Players Era event a 'Mini-Sweet 16'

LAS VEGAS — It has been quite a while since UNLV appeared in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.How long? Try 2007 when the Runnin’ Rebels met and were defeated by Oregon.And it may be a while longer before they get back there, though Josh Pastner hopes the wait isn’t too long. In the meantime, UNLV will get to participate in an event that is as close to a Sweet 16 without it being in March as the Rebels will take part in the hoops extravaganza that is the Players Era Championship.“It is like a mini-Sweet 16,” Pastner said Saturday at the Mendenhall Center as he and his team began preparations for Monday’s 9 p.m. meeting against Maryland at the MGM Grand Garden. “You’ve got so many quality teams competing. It’s exciting that we get to be part of it.”Exciting and financially beneficial. Each of the 18 participating teams will receive a guaranteed $1 million to put towards its Name Image and Likeness program. The winning teams Wednesday and Thursday receives an additional $1 million.That can buy a lot of scooters among other things. A number of Pastner’s players get around campus via scooter and so far, nobody has been injured while navigating their way to class or to practice.But Pastner is still trying to get his roster healthy. Slowly he’s getting there but as he said, his 3-2 team remains a work in progress.“I see a lot of positive signs,” he said. “We are getting better. I like our compete level. People come up to me and tell me how much they love seeing our guys diving on the floor for loose balls and how hard they are working.”

Originally, UNLV was supposed to spend the upcoming week in Hawaii playing in the Maui Invitational. However, when the Players Era offered the Rebels a spot in its event and the chance to give its NIL collective a substantial boost, then-coach Kevin Kruger accepted the invitation and passed on Maui.Pastner said he’s fine with the change and said it’s a chance to see how his team stacks up against some of the best in the country. In addition to the Monday night matchup with Maryland, UNLV will take on No. 11 Alabama at 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Grand Garden. Depending on the outcome of the first two games, they’ll play Wednesday against an opponent to be determined by the results from the first two days.The Rebels will be joined by fellow Mountain West school San Diego State in the Players Era. The Aztecs, who are off to a 2-1 start, face No. 7 Michigan Monday night and Oregon Tuesday evening both at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.There are nine ranked teams in the 18-team men’s field with Houston the highest-ranked team at No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. You won't have to look far to see some familiar names and faces. There's going to be star power everywhere, from All-Americans and future NBA lottery picks to Hall of Fame coaches.In addition, there’s a four-team women’s tournament that runs Wednesday and Thursday at Michelob Ultra Arena which has three of the top four ranked teams in the nation. Wednesday’s matchups have No. 3 UCLA facing No. 4 Texas and No. 2 South Carolina meeting Duke.And while UNLV is going to face some top-notch competition on the court, the business side of the Players Era can’t be ignored. It’s a sign of the times as money is being pumped through the college sports engine as schools try to figure out how to fuel their NIL collectives.“For us, it’s a chance for our fans to see our team play,” UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said. “For us, that means more than anything. It also brings more people into town, which is good for the local economy.“College athletics is being looked at more and more as a business. Either you embrace it or you run away from it. Having the chance to be in this is good for our program and for our university. It’s also a chance for Las Vegas to have another exciting event.”Let’s not forget the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2028 will be played at Allegiant Stadium. So it’s going to be extremely important for the city to put its best foot forward this coming week. Even though it’s not connected to the NCAA Tournament, you can almost consider the Players Era as a trial run for what to expect come 2028.Pastner is well aware of what the Players Era represents.“It’s great that we’re in it,” Pastner said. “We need to be in these type of events if we want to continue to grow and build our program. It’s great competition and great opportunities for us. These games will help us as we continue to try and get better.“Obviously, financially, it is what it is. In this day and age, you have to find creative ways to generate money to pay the guys. Ten years ago, we wouldn’t be talking about this. If I brought this up, I’d be arrested by the NCAA. Now, you have to be involved in things, to raise money, to be able to increase your budget to continue to compete at the level you want to compete at. And finances is a big part of that.”PLAYERS ERA MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE(All times Pacific)MONDAYAt MGM Grand GardenTennessee vs. Rutgers, 10 a.m.Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 12:30 p.m.Houston vs. Syracuse, 3 p.m.Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 6:30 p.m.Maryland vs. UNLV, 9 p.m.At Michelob Ultra ArenaBaylor vs. Creighton, 11 a.m.St. John’s vs. Iowa State, 1:30 p.m.Oregon vs. Auburn, 5 p.m.Michigan vs. San Diego State, 7:30 p.m.TUESDAYAt MGM Grand GardenRutgers vs. Notre Dame, 10 a.m.Kansas vs. Syracuse, 12:30 p.m.Houston vs. Tennessee, 3 p.m.Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 6:30 p.m.Alabama vs. UNLV, 9 p.m.At Michelob Ultra ArenaIowa State vs. Creighton, 11 a.m.St. John’s vs. Baylor, 1:30 p.m.Michigan vs. Auburn, 5:30 p.m.San Diego State vs. Oregon, 8 p.m.Championship/consolation roundsWednesday/Thursday, teams TBDPLAYERS ERA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULEAt Michelob Ultra ArenaWednesdayTexas vs. UCLA, 11 a.m.Duke vs. South Carolina, 1:30 p.m.ThursdayThird-place game, 5 p.m.Championship, 7:30 p.m.