Turn out the lights?
- Thread starter unlv91
- Start date
I don't get why everyone was so excited to face a repeat team so much. Everyone assumed statistics would carry us. We had a shot, just didn't get it. So, let me guess, now the Fire Him threads begin to pile up. Some here are about as stable as Charles Manson.
Leaving Gibert out there at the end when you needed a hoop was a head scratcher....I checked stats, guards mccabe, nuga, webster, and gilbert went a combined 1-18 from the field.
Seems some 2 man game with Williams and Hamilton would have been the way to go.
Rebs at least competed hard most of the year. Willams, Gilbert, Mouka, Iwoakor, and Webster are a decent start for next year. I am assuming the seniors are not coming back, even the ones who can.
Seems some 2 man game with Williams and Hamilton would have been the way to go.
Rebs at least competed hard most of the year. Willams, Gilbert, Mouka, Iwoakor, and Webster are a decent start for next year. I am assuming the seniors are not coming back, even the ones who can.
I'm happy with our season. I had very low expectations and I'm looking forward to the core guys we have given their development this season.
That’s a little extreme don’t you think? All of Kevin’s head coaching experience will be at the hands of Unlv before he leaves.
Maybe I misunderstood your post.
I'm better feeling wise than I thought I'd be, I'm not happy cause we had a shot, but I'm...okay. I want to see more. That's all I'm really saying. I just don't think it's fair to go from get rid of him, to he's doing great, to get rid of him again. That's all I'm sayin'.
We have GOT to get something out of the guards next year. These guys are called shooting guards but they largely did not get the job done all year long. Hamilton carried the team by himself most of the year, Williams was a nice surprise resurrecting his career, but man we had almost nobody else help out on the scoring end. Got to get that solved. Still, a more than decent season considering how bad it could've been. Really looking forward to who CKK brings in over the off season.
Agreed! That's the whole season in your post.
Hopefully we see CKK filling those holes.
We’re dead meat next season.
Another Empty Year Of March Madness without the Rebels.
Im not mad at the coaching.
Just take the CBI and run with it.
Another Empty Year Of March Madness without the Rebels.
Im not mad at the coaching.
Just take the CBI and run with it.
I wouldn’t say that. The portal can be magical, it can be a program killer too. Get the right pieces, they’re immediate contributors. You can transform yourself from last to first with one cycle of the portal.
But so can everyone else.
Look, every time unlv gets bounced from The tournament it literally makes me physically sick. I am tired of it!
I’m cautiously pleased with Coach Kruger. I consider his recruiting Of this year’s back court is largely a failure. I can’t fully support him until he can get an effective group of scorers.
I respect that.
This was his first season and he is getting fans back into the T&M. That right there is a big plus even though this year’s backcourt wasn’t as effective as we wished it would be.
Keep in mind that he did recruit Hamilton back to this team, so he recognized the need to have him as a Rebel.
Indeed. This group lacked plenty. The question will be whether Kruger can improve his recruiting. Next year he won't have the new team excuse. He will likely need at least one more season to reach a really great level. But, he should get better.
He is working on that. And pursuing talent. We will see.
He is working on that. And pursuing talent. We will see.
This year should be easier. Last year he was an unknown. This year he'll be able to show success and he'll be able to boast on Hamilton. If we are really lucky Hamilton will impress and get drafted.
KK will never admit injuries killed this team. If we had all of our transfers healthy, who knows. Next year will be better, team defense was so much better at the end of the year. Recruiting is the key. I look at the collapse of Oregon with their best offensive player going down and compare it to KK's season. Too many transfers for both teams. One last thought, Baylor lost in the first game of the conference tournament. They went on to win the NCAA. Gonzaga has a long break also. I am looking forward to a rematch.
Disappointed that they didn't win, but I think Kruger did a great job, and my expectation is they will get better next year!
I don't know why we should have higher expectations for the team next year. Sure some guys showed improvement but UNLV also won in conference while Bryce was playing out of his mind and when he came back to earth the past few games so did the team. We are losing Bryce next year and Hamm.. which are arguably the 2 most important players on this year's team.
I actually expect the team to be a little worse next year unless we get a couple significant players in the transfer portal.
