Quantcast
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sports


ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: Rebels strive for consistency

Victory at BYU underscores UNLV's highs, lows







Same as any basketball season, this one has brought UNLV coach Lon Kruger bouts with frustration and moments of satisfaction.

But never in the past three months has he been bored. The Rebels' journey has been full of surprises, keeping Kruger on the edge of his seat more than usual.


Most Popular Stories
  • COTTO CONQUERED: Pacquiao in seventh heaven
  • COTTO CONQUERED: Pacquiao in seventh heaven
  • ED GRANEY: Pacquiao awaits bell for Mayweather fight
  • Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is hot topic
  • Potential replacements plentiful
  • SAD STATE OF UNLV FOOTBALL: Sanford: Program neglected
  • ED GRANEY: Sanford's ouster comes as no shock
  • VACANCY DRAWS CROWD: UNLV takes spin on 'carousel'
  • UNLV BASKETBALL: Oscar-winning ending
  • UNLV fires football coach Sanford
  • UNLV fires football coach Sanford
  • ED GRANEY: Coach gets defensive at last, but not the way we'd hoped




  • "We've been up and down and all over the board in a lot of different areas," Kruger said. "We haven't been the most consistent group for sure. The effort and interest is always great, but the results haven't been consistent."

    The roller-coaster ride went back up Wednesday night with UNLV's 76-70 comeback victory over Brigham Young at Provo, Utah.

    "After a good win, you have to come back and defend it, verify it and validate it," Kruger said.

    The message got through to senior Rene Rougeau after Thursday's practice at the Thomas & Mack Center, where the Rebels (15-4, 3-2 Mountain West Conference) will host Utah (12-6, 3-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

    "We can't have any letdowns," Rougeau said. "We can't overlook anyone."

    The Utes, led by 7-foot-2-inch senior center Luke Nevill, already have the Rebels' full attention.

    "They're probably the best team in the conference right now," Rougeau said.

    UNLV has hit high points in victories over Arizona, Louisville and BYU and dropped to lows after curious losses to Cincinnati and Colorado State.

    The key to avoiding taking a step back is what fueled the Rebels' turnaround against the Cougars, who ran out to a 43-30 halftime lead and made it look easy for 20 minutes.

    "It's just all defense," said senior guard Wink Adams, who had 22 points and eight rebounds in the win at the Marriott Center, where BYU had won 55 of its previous 56 games.

    In the first half, the Cougars put on an offensive highlight show, with Lee Cummard breaking loose for a fast-break dunk, Jimmer Fredette driving for layups and Jonathan Tavernari flying through the lane and flashing the ball high in the air as if imitating Dr. J.

    Cummard, Fredette and Tavernari scored all of BYU's first 27 points and combined for 36 at halftime. In the second half, those three players were held to a total of 14 points on 3-for-19 shooting.

    UNLV freshman point guard Oscar Bellfield blanketed Fredette, Rougeau stuck to Cummard, and Tavernari was forced into an assortment of wild shots.

    "We're trying to get that image of being a hard-nosed defensive team," said Rougeau, who helped hold Cummard scoreless after halftime.

    "I was just trying to hound him. I tried to guard him as much as possible. I didn't want to leave it to anyone else. We always knew where Cummard and Tavernari were, because those guys are such dangerous players. It was great all-around team defensive play."

    Kruger said his halftime defensive lessons focused on squaring up on the ball, containing penetration, blocking out and rebounding -- all the basics that were absent to that point.

    Of late, Kruger's catch phrase is "competing to win individual battles," and the Rebels won almost all of them in the second half at BYU.

    Adams' relentless drives to the basket sparked the offense. He shot 7-for-16 on layups and mid-range jumpers, opting to play to his strength instead of launching 3-pointers (0-for-2).

    "I attacked the basket more," said Adams, averaging 21.0 points in the past two games. "Early in the season, I was settling for the 3-ball too much.

    "We just start games off a little slow, and then in the second half we kind of learn from the first half. We've got to get better at starting off the game."

    Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 10 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    RebCam wrote on January 24, 2009 09:30 AM: That's the most interesting thing I've heard all day, someone who cheers for Cal State Berkley calling someone else a 'fagit'? Nice spelling and watch out there Jay T, you might get kicked out of the liberal party for that one.

    I don't know about the 'fagit' part Rob but Cal is a legit team to this point. I don't think that we'd lose to them now.... but not necessarily a bad loss, unless you want to argue that it was at home. TCU is another story. I do not think they are legit. They've played only two good teams all season: lost to BYU and beat UNLV when they were no where near the top of their game, as you all know, for various reasons: injuries, confidence, etc......Can't wait to play those arrogant morons again and show them the real Rebels.


