UNLV’s second year under head coach Josh Pastner is kicking off with a massive headache: star guard AJ Storr is still ineligible, battling it out in a Tennessee court to get cleared to play. This isn’t just a minor snag; the 6-foot-5 fifth-year senior was named to the All-Mountain West Preseason team, and his absence means a “major impact” player is on the sidelines as the season starts. Talk about a brutal curveball to open the year.
Where Are All The Runnin’ Rebels?
It gets worse for the Runnin’ Rebels, too. Storr wasn’t on the court Wednesday night for their first of three exhibition games against Utah at the Thomas & Mack Center. But he wasn’t the only All-Mountain West Preseason selection missing. Sophomore forward Tyrin Jones, also named to the preseason squad, was out recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He was only just recently cleared for contact, so he’s not ready to roll yet. Storr has bounced around a bit, playing at St. John’s, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Mississippi previously, so he’s seen a lot of different locker rooms. The thought of adding his talent to this UNLV squad was huge, and not having him or Jones on the floor is a gut punch when you’re trying to figure out your squad’s identity.
A Season Of Chemistry, Not Just Hoops
Pastner, who admits he was a pretty good chemistry student in high school, is now facing a different kind of chemistry test. In this wild era of NIL funding and the transfer portal, roster turnover is the name of the game, and Pastner is essentially starting over. Last year, he took over for Kevin Kruger and got a late start recruiting. They finished 18-17 overall, 11-9 in conference. Not exactly where you want to be, but a learning experience, right? This year, Pastner has only two returning players: Jones and Isaac Williamson. That’s it! He had all spring and summer to build something, but it’s like rebuilding from scratch. Jones said the team is trying to build chemistry by being “up early,” “doing things together as a group,” and staying to “talk after practice and get to know each other.” Pastner himself emphasized being “up front with everything,” “honest and transparent,” and working on it “every day.” UNLV was picked fourth in the Mountain West Preseason Poll with 125 points, trailing New Mexico (179), Grand Canyon (178), and Nevada (148). If freshman Jackson Kiss can deliver, that could be a massive boost. The 6-8 forward from New Zealand, who played at Utah Prep, was tabbed as the MW’s preseason Freshman of the Year. Pastner thinks Kiss “will be a fan favorite” and “the more he plays, the better he’ll get.” They’re gonna need him, especially with Storr’s situation up in the air. This whole thing with Storr being ineligible is a massive cloud hanging over the team, and it’s making Pastner’s chemistry experiment even tougher. It reminds you of his wild comment back in July about someone buying the “Runnin’ Rebels brand” for $10-12 million instead of an NBA expansion team, which definitely turned some heads. But hey, in this college sports landscape, maybe it’s not so crazy after all.
The Runnin’ Rebels have two more exhibition games to sort things out. For Pastner, and the entire team, the big question isn’t just about winning games, but about getting everyone on the same page and figuring out who they are before the real season even starts. Getting Storr cleared would be a game-changer, no doubt, but until then, it’s all about making those new pieces gel.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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