With recent hiring of Josh Pastner as the new head coach of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels, Pastner has a chance this season to return to one of his old stomping grounds.
The matchup against Memphis was once scheduled for December 6 but a new date has been set for Pastner’s return to a place, he once called home, the FedEx Forum to face his former team, the Memphis Tigers on November 16.
Under former Memphis coach John Calipari, Pastner spent years as an assistant coach before taking the head coaching position in 2009. Pastner remined at Memphis for seven years.
During his time there, the program went 167-73, made an appearance in four NCAA Tournaments, and won an AAC championship. Pastner found immense success before he moved on in 2016 to take the head coaching job at Georgia Tech.
Memphis is now coached by former Orlando Magic star and Memphis Tiger, Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway. Hardaway led the Tigers to victory over UNLV last season.
Pastner will no doubt want to edge out his old team and knock down the most successful coach that the program has had since he was there. There are players on the Runnin’ Rebels roster last season that to exact revenge on the Tigers from last season’s loss.
