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No. 23 UNLV’s swoon continues with 68-58 loss to SDSU

Another day, another Vegas native helps bury Rebels, who are now tied for third in the Mountain West Conference


Sam Morris

UNLV forwards Darris Santee, right, and Chace Stanback sit on the bench in disappointment in the final seconds of the Rebels’ 68-58 loss to San Diego State Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, at Viejas Arena in San Diego.

#23 UNLV vs San Diego State

No. 23 UNLV drops back-to-back conference games for the first time all season, falling to San Diego State, 68-58.

UNLV-San Diego State Basketball

UNLV guard Anthony Marshall draws a charge from San Diego State guard Kelvin Davis during the first half of their Mountain West Conference game Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 at Viejas Arena in San Diego. San Diego State won the game 68-58. Launch slideshow »

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. — As if San Diego State forward Billy White needed any added motivation before taking on his hometown school Saturday in his house, a phone call from fellow Las Vegas native Darington Hobson certainly didn't hurt his mindset.

Hobson, who had 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in leading No. 15 New Mexico to a 76-66 victory over No. 23 UNLV on Wednesday night in Vegas, delivered a clear, concise message.

"He called me and said, 'I got you one, now you've got to get me one,'" White said with a grin. "The first time I played them (this year) I was just coming back from an injury and I really couldn't move. So I've been working on it since.

"I've worked extra hard just for this game."

And while White's abundance of energy spread throughout his team almost instantly, UNLV was again cursed by a lack of fire.

An unsightly 68-58 loss to SDSU on Saturday at Viejas Arena made last Saturday's resounding 88-74 whipping of then-No. 12 BYU feel like that much longer ago.

White, who had just five points and three rebounds before fouling out of the Aztecs' 76-66 loss to UNLV in Vegas on Jan. 13, led all scorers this time around with 19 points. The Green Valley High grad added five rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots in what was his finest performance in nine outings since returning from a high ankle sprain.

In the process, SDSU (18-7 overall, 7-4 Mountain West) pulled into a tie with UNLV (19-6, 7-4) for third place in the league.

"It comes down to needing guys to step up and win battles," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "San Diego State, like the other night, won more battles than we did."

After the Rebels grabbed a 5-2 lead early, the Aztecs took off for good and won the bulk of those aforementioned battles.

A 7-0 run from there gave San Diego State a lead it would never relinquish, flustering UNLV the rest of the way by forcing 14 turnovers, blocking nine shots and out-rebounding the struggling Rebels, 39-30.

"It's a matter of focus, starting off knowing we have to have a good start. If we play catch-up the whole game, the results are going to be the same," said UNLV sophomore guard Oscar Bellfield. "We have to focus on getting that big lead from the beginning and then taking it from there."

Be it getting out to a hot start or whatever else, the Rebels are in need of finding something that works.

After falling behind early, they looked like the same team that was dispatched by New Mexico just three days earlier at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Rebels trailed 33-25 at the half and showed some signs of life right out of the gate in the second frame, scoring five consecutive points to pull within three, keyed by a trey from Bellfield.

But it was short-lived.

Four consecutive made free throws from White, who was 9-of-11 from the stripe on the afternoon, helped the Aztecs keep the visitors at bay, and back-to-back buckets from high-flying freshman forward Kawhi Leonard gave SDSU the momentum for good.

That stretch for Leonard, who posted his 12th double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds, included a poster jam in between two UNLV defenders which caught the attention of the 9,224 in attendance.

As the deficit grew, the Rebels weren't quite equipped to mount much of a comeback, as it was another off-night for their two biggest offensive guns — junior guard Tre'Von Willis and sophomore forward Chace Stanback.

Willis led the Rebels with 17 points, but a good chunk of that came late with UNLV down for good by double-digits. He was just 5-of-15 from the floor and 1-of-5 from long range.

Stanback is now in a certifiable slump, as his 0-for-7 shooting performance made him 5-of-25 from the field in his last three games. In the second half, he looked a bit off as he began passing up some open looks from long range.

"He had a couple of looks that he looked kind of tentative on," Kruger said. "He's got to shoot the ball for us, so we'll try to get him up and get him going."

As a team, UNLV was just 19-of-54 from the floor and 3-of-17 from outside.

"I felt like we just weren't prepared for the fight today," Stanback said. "We weren't on the same page — just like the New Mexico game."

Stanback was one of several players who, leading up to Saturday's game, said the Rebels weren't prepared for the fight or on the same page on Wednesday.

Yet no one could pinpoint exactly what they thought led to that being the case.

Either way, the later the season goes, the more of a numbers game it turns into for both UNLV and SDSU in terms of NCAA tournament hopes and setting up for potential at-large bids, depending on what happens in next month's Mountain West tournament on the Rebels' home floor.

The Rebels will finish the regular season with five games against the five opponents below them in the conference standings, starting with Wednesday's 7 p.m. tilt at Utah.

The Utes knocked off the Rebels, 73-69, in an upset in Las Vegas on Jan. 16.

As for San Diego State, just like last season, the Aztecs are surging at the right time, as they're now 6-2 since their loss in Las Vegas, with the two setbacks coming by two points apiece against BYU and New Mexico.

