscaster doesnt correct or disagree with his partner even if they're spouting nonsense
This game was played in December 1983 not 84 I remember clearly it was a night game, they played again in the tournent in March Georgetown won 62-48 enroute to a national championship My homey Spoon was playing and in Bmore we aont get to see him alot on TV plus four Bmore stars were in this game RIP my big brother Spoon…
Thanks for clearing that up. I was wondering why UNLV was 9-0. I figured this must be December '84, in the season after they had won the title. But then Packer says they could make it "to Seattle."
