UNLV Basketball is stuck in the "Great In-Between"—not irrelevant, but never quite threatening. With the 2025-26 at-large bid officially off the table, the focus shifts from the scoreboard to the foundation. This isn't just a slump; it’s an identity crisis. The rest of this season won't decide a seed, but it will decide if Josh Pastner’s program has a future or if it’s headed for another total reset.

Grand Canyon is the tacky new kid at school who tries way too hard. They relentlessly invest, they reserve 2,000 seats for a student section that breaks the brains of legacy fans, and they refuse to play the 'happy to be here' role.

But as the Lopes sit atop the Mountain West standings in late January, one thing is clear: they aren’t scared. From D-2 to taking down San Diego State in a conference dogfight, GCU isn't just joining the club—they’re redesigning the clubhouse." - An editorial by Go Lopes Radio host Brennan Williams.