They have the tougher regular season schedule remaining between the two, as Steve Fisher still has to take his team to Provo, Utah, to face the Cougars.

But in deciding which of the two teams emerges out of the tie as the conference's third-most viable candidate for a berth in the field of 65, how the Rebels fare seems to be completely up to them. UNLV is just a week removed from being part of a three-way tie in first in the MWC.

"I can't even recall part of this season where we lost two games like that," said UNLV freshman guard Anthony Marshall, who scored 12 points in his second career start. "We can't hold anything back these last couple of games."

The Aztecs have already clearly made up their minds.

"I think (outsiders) are still kind of doubting us," White said. "They might say it's luck, but I know our staff here, our school and our whole community knows that we belong with everybody else. It's not a fluke that we are beating these teams here — ranked teams.

"It's not a surprise to us, because we know we can hang with anybody in the country."

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Previous Discussion: 66 comments so far…


  1. We're gonna get blasted on Wednesday to make it 3 in a row. When do NIT tickets go on sale???

  2. Kruger out coached again by Steve Fisher


  3. Loss will definitely come wednesday. No way on earth will be beat UTAH. Chace is playing like a *****.....heck the whole team is. Wanking twats.

  4. Does this remind anyone of last year? All of our guys saying things like "We were just not on the same page" and "we can't hold anything back now". All just trying to spin what is just not a talented team. Sure they beat BYU, a soft, slow, unathletic team. Anytime they are punched in the mouth and challenged(Kansas State, USC, Utah, New Mexico, SDSU) they cower. This team does not have good size and the size they do have is unathletic and unskilled. They have some perimeter guys that can score a little. Get the ball up and down the floor. Press, trap and make the game end to end. And not just that token man to man press; a zone press that flys around and creates havoc. The more we walk and play half court offense, the more we score anywhere from 58-66 points and get our ass kicked. This team is displaying the kind of cautious, weak, timid play that last year's team displayed and it took them from an NCAA lock straight to the NIT. Better recruit some men Kruger, or better yet teach the players you have to become men. Otherwise hope you can host round one of the NIT. Walking Rebels!

  5. gumby, its been on my mind since that utah game, and I thought it would have gone away after the BYU game, but then NM happened.

    Only UNLV can lose it for them against the rest of the season schedule. WANT IT!!!!!


    Are you kidding me, another sorry a*s UNLV coach that won't take responsibility for his team. Hay Lon why don't you recruit better basketball players. Hay local media will you please pull your head out of Lon's a*s and put some pressure on him. Hay Lon, do you have another son that you can recruit.

    Can we now say Reggie Theus please.

  7. Yup. This team is beginning to look a lot like last years team. Monotonous offense; playing at the same pace possession after possession after possession. It was evident who would win the game after the first five minutes. Aside from a small four point spurt at the start of the second half, the game was quite boring and the result was never in doubt. Oh well.

  8. At what point does the local media address mediocre Kruger? This team folds down the stretch on a yearly basis. Six years here and we are heading for our fourth time not being in the NCAA tournament. I don't care that between 92 until he got here we weren't good. It's a joke to hold a man who makes over $1 million to such a low standard. I am tired of having no big men and players who can't jump over a tortilla.

    It pains me when I read a quote like what Hobson told Billy White. These guys are real players but they aren't saints so Kruger doesn't sign them and then they take it out on us full force. I would do the same.

    I'm sick of this guy and being mediocre. Bring a real coach.

  9. 6 rebounds in the 2nd half. That is right. The entire team had 6 boards in a half. Typical Kruger. The guy needs to go. I am sick of this small ball crap and letting studs like Hobson get away. Did you guys hear how he gave Chop Jones a scholarship for the 2nd semester? That is right. But he couldn't get Billy White or Hobson and then they take it out on us. Drew Gordon will punish us next year too.

    This team might make the NCAA tournament and that might be the worst thing that could happen. The reason? Everyone will use that as an excuse for this mediocre coach and the issues will not get addresed. If we have any aspirations to be on the national stage and not just be a marginal top 25 team one week here and one week there, then this guy needs to go and a real recruiter needs to be hired. He peaked 3 yrs ago. Our players have no muscle or quickness. Stanback is physically weak and has no athleticism. Tre is good but he has no lift. Our big men situation is a flat out disgrace. Marshall and Jasper are the only athletes on the team.

    Look at how prepared Leonard is as a true freshman. Kruger hasn't gotten one guy like him in his tenure here. I love Leonard's game, I love Hobson's game. I hate Kruger's style of play and the disgusting 4 guard offense that will get us nowhere.

    Fire Kruger.

  10. I don't believe that the local media will ever address mediocre Kruger. Hey Ryan will you address mediocre Kruger? The guy's at a.m. 1100 won't. The RJ won't. That **** that does game time? NO. Everyone keeps blaming the kids. There is no Wink around to blame this year so who is the media target going to be?

  11. Wait a second. Steve Jones got a Scholarship? Are you kidding me. Why is mediocre OK at UNLV. Look at the entire athletic program. How the h*ll does Buddy Gouldsmith keep his job. Baseball sucks, soccer sucks, football sucks, volleyball sucks, track sucks, Golf is good. Can anyone name one sport at BYU that sucks?

