NCAA Tournament Sleeper: A Rebel Without A Clue

I'm a sucker for a good mascot.

In the early 90s, college ball was all the rage merchandise-wise, and having transferred to a new school at the age of 15, image was key. At my school kids with craters as big as potholes sported the latest in Georgetown Hoyas wear, but I was never particularly keen on the team.

Also, I didn't know what a Hoya was so I decided to buck the trend. 

And to do that, I hit the mall.  

Among the baseball caps, sweatbands (was anyone even wearing those?), and all the other sporting apparel, I spotted the Rebel. His long mustache, his squinty eyes...and I believe he was even sporting a couple of pistols.

In bold red silkscreen print, the letters UNLV blared fierce and proud to all that passed by. All of this in a convenient hoodie form! I forked out the dough I'd saved sorting boxes for a trucking company and picked it up.

I wore it the very next day and still, no one afforded me a second glance. So be it—I was a rebel!

Now, 16 years later, I'm still a sucker for Hey Reb and the Runnin' Rebels.  I mean, what other mascot looks like Jesse Ventura as Blain from Predator? Certainly better than the Hoya—which, apparently, is some sort of vine, although Georgetown still has the Bulldog. 

All that said, I don't follow college ball much—but Bleacher Report has thrown down the gauntlet, and I'm not one to turn down a challenge.

Here's what I know about UNLV and why I'm picking them as my sleeper:

UNLV is a gritty team, proving they've got what it takes with a solid performance against BYU in the Mountain West Conference Championship. This is a team that's big on defense, long on heart, and led by Wink Adams, who is ranked in the top 10 in scoring, assists, free-throws, and three-pointers.

Curtis Terry and Joe Darger are also pretty dangerous from deep.

Also, it was reported in the Las Vegas Sun that both Adams and coach Lon Kruger will be returning next year. When you've got dedication and consistency from your coach and your top player, that brings a certain amount of comfort to the rest of the team. It could also be a strong motivator.

Again, I'm picking UNLV based solely on the fancies of the 15-year-old kid that I was, that awkward teen who saved up some cash and bought the sweater just because he liked the look of Hey Reb. There's no deep insight here—I'm only speaking from the deep pool of my memory. 

Guess I'm just a rebel that way.