UNLV coach Josh Pastner clarified Monday that his recent comments about seeking an "owner" for the Runnin' Rebels were metaphorical, not literal. In a statement, Pastner said the program "is not for sale" and the term highlighted the resources, sponsorships, and overall support needed to compete in today's evolving college athletics landscape.

Last week, Pastner told KTNV that Las Vegas could attract an investor, saying "why buy the NBA team? Buy the college basketball team... it's a lot less expensive." He noted a $12 million budget could compete with Kentucky, Duke, Arizona, UCLA for recruits, whereas UNLV currently offers far less.

The Rebels went 18-17 in Pastner's first season, finishing tied for seventh in the Mountain West at 11-9. The program, which won the 1990 national title, last reached the NCAA tournament in 2013.

Pastner, 48, a former ESPN analyst, played for Lute Olson at Arizona and won a championship in 1997. He began coaching under Olson and John Calipari, leading Memphis in 2009 and Georgia Tech in 2016.