  12. R-E-G-G-I-E T-H-E-U-S

  13. ROFLOL.......gasp......LOL.....gasp.....whew. Really you guys think the '93-'04 Rebels were better then this? Pulease. Short memories you all have. Seems not that long ago when everyone was on the same page when Lon let the, not one, not two( that would have been devastating to most programs), but THREE bigs walk before he let them dictate their own views of playing time and become cancers to the foundation of the LONGTERM building Lon has undertaken here at UNLV. Tell me you are the same guys that tried yearly to run off Tark. I'll have more respect for you if you can say you would bad mouth Tark, mother Teresa, and Drew Brees for their lack of consistency.

    Do yourselves a favor and go to a little league game and badmouth the players there. In the mean time we'll be patient for the Bigs in the pipe to develop.

  14. You guys are so bandwagon, we lost our BEST rebounder and we're playing the two best rebounding teams in the league. Did you think that Jasper would be irrelavent to this team. He is a big piece of the puzzle, and to lose him, of course there will be games like this. We lost by 10 to both teams without arguably one of our best players. Is he worth 10 points in the positive with everything he contributes. I certainly think so. Our big men are not good, we knew that going in. We hope they do good, but sometimes that won't be the case. But that doesn't mean the whole team sucks. You guys need to be more realistic.
    And to compare them to BYU is a laugh, we would be undefeated with their schedule. BYU is weak.

  15. Guys if you look at my post at the start of the season I said 4 or 5th at tops!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW are you seeing it????!!! NIT bound is where the rebels are and will be the next 4 years! With SD and NM and BYU you guys just can not compete. Steve Jones is an example why. Us guys in NM love it when Kruger plays Jones for his dad. Some how, some way, he owes him. Thats what cost you the real 64 and the NIT.

  16. A team cannot build a future on the backs of JCs and Castaways. Teams need time to grow and develop as a unit. Growth comes with time in a system. The system defines the team and it's members. The rush to win is the issue. The quick fix is the current system. The program is surviving by fending off the wolves. Young guys need to be brought in. There will be losses but the long term future will be held up on it's foundation. This just doesn't work. You need a foundation then add a JC here or there that might fit. A whole team of miss fits (not misfits) is no solution.

    And in response to the comment that if we played BYU schedule we would be undefeated. We do play their schedule 16-20 games a year and are not undefeated in those games.

  17. Wow can we ever get a big guy that can take over a game?

  18. Kruger...Listen up..I'm 6'2,white, can't jump, slow as snail, and 38 years old,(leadership skills), and I can hit the "3". I still have 4 years of elgibility left, Banyo didn't want me, now you have your chance.

    Inregards to our Bigs...Pathetic

    Gumby--great post....Why not play to our strengths? Believe we had over 20 turnovers working the press last time against SD State, that was pansy pressure. If the Reb's don't make the tournament...I'm ready to start the campain....REGGIE THEUS!

  19. Run-n - Jasper would make a difference yes but we would not have won either of the last two games. He would have snagged a couple more boards, maybe stopped Hobson or Leonard on a couple of possesions but the way the team rolled over he could not have won the game for them. Besides he gives us virtually nothing offensively and scoring right around 60 points absolutely sucks. Jasper is a nice little role player but hardly a big difference maker. This team is just being exposed right now. Just like last year as the stretch run comes the team plays slower and slower and slower. It should be known that this team struggles in a half court set. Get up and down the floor and create as many opportunities as possible. Of course tough to fast break when nobody gives a $^%& about rebounding. Walking Rebels!

  20. When we were down 12 with only a few minutes to go, why were we passing up wide open 3's? LOL, and getting layups rejected??

    Loved all the empty seats and the announcers saying what a great crowd it was. IDIOTS!!!

  21. We just went from being a ranked team and a solid lock for the tournament to dropping out of the top 25 and a bubble team in one week. We now have to fight it out with SDSU for the last MWC spot in the tournament. Most likely the Rebs are going to have to win 4 out of 5 and get at least two wins in the Mountain West Tournament to get in to the NCAA tournament now. This team lacks any real size and a true point guard. We are a team of a bunch of shooting guards and small forwards. We cannot rebound and don't have anyone that can run the team effectively coming up the court. The 2 years Kruger got us into the tournament he had floor generals in Kevin Kruger and Curtis Terry. Last year we didn't have that and this year we are lacking it also. The Rebels cannot just rely on penetrate and kick out 3 pt. shooting all the time. This team gets no second chance points because we have nobody that can rebound. We have absolutely no post presence and can't get any inside points. Stanback is dissapointing and Massamba is worthless. Let's hope this team can find some heart in the last 3 weeks and not have the same fate as last years team. Anymore losses in confrence are going to look really bad for the Rebs considering they are playing the worst teams in the conference to close out.

