Well I would consider TJ's two losses this week to Alford and arch-rival Nevada - the first by 29, and the second being outscored 19-4 at the end - to be "bad losses."
This is the first I've heard about any "cultural" issues at UNLV that TJ had to "adjust." Could you explain?
UNLV played Nevada without Coleman and Hamilton so the odds of winning at least one of those games were slim. They did play bad in Game 1 while Nevada was hot from the arc. UNLV had a 5 point lead and then Nevada went on a late game run. BTW, Nevada beat MWC leader Boise St on Thursday night so they certainly aren't a slouch.
It's no secret UNLV had underachieved under Menzies with their talent level and TJO had to change the culture with the returning players and it didn't go well in non con play as previously posted. They ended up 12-6 in MWC play (tied with Utah St), their best conference record in 10 years since Lon Kruger left.
And speaking of Craig Smith, he and TJO went at it in Summit play as well. In 2017, Smith and South Dakota won the conference title but TJO and SDSU beat them in the conference tourney semis and went on the NCAAs. In 2018, TJO and SDSU won the conference title and beat Smith/USD in the conference tourney finals. And TJO left Eric Henderson a conference title roster unlike Smith at South Dakota.