For those of you lucky enough to have today off or a secluded cubicle, the Utah State vs UNLV game may be of particular interest. It’s no secret that Utah State Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun is at the top of Kansas State’s wish list to replace former Baylor assistant coach Jerome Tang (I’m going to assume that’s how former “Coach” Tang refers to himself these days) in Manhattan.
The Aggies are the top seed in the MWC Conference Tournament, but face a nightmare 1 vs 8 seed draw against Josh Pastner’s UNLV Squad. The Rebels are responsible for two of Utah State’s 6 losses on the season, including a 92-65 beatdown in Las Vegas on March 3rd and a 10-point home loss on January 20th.
The Aggies are led by the veteran backcourt of senior MJ Collins (18PPG) and junior Mason Falslev (16PPG). As a K-State partisan, I’ll be keeping a close eye on Falslev, who also leads the Aggies, who is second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding, despite being a 6’4” wing, and has a year of eligibility remaining. 6’9”, 185-pound Freshman Utah State forward, Adlan Elamin, also has an intriguing skill set and plenty of time to develop.
I’m not that interested in the UNLV side of the equation, but for your edification, Illinois transfer Dravyn (Dra) Gibbs-Lawhorn leads the way for the Rebels, putting up 21 points a game. His career has been shrouded in controversy (mainly involving his extremely online mother), but now that he’s escaped the Midwest, his game has blossomed. If the former 4* Montverde Academy point guard, by way of Lafayette, Indiana, hits the portal, I’m sure there will be a robust market for his services.
Ken Pom has Utah State as an 85-77 favorite, but as I said, the Rebs have had their number this season. This should be an interesting game.
How to Watch / Listen
Who: #1 Seed Utah State vs. #8 Seed UNLV
When: Thursday, March 12, 2026 – 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
TV: CBS Sports Network
Utah State Radio: The Varsity Network (link)