UNLV Basketball: Rebels Earn Spot in Rankings After Win over North Carolina

The UNLV Runnin' Rebels have broke into the rankings for the first time this season, as they cam e in at No. 18 in the AP poll and at No. 20 in the USA Today rankings following a huge 90-80 upset win over then No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday.

The Rebels must remain focused as they have a pair of tough road games up coming on their schedule this week as they face a UC Santa Barbara Gauchos team that beat UNLV at the Thomas and Mack last year and a tough Wichita State team that should be the toughest spot outside of their game at Wisconsin on UNLV's non-conference road slate.

The Rebels should have their guard up and not have a let down game that plagues many teams in college sports after huge upset wins, as stated before, UCSB knocked UNLV off last year at home and the Rebels should be out for revenge on Wednesday.

The Rebels have so far lived up to the immense hype that was placed on the team after their new coaching staff filled with ex UNLV stars and Mountain West veteran coaches implemented the "Let's Run" slogan, which had fans imagining a Rebel team similar to the one that took home the national title back in 1990.

We will see just where UNLV is at this week as they have yet to leave Las Vegas in their seven games so far this season, as the two road spots will be just as big of wins as the magical showing against North Carolina this past weekend.

Note: UNLV forward Mike Moser was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week for a second-straight week after averaging 13.3 points, 13 Rebounds and 2.7 assist in the Rebels three Games last week; including his 16 point, 18 rebound performance against North Carolina.

North Carolina fell to No. 5 in both polls as result of their loss to UNLV.