    Jay T wrote on January 24, 2009 03:44 AM: Cal, a mediocre team? Stick to soccer Rob u know nothing fagit


    Rob wrote on January 24, 2009 12:02 AM: Robb

    This is the last time i will ever respond to anything you write. You are a pathetic moron, the likes of which ive not seen in many moons. You are the biggest idiot fan i have ever seen and you have put your foot in your mouth over and over. Remember when you tried to spell check me yet you used words like unaxceptable? Yeah you are THAT guy. I do know mediocre teams. and the rebels lost to 3 teams that fall in that category. The verdict is still out on TCU. You just go back to posting your drivel and people will continue to laugh at you. If you can live with that then kudos. Good riddance tard boy.


    Robb wrote on January 23, 2009 05:16 PM: Monster Jam,

    Thanks for that info. Good the see our bigs getting more time for sure.

    Rob,

    Your such a fool. When did I say I was a better coach than Kruger or he was out of his mind? Kruger is one of the best coaches out there you dork.

    Grow up and have momma wipe your nose. You don't even know who the mediocre teams and good teams are.

    GO REBELS...Take down Utah!!


    RebCam wrote on January 23, 2009 03:42 PM: It's a bit early to predict next years starting five especially considering you left out the most suitable candidate at the point, Oscar Bellfield. Jasper and Shaw are recovering and although both have talent...their level of play leading up to next season is unknown. Let's temper the expectations shall we.


    Monster Jam wrote on January 23, 2009 12:15 PM: Brandon,

    TCU is mediocre. There. I wrote it. For all to read. UNLV is their best win. Who else has TCU beat? Texas Tech is “mediocre” and Colorado is just flat out bad.

    UNLV’s losses:
    California – Legit Top 25 team
    Cincinnati – Mediocre, 3-4 in the Big East with losses against the Top 25 teams
    TCU – Mediocre (see explanation above)
    CSU – ?!

    We beat a very vulnerable Louisville. Would you expect the SAME outcome today, even with Wink Adams?

    Above all else, NEXT YEAR has no bearing on this year. Further, I would think you would have learned your lesson about tempering lofty expectations based on what we have learned this year.


    Rob wrote on January 23, 2009 11:39 AM: Brandon

    Truth be told i have not kept up on the teams we have lost to in non conference play, Cincy and California. I did note that TCU is pretty good( my exact words in the post)but losing to Colorado state could of been a fiasco, as it stands now its just a bad loss to a conference team and these things will happen. With Wink being healthy and attacking this team can be really good. People on this board have been pretty brutal on wink and truth be told once again i think hes not playing as good as i had hoped. Two years ago i told my friends that Wink was going to be the next Marcus banks. Hes not to that level but i felt he could be. He knows more than anybody his senior year is almost over and that he has to give his best to close this thing out. Watch how he responds, I wouldnt want to be going up against Wink in any of these last 13 games.


    Brandon wrote on January 23, 2009 10:28 AM: Ummm....Rob? California and TCU are not mediocre teams. I don't know how much you follow college basketball (obviously not a lot) but Cal (minus their last two losses) has played TOUGH this year. They are 15-4. TCU is 13-6 and playing with a new coach in Jim Christian. We beat an amazing team in Louisville who is 5-0 in Big East conference play! I can't wait to see how this year finishes up and am excited for next year when our team will look like this: Derrick Jasper at point, Tre'Von Willis at the 2, Chase Stanback at forward with Matt Shaw or Victor Rudd (hopefully) out there as well, and either Darris Santee or Carlos Lopez underneath. Then you still have Anthony Marshall coming in, De'Shawn Mitchell, Justin Hawkins, or Kendall Wallace (who has played great this year)! This year is good, next year could be incredible!!


    Rob wrote on January 23, 2009 09:58 AM: Robb is not smart enough to get it Monster Jam. He thinks Kruger is out of his mind and that he should be the Rebels coach. I have faith in the coach and the players and we have seen this over the last few years, in that the Rebels play their best when it counts the most. They are 15-4 and have won all the big tests. The inconsistency is a problem where the team lost focus having lost back to back games twice to mediocre teams. Tcu looks pretty good so we will see. Rebels are in a good spot. Not many teams will win in Provo during league play if any. Rebels need to keep serve at home and win a few road games. Rebel up guys, and make us proud.


    Monster Jam wrote on January 23, 2009 08:04 AM: I found the following Lon Kruger Radio Show sound bite from last night amusing - Robb, you will appreciate this.

    Caller: "Hi Coach. I noticed that you seem to get better production out of Santee and Massamba when they play more minutes."

    Coach Kruger: "Or maybe its that they play more minutes when they provide better production."

    Its good to finally see the big guys find a groove. Hopefully they continue to fight and improve.