  22. SDSU was having a block party...UNLV doesn't go hard to the rim, and has lacked making shots. We can honestly say now the win against BYU was a miracle. This team should be in the NIT (due to past performances and under performers like Chace, Tre and the rest) lets be honest, I have UTAH beating them wednesday night, whoever doesn't is a fool. They almost beat UNM last night. So, if the rebels somehow make the tourney, they're easily a 8-9 seed so if they somehow beat their first opponent, they will get embarrassed by 35 the next game. Just let it go folks and accept the fact that this year is a wrap....hopefully next year we have a floor leader and a rebounder but even that is bleak now because Corey isn't going to come to a trash team.

  23. Did anyone else not see this coming? Without Jasper and playing a team on the road playing for its at large life, UNLV was not going to win. They were clearly the underdogs.

    The sky is not falling. The reaction after every loss is comical.

    19-6 amd 1-1 vs. the other top three teams in conference - BYU, NM and SDSU. And, had they won that game, this team would have already been a lock for the NCAA tournament.

    But they didn't. Now we have a chance to go 5-0 in the last five regular season games and finish 24-6 and 12-4 in conference. Lock. Even 23-7 and 11-5 probably keeps UNLV in.

    For those of you acting as if you want Kruger to leave town, be careful what you wish for. We suffered through dark, dark years around here before he came and turned it all around into a program that matters nationally again. And don't try to be cute and compare him with Sanford - not even close. And I can give you 18,000 other reasons for him to stay from last Saturday and Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack. Just amazing the stuff that some people write on these message boards.

    Yesterday was tough to watch. I will definitely agree with that. The guys got outfought.

    But as Rebel fans, we have a lot to look forward to. Not only for the rest of this season, but the future of the program.

    And it all starts Wednesday. That's the beauty of sports. Come on fellas, finish this strong!

    PS - Anthony Marshall is going to be fun to watch. U-N-L-V!!!

  24. Vegasnative, what are you going to say when we lose to Utah on Wednesday? They have a huge 7 footer that blocked about 6 of our shots last time. Going to the basket isn't going to work, and they will defend the 3's because they know it.

    Utah 62 Rebels 55

    Small ball will do us in again.

  25. And I'm not being negative, just being honest and real. I wish it wasn't this way.

  26. I think it's funny how some justify the reason we got out rebounded is because were missing Jasper. We have to rely on a guard to pull down rebounds....What a joke....Can someone please verify that Steve Jones received a scholarship? Ryan? If this is true, this is simply disgraceful.....Patticcus your not being negative...It is what is. I too wish it wasn't this way, but it is what it is. Simply put, We are not a good team. If we happen to back in the NCAA, we will be one and done. Massamba, Chopper Jones, Santee, and Shaw...I ask you all to respectfully return your scholarship and get on your way.

  27. Really disappointing last two games. This last one didn't seem as bad as the NM game but it was painful to watch. Other teams have apparently figured out that if they can shut down, or at least greatly slow down, Tre'von no one else will pick up the slack. Folding down the stretch will kill NCAA chances. The Rebs have to win the Conference tournament to get in otherwise they have at least 7 losses and playing poorly this time of year, they get passed over.

  28. need to recruit fundamentaly sound ballers that are athetic please.

  29. Tough loss, agreed. But the sky is not falling. I hate losing but we lost to a good (not great) team on the road. It happens. We all know that 7 or 8 losses were going to happen before the season started so were exactly were we should be. However, the athletic ability between their best players and are kids was concerning. We don't have stiffs but they got some kids that just have more athleticism than our guys. I do give some credit for Kruger for playing two bigs (Finally!) at the same time. We all know our rebounding is horrible. Doesn't take a genius to realize trying more size as opposed to Chop Jones playing power forward. Even though our bigs are limited offensively, at least they have a fighters chance to get a defensive rebound. I hope to see more of it while Jasper is out.

    If Kruger is going to stick with a four smalls and a big they need to RUN, RUN, RUN. That is the ONLY way small ball wins. Our half court offense is miserable. No one can post up their man and we look for Tre to bail is out 90% of every single possesion. And Kendall's minutes need to be reduced. Hate to say it but he's just a shooter. And not a JJ Reddick type of shooter that needs a sliver of daylight to hit a three. He needs to be wide open with no one in site. He's a defensive liability and can't even handle the ball on a break. Have 3 or set plays off of picks for him and run them after timeouts.

    We will be better next year.....and so will SDSU, NM, UTAH and BYU. Coach us of this Kruger or the NIT may be another cruel joke for us fans again. Your support will be Sanford-esque if that happens.

  30. Yesterday The Sky did fall in

    Buy your N.I.T. tickets again this year

  31. I have never commented on here before but I have always enjoyed reading everyones post. But after these last two games I have to say something....
    Unlv isn't in a bad spot we have just played two really tough teams and lost to both. But look we went 1-1 with the three top teams in the conference. It just sucks that we cant win at home but thats ok a road win in New Mexico is nice... I think that everything will be answered Wed night in Utah, A win there puts in 3rd place in the Mountian west, and 12-4 in conference and 24-6, with wins over BYU, UNM and bad lost over Utah and USC. (That is saying we win out.) We take atleast one to two games in the MWC tourny we are still in.
    But if we lose on wed night then yea kiss this season good bye, along with I am sure Corey Joseph and any other prosepects we had...

