If it seemed unfair for us to split UNLV men’s basketball votes among three teams—’76-’77, ’89-’90,’ 90-’91—consider this: The Stanley Cup Final-reaching Golden Misfits drew more votes than that trio combined. The inaugural Golden Knights went from an expansion team listed at 500-to-1 title odds to within a few games of capturing the Cup, while helping bring the city together in the aftermath of the October 1 shootings. Nhl.com/goldenknights.

Runner-up: 1989-1990 UNLV men’s basketball