Josh Pastner Presser Ahead of UNLV's Matchup vs UC Irvine

UNLV head coach Josh Pastner discusses the Rebels’ mindset heading into the postseason as they prepare for an NIT matchup with UC Irvine. Pastner emphasized the culture he is building in his first season leading UNLV basketball, stressing toughness, grit, and competitiveness as the foundation of the program. The Rebels are embracing the opportunity to continue playing in the postseason after falling to Utah State in the Mountain West Tournament. Pastner also reflected on the challenges of rebuilding the program, the lessons learned from the Utah State loss, and the opportunity the NIT provides for player development and momentum heading into next season. He called UNLV a “sleeping giant” in college basketball and expressed confidence that the program can regain its energy and atmosphere at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels will face UC Irvine, one of the most consistent programs on the West Coast under head coach Russell Turner, in a tough postseason road environment. Coverage from The Scarlet Standard. Follow The Scarlet Standard for more UNLV coverage: Website: https://the-scarlet-standard.com X / Twitter: https://x.com/SS_MediaLV Instagram: https://instagram.com/SS_MediaLV Facebook: https://facebook.com/SS_MediaLV YouTube: https://youtube.com/@SS_MediaLV #UNLV #RunninRebels #UNLVBasketball #MountainWest #NIT #CollegeBasketball