  32. If you guys would be kind enough to go jump on BYUs bandwagon and watch them lose in the first round each year, we'll let you know when we make it to the Final Four so you can come back a support the team again.

  33. I doubt either UNM or BYU will lose first round, given the fact they'll get 2-4 seeds in the tourney. But you know what I've come everyone is out to get us??? SDSU's Billy White had a monster game and was yelling like it was the end of the world....they came out with tons of energy, so did UNM...I guess everyone hates UNLV for beating them in January. If everyone is going to keep coming out like they wanna murder us every game, we'll lose out the whole way. Just saying, no one else this year will match the intensity of SDSU and the rest of their games...they will come out flat and like they don't give a f*** long as they beat UNLV the season is over (through the eyes of the aztecs)....true story. Not making up an excuse, but UNLV isn't matching the intensity level of the other clubs....that plain and simple. On the other hand, they came out swinging against BYU and we haven't seen the same team since because through our eyes (as long as we beat BYU the season is over.)

  34. I never jumped off the bandwagon because if I did not care I would not get this pissed. Some fans are saying the sky is not falling and these losses were not that bad. It is not so much that we lossed but the way we lossed. How can you be positive about the future of this years team after these two debaucles? Are you telling me that it is just one of those things? Defense -New Mexico and SDSU got just about any shot they wanted. We could not contain or rotate to shooters or cutters. Rebounding - No effort no toughness or tenacity. Offense - 62 ppg. Tell me how this is just a blip and we will be fine. We can not play BYU every game. Some teams in this conference actually play D. Tell me this is not beginning the same trend started last year. I want UNLV to win as much as anyone on this board but it is getting pretty demoralizing to hope for a magic wand to touch this team and improve all of our faults. Yes we are 19-6(7-4). But we are not a good team right now and I do not have alot of faith that we are all of the sudden going to figure it out and become some Sweet 16 caliber team. Right now it is 50/50 we even make the field of 65. Walking Rebels!

  35. I have propped this team when they deserved it and I have bashed them when they needed it and if any of you have follwed my posts over the past several months you will know that I am a UNLV fan but not a Lon Kruger fan. There are reasons he has never had a long term job at any university he has previously coached at and his true colors have now bled through. It is time UNLV moves beyond this guy and gets a coach in here that can recruit UNLV kind of athletes again. There is no reason why UNLV should not be a top 20 program every single year, no excuses, no exceptions, and anything less than that is unacceptable, that should be the standard Kruger is held to!! I don't care about the past and the canyon that UNLV fell into, this is Vegas baby, the world comes here and Lon Kruger doesn't have what it takes to get the job done. I'm sure he is a great guy & a wonderful person but this is business and right now he isn't the right coach for UNLV, Kruger is not the long term answer for UNLV. Kruger has taken this program as far as he is going to get it, a decent mid-major who cannot win big games on a consistant basis. Anytime a team comes out flat and not motivated to play it is the coaches fault, it always falls on the leadership no matter how you slice it. All teams have to do to beat UNLV is double Tre', the reb's have no other answers, this team is finished, good job coach....

  36. I'm as devastated as anyone by these losses, and I think Kruger deserves some criticism for recruiting and getting his best players to step up for big games.

    But he's not going anywhere (unless he chooses to).

    We're talking about the same UNLV that kept Mike Sanford around for 5 years.

    Right or wrong, like it or not, Kruger probably wouldn't feel his seat warming unless he missed the ncaa tournament both this year and next.

  37. I hear ya TRUE FAN. I know you are right but I don't like it. I think the only way the Reb's make the tourney is to win the MWC tourney but I do not see this team making any kind of run if they get in, way too many holes to plug. Kruger's one size fits all style of coaching has hit the end of the road at this university IMO. Small ball and always expecting average athletes to play like the little engine that could every game has got to go. His style fits perfectly in the Missouri Valley Conference but not UNLV. I love the Rebls but can't stomach the coach. It's kinda like Cowboy fans that love their team but hate Bumbs Son or Charger fans that can't stand Norv it's the same thing for me.

  38. Bandwagon TURDS! It is comical. I wish that they would eliminate the comments section.

    How about talk about Stanback and Willis playing like crap the past 2 games? Your 2 top scorers play like that and you will loose. Tre gets ESPN player of the week and then plays like crap. Chace hasn't hit a jumper in 2 games. Thats Krugers fault?

  39. Reggie Theus is a must.

  40. Hey born n raised,

    I am truly sick and tired of people like you telling us that we are bandwagon fans for not liking the NIT product that Kruger consistently brings. We are on pace for our 4th non tournament appearance in 6 years. If that is acceptable with you, then you are what I call a settler. You are the one who isn't a real fan if you enjoy being mediocre. If I was a bandwagon fan, I wouldn't have attended every home game (except 1) and attended 4 road games. Just because you don't mind watching a team that folds down the stretch and is physically and mentally weak, it doesn't mean me, or anyone else is a bandwagon fan. I love this team, maybe a little too much. I'm pissed off about the losses and the NIT status that we are falling back to. Just because Kruger brought back some type of respectability, it doesn't mean he is the coach for us. It's like settling for a 1 bedroom apartment and being happy with it because you were once homeless. Guess what? I am greedy. I want to live in a house, a house close to what I used to have when Tark was here.
    At least a house close to where Gonzaga, Xavier, Butler and Memphis live in.

