He’s trying to set a tone. For guys to have a level of discipline. To feel as though they have accomplished something.
Two weeks into 6 a.m. strength and conditioning summer workouts for his UNLV basketball team, Josh Pastner likes what he has witnessed. Likes his team.
“We’re still trying to learn our group,” Pastner said, “but it has been going really well.”
Pastner in his first season at UNLV welcomed 13 new faces to a rebuilt roster, and the Rebels finished 18-17 with a trip to the NIT. Injuries to key names and positions played a major part in how things unfolded.
Point guard. Center. Spots you usually can afford to have hurt for an entire season.
But it’s college basketball in 2026, which means a totally different team now along with a few key returnees.
This is the landscape amid an NIL world.
Little ever stays the same.
Portal business
“When I took over the job last year, everyone was already in the (transfer) portal,” Pastner said. “The portal had been open for some time. I got the job late, and we were in complete scramble mode. This year, the portal didn’t open until April 7, so it was a different deal.
“We had a real plan of attack this year. We were extremely organized. We were prepared. So when the portal opened, we knew what we were looking for.”
They have 12 players working out this summer. Tyrin Jones and Issac Williamson returned to the program after playing key roles as freshmen last season. Jalen Cunningham, a walk-on last year, is also back.
One player not participating is former N.C. State transfer guard Alyn Breed. He has applied to the NCAA for a medical hardship waiver that would give him a seventh college season.
If he is granted one, UNLV would still have two remaining scholarships open. If he isn’t, there would be three.
Which means Pastner and his staff continue to aggressively recruit.
One of his main goals: For the Rebels to be much better come November than last season. UNLV dropped early home games to UT Martin and Montana. He wants a fast start this time and is fairly certain how to create one.
Pastner said the Rebels will play three exhibition games in Las Vegas, two against teams from the Big 12 and another against one from the SEC. None will be of the closed-door scrimmage variety. He wants everything live.
“I don’t know if we’ll win, but it’s going to get us more prepared for November,” he said. “I’m very excited about the (recruiting) class. I think we did a good job as a staff attacking what needed to be attacked. I like what we have right now. The big thing for us is we have to stay healthy. That’s the main difference between being where we want to be and not being where we want to be.”
He continues to sell the program at breakneck speed. He continues to publicly offer his email — joshua.pastner@unlv.edu — and implores fans to use it for information on season tickets. He continues to spend every waking moment (I’m still not sure how much the guy sleeps) thinking of ways to draw bigger crowds to the Thomas & Mack Center.
It’s his obsession, this idea to increase energy within the arena. It’s all he thinks about — how to get UNLV back to championship level.
He also understands the only way to do so is simple: Win games. The Rebels need to do more of it. Success on the scoreboard is the easiest way to counter apathy in the community. It’s often the only way to increase interest.
Look to UNLV football as a prime example.
‘Winning is ultimate’
“The reality is, and this isn’t just UNLV because of the amount of retention and complete turnover (of rosters), we got better as the year went on (last season),” Pastner said. “Every one of my teams have gotten better as the year goes on. It’s probably more so now because you are getting a new team every year trying to figure it out.
“I do like this group. I’m excited and enthused about the (summer) work we’ve put in so far. It’s going to take time to gel. Winning is the ultimate. We have to do our part. We want to keep moving the program forward.”
He’s trying to set a tone.
One that will be easier to develop with more of that success on the scoreboard.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