    Out of our "wonderful" 19-6 record, can you name how many NCAA at-large tournament teams we have beaten? I can. the answer is 2. BYU and UNM, and they returned the favor. Louisville and SDSU are most likely NIT. We get worked against athletic teams.

    Stop with the bandwagon crap because it is ridiculous. I am far from it.

  41. Swoon? Looks like somebody's thesaurus gave out. Why are ESL students writing for you? HAHAHA. I think you meant to say dive or dip. But then, that's not even accurate because the Rebels have only lost two in a row. Another way of looking at it: They're 5-2 in their last 7 games. What's up with the sensational headline?

  42. OK maybe bandwagon is the wrong word. Fanatical and absurd is more fitting!

    NIT bound? Lets talk about that at the end of conference play. They will likely be 12-4 or 11-5 going into the MWC Tournament putting them at 24-27 wins after. The split with BYU, SDSU and UNM. The only bad loss is the loss to Utah Every brackettology site has UNLV anywhere from a 7-11 seed. Are you smarter than these guys? Never mind I have read your posts so I can answer that!

    You guys are all the same! We shoot great and blow out BYU and we are going the the S16 or E8. Tre and Chace are no shows for 2 big games and Kruger should be fired and we are NIT bound. Find some balance fellas you sound like a bunch of horses butts!

  43. Not nit bound...........yet.

    If we have one loss in our last five games (or the first round of the MWC tournament) we will be.

    espn's bracketology breakdown still has us at a 75% chance of making the ncaa tournament. Our resume is actually pretty good compared to some other teams they have in.

    Still, it will be tough to go 6-0 over the next 6 games (including 1st round game).

  44. Hey LV BnR

    Are you a media member that puckers up ready to kiss Lon's but every day? The coach is responsible for the play of his team. Stop blaming the kids. All I heard about last year was how bad Wink played and if only Wink played up to expectations while Lon is playing a 2 guard at the 5 spot. Maybe if Lon could coach some kid over 6'6" to play center or actually recruit a power forward UNLV wouldn't be considered a 7-11 seed which is one loss from a bubble team and two losses from the NIT. How good would Stanback be if he could actually get a chance to play small forward.

    I do realize that there is no way that UNLV can buy-out Lon's contract and hire Reggie. They can't afford it, although I believe it would be in the best interest of the basketball program. Someone has to stand up to Kruger and say enough already. We are not satisfied with being on the bubble. We want a top 20 program. For some unknown reason the media in this town doesn't want to touch the issue. Yes, he got to the sweet 16, but only because he was able to recruit his own kid, and that was 3 years ago. It's time for Lon to step it up a notch. It's great to see 18,000+ at the T&M, and that I will give Kruger credit for, but let's not settle. This program should be better than it is at this point. Kentucky has run off winning coaches because they weren't satisfied with their progress, and now look where they are. Does anyone think that UNLV should be able to put a team on the floor that can compete with Kentucky? I do.

  45. No I am not the media just a fan with some perspective and played sports all my life.

    Not the kids fault? They are still the ones that play defense, rebound, and put the ball in the basket? Have you ever played competative sports? Your coach can put in a plan but you still have to execute! Tre and Chance were avergaing 35-40 ppg in conference leading up to the last two games. Tre had 13 (4-13) and 17 (5-15) and 8-10 of those 17 came with less that 3 minutes in the SDSU game. Chace had 4 (2-8) and 4 (0-7)? Thats 38 points total not 38 per game on 25% shooting. Thats on Kruger?

  46. PS.. I dont want the kids or Coach UK has because the players will be of to the NBA in one season without ever going to class and in 3-5 years Calipari will be coaching another school and UK will be on probation from the NCAA for recruiting vilolations.

  47. I love some of the responses basically saying "The reason I'm trashing UNLV now is because I care and upset with the losses" I thought overreacting and being overly emotional was for females. Didn't know so many were UNLV fans.

    Sure UNLV's apparent ceiling and weaknesses against bigger more athletic teams was exposed this week (not even the first time this season). Sure it would be nice to have some players as big/athletic as Hobson or White. But UNLV is not NIT bound with the losses, they just moved from a semi-lock to a bubble team. If they can just win out the remaining conference games, they will be exactly on par with 95% of the predictions for them this season. Didn't know meeting expectations was cause for an uproar and calling Kruger's head.

  48. Everybody relax, losing to New Mexico and SDSU is not the end of the world. Rebels are still a solid at-large NCAA team at this point. Another loss to Utah cannot happen, however, so there is a lot of pressure to win on Wednesday in Salt Lake.

    My concern is Stanback, what happened to that guy? Hopefully he will break out of the shooting slump.

    And I guess those of you who said we are better off without Jasper are learning otherwise...we're missing him tremendously.

  49. UNLV [19-6 (7-4), RPI: 36, SOS: 55] The Runnin' Rebels probably missed a chance to 'lock' up an NCAA at-large bid by losing two games last week. UNLV lost to New Mexico 76-66 at home on Wednesday night and fell 68-58 at San Diego State on Saturday. Before the two-game slide, the Rebels had won five games in a row. UNLV should still be in very good shape, with an 8-2 record in road games, 4-4 record against RPI top-50 foes and 8-5 record against the top 100. UNLV beat traditional powers such as Louisville (home) and Arizona (road) and won in tough environments like The Pit at New Mexico. UNLV should be heavily favored in each of its last five MWC regular-season games. As long as it doesn't collapse down the stretch, UNLV should be included in the NCAA's 65-team field.

  50. So, according to LV B&R's thinking, if players the caliber of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins want to play for UNLV then UNLV should say, "No thank you, your too good to play here, we don't want good players like you."

    Now that's fanatical and absurd.

  51. Why is UNLV so satisfied with Mediocrity?

  52. Now I haven't spoken with any UK fans as of late but I'm sure their really upset about being ranked NO. 2, being on national TV all the time and that NO. 1 seed in the tournament, I'm sure they would give that up in a heartbeat to be a bubble team.

  53. Rebeltob - "If they JUST win the remaining conference games" they will be ok? Great statement. If we had won against Mew Mexico and SDSU we would be ranked. There is a good statement too. Pretty naive to think that the way the Rebs are playing that they are going to go in and beat Utah(a team that already beat us at home btw)and win out. If you have watched this team you better know that there is no safe prediction. As far as Kruger is concerned I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now but if this limp wristed style of ball continues he will be pretty hard to defend. He may not be able to control everything but the things he has total control over is the players who are allowed to remain on the floor, the offense and defense they play, and the type of athletes he recruits. Sounds to me like he is more accountable than anybody. Walking Rebels!

  54. How about when that is all stripped away due to sanctions and violations. Make that deal with the devil if you want. Ask UMASS and Memphis how they feal about Calipari? I would love Wall, good student and great player but Cousins and players like him are sanctions waiting to happen! UNLV has already had the NCAA light on them and they would jump at the chance to go after us again. All you guys wanted Kruger to get a guy like Renardo Sidney ask Miss. how that has worked out!

  55. Hey born n raised,

    If you think I don't know basketball, you are delusional. I have watched more final fours in person than you've watched from your living room. I don't like to settle, unlike you. If you don't agree with me, fine. There is no reason to attack me on a personal level, though.

    You brought up how Memphis feels about Coach Cal. Memphis is just as good as UNLV is right now and they will be back on top in no time. They already have 4 top 100 players coming in next year and 2 mcdonald's all americans. What does Kruger have coming in? A total project in Buckley, a 200 pound center in Lopez and Thomas (who should help us).

    Don't attack me when you are the one who clearly has no clue. The same things you are saying about coach Cal are the things others around the country used to say about Tark.

    You are right about one thing, though. I am fanatical.

  56. Kruger is not the right coach for UNLV and I will be back to say, "I told ya so." He will not change his coaching style and he cannot recruit top national players because they will not put up with a coach like him, this isn't 1973 anymore.

  57. Congrats on the Final 4's but your posts speak to your comprehension of athletics. I have met tons of people that have watched something but still have no idea whats going on!

    Never put Tark and Calipari in the same sentence. Calipari has been busted at 2 schools and Tark was paid by the NCAA. BIG difference. The new coach at Memphis is a good coach, no doubt and they will be good but that doesnt change the fact that Cal is a crook. Bobby Knight hit it on the head!

    You are entitled to your opinion but I will disagree all day with the 3 or 4 of you that just come on here an spew over the top a excessive views.

  58. I'm with Born-N-Raised...all this NIT and "fire Kruger" talk is comical. Tark didnt go to the tourney six years in a row during one stretch...two of which were on I suppose he should have been fired too? Retarded.

    My point being it took Tark 4 yrs to dig out of a 2yr probation. So now everyone is up in arms about how we have no athleticism in our frontline. Newsflash: We lost Adeife, Roberson, and Hamga (who would all be upperclassmen now) because they were all about "me"...there is your athleticism and length right there! So it wasnt as if Kruger never recruited it or didnt recognize the need for it. Throw in the injury to Jasper now and its obvious how those 3 players leaving created a gaping hole in our frontline that is going to take time to dig out of until Thomas becomes eligible and the other bigs mature. I do agree, however, that we should have done better than Chop Jones with one of those slots.

    Meanwhile, because we cant press or extend our defense the way we should with our guard depth because we have NOBODY to guard the rim and clean up. Santee is hit or miss and can disappear...Shaw is nice on the O end but a liability on the glass...and Massamba is still a work in progress...inside presence isnt Stanbacks its tough cards all around. And still, Kruger has had us in the tourney and advancing (the strength of the league and the Pac 10s demise will get us in this yr) or on the bubble 4yrs in a row. Given what has happened to his roster..I'll take it.

  59. Djon, you can't be serious. Adeife, Roberson, and hamga. These players are terrible, were terrible, and always will be terrible. Jasper a front line player? Are you kidding? He's a converted point guard who rebounds well. If he went for a rebound guarding Leonard from SD St., a true front line player, he'd get blown away like a piece of toilet paper in the wind. Your ignorance of college basketball is glaring.

  60. Can we do better? Of course we can. Do we lack talent and/or size @ certain positions? Absolutely. Do we have a group of guys that are worthy of getting behind and cheering our collective arses off? You betcha!

    For today, tomorrow and the immediate future, these are OUR REBELS! I will stand with them, because, I know that they want nothing more than to deliver the best results for their fans, OUR FANS, US, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

    Now, let's step up, prove em all wrong and move forward as a group, as OUR GROUP! Go Be Young, my 2009/2010 Rebels!!!!!!!

  61. @ Patticus,

    LMAO at you clowning djon. Everything you said is true. Kruger recruited Adeife, Roberson and Hamga and they all suck. Where are they now, djon? Honestly. Please tell us where they are at. If those are your "athletes" then I don't even know what to tell you.

  62. Anyone who compares Calipari to Tark should have their head examined. Calipari is as crooked as they come, while Tark was harassed continuously throughout his career not only by the NCAAs but in the end his own university president and AD, and STILL managed to win a national title along with four final four appearances. If Calipari operated the way he does with one/tenth of the scrutiny Tark was subjected to, I can pretty much guarantee he'd be lucky to be coaching junior high school kids right now.

    As a UNLV fan, I would take Kruger over Calipari every day of the week and twice on Sunday. He is doing more with less talent, and running a clean program.

  63. Let me go slower this time so the short bus people can maybe get it this time. lol

    The issue isnt whether "they suck" or not when they arrived...the issue is our lack of depth, athleticism, and length up front NOW. We dont need 25ppg...we need 10 MORE boards and 3 MORE blocks per game as a team RIGHT NOW. Thats 7'0, 6-10, and 6-8, all long, that walked out the door and would be Jrs & Srs right now. You dont just "replace" that overnight and certainly not in this decade at UNLV...maybe in the 80s or 90s but not now. LJ re born aint coming thru the door anytime soon. But "they suck" the short bus people did Louis Amundson, Joel Anthony, and Wendell White when they first showed up too. It doesnt matter who would win a one on one game vs Billy White...what matters is could they have played their role in the system rebounding and blocking shots. I'll defer to the guy who got Anthony and Amundson into the NBA on that one instead of the wannabes on Sun message board, thank you.

    If you dont believe those 3 guys would have helped us on the glass and defensively altering shots NOW...which is the REAL issue...then it is not me that is the ignorant one. Adeife had 70 boards and blocked 14 shots in 17 games playing limited mins last yr (and yeah, I know where they are)...our bigs probably dont have 14 blocks COMBINED this yr. I never said those guys were "the answer" or they'd dominate... but having that kind of length and experience down low now is EXACTLY what this team lacks! It transcends EVERY part of our game on both ends!If you cant look out on the floor and see that...then its you that is the clown and ignorant. I agree Kruger didnt replace that fast enough or well enough...and he deserves criticism for that for sure...but firing him is absolutely, categorically still RETARDED. Deal with it.

  64. Dijon- you hit the nail on the head. We already have good players on the perimeter- all we would need is a couple of big guys inside who contribute- they don't need to be monsters. Next years team should be much better with QT coming. As for this year- huge game on Wed nite. Win that, and we should be able to beat TCU, AF, CSU and Wyoming to finish out. Once you get in the NCAA's it's all about match-ups. This team could be out in the 1st round, or could actually win a couple of games.

  65. Can everyone just be realistic? Was the New Mexico game ugly? Yes. But don't forget New Mexico is a very good team who was coming in on a winning streak and REALLY wanted revenge since we were the only team to beat them at The Pit. Was SDSU ugly? Sure. We saw what happens when SDSU plays well and hits their free throws. I don't know that having Jasper in there means we win that game at SDSU, but it wasn't really as lopsided as it seemed... and the crowd there is a joke. I was there and our little Rebel section got louder than the student section on more than one occasion. I think Jasper would really help with the rebounding and the little things, plus his presence means less Wallace and better defense.

    Did anyone bother to look at the schedule? We basically played our schedule in the order that teams were picked to finish. That means our toughest games are behind us. I figure we need 6 wins to get in the tournament and the only regular season game left I can see us losing is at Utah. I really think we'll go in with an edge and revenge on our minds and beat Utah pretty good on Saturday. We lose any game but that one and we need to win the tourney. Everyone should pull for UNM and BYU because the more they win, the more it helps us.

  66. Roberson and Adeife transfered to Louisiana-Lafayette. What conference are they in? Sunbelt. Great competition there. These guys got these low stats playing against all-americans?
    Troy and south alabama have some of the best basketball talent in the country to compete against I guess.

    Roberson pts per game Rebounds per game Blks
    2008-09 5 3 .7
    2009-10 4 2 .6

    2008-09 2 3 .8
    2009-10 Career over

    Hamga 0 0 0
    He catches passes off his head, and can't figure out where he wants to play.

    These players are so bad they make Chop Jones look good. Djon are you that much of a homer you can't see the forest through the trees? I know you bleed runnin rebel red like me, but c'mon dude, you're in denial or something else worse.