I actually expect the team to be a little worse next year unless we get a couple significant players in the transfer portal.
Bryce was not exactly mr efficient, so if they can get a few scorers in recruiting they could be good. Lots depends on if they can get players to improve in the off season. A guy like Gilbert, already a defensive ace. Can he improve enough to be a force on offense? Mouka having a couple moves could make him dangerous also.
I hope Kevin stays a looooooong time. He has already surpassed the likes of Alford, Pitino, Hutson, and Tim Miles in 1 season. We are the best team in the conference not going to the NCAA tournament. Think about that. Even with our whole supporting guard cast going 1-18 fg and 0-10 3pt/g we were a lucky break away from winning yesterday.
Not sure if everyone here realizes just how tough it is to bring in a whole team of transfers and win with them... asking these players to 1) commit to an unproven, first year HC...2) asking these players to commit when they don't even know what the program looks like...3) asking these players to commit when they don't really know who the men beside them will be. Bravo to Kevin.
Even with the loss of Bryce, we are in much better shape than a year ago. We have a core group of solid players. This program has a semblance of idenity now. The portal will be easier to navigate this time around because of this and Kevin can be more selective. Like his dad did here, I'm sure Kevin will further develop the pieces we already have and make them better. This is an attractive situation now, and I can only imagine there are a couple of aspiring scorers out there that would love to try filling Bryce's shoes.
I think we surpass this season's win total next season because we've got a good coach.
Not sure if everyone here realizes just how tough it is to bring in a whole team of transfers and win with them... asking these players to 1) commit to an unproven, first year HC...2) asking these players to commit when they don't even know what the program looks like...3) asking these players to commit when they don't really know who the men beside them will be. Bravo to Kevin.
Even with the loss of Bryce, we are in much better shape than a year ago. We have a core group of solid players. This program has a semblance of idenity now. The portal will be easier to navigate this time around because of this and Kevin can be more selective. Like his dad did here, I'm sure Kevin will further develop the pieces we already have and make them better. This is an attractive situation now, and I can only imagine there are a couple of aspiring scorers out there that would love to try filling Bryce's shoes.
I think we surpass this season's win total next season because we've got a good coach.
Realistic take no argument here. We need a lot to go right for the Rebels to improve on their record next year but I think CKK is up to the challenge. Let's see what players he brings in.
The portal is the key. I can’t venture a guess at all right now. Strike gold in the portal and it’ll be a good year. A Bad mix of styles or overestimation of talents and it won’t be good.
But every team can say the same. UNLV, however, has a decent advantage over MWC peers and some top 100 teams in that Vegas is typically a nice option for many and UNLV has a long history with transfers.
100% agree. All depends on who CKK brings in and whether our existing guys improve over this year. We can’t afford more misses in guards who can’t score consistently. It caught up to us against Wyoming (plus VI’s injury). Also need Gilbert, Webster and Mouka to take steps forward. If CKK brings in a solid big and and one consistent outside scorer we’ll have a shot… assuming they gel. Lots of if if’s at this point. Just glad we appear to have a coach who can actually coach and build a program.
Our ceiling is fighting for a mid-table spot in the MWC now. The sooner the people accept this, the better. Maybe an occasional NCAA appearance.
Unlv has many advantages to dominate the MWC. Just need someone to put it together. If unlv would have landed Cronin or Beard they would be in top 25 each year.
This!
And I would add Baker and Iwauakor to the need to improve and take big steps forward next year list!
What aren’t people understanding about not only the ability, but the new normal of portal signings.
This isn’t woo a kid when he’s in 8th grade and hoping you have a shot when he graduates HS. That would be a complete waste of resources.
The portal is quick and dirty, more desperate players, more desperate coaches, less time. “Recruiting” as we knew it, is forever dramatically changed. You get most of your business done, compacted into a few weeks instead of years. He who adapts best, he who gets the luckiest, will feast. And yes, a large component will be luck. Not in getting players, but in that they mesh well … with less time to fully evaluate, a lot of luck involved.
But the last thing I’d worry about is filling spots with bodies.
I think certain coaches can thrive.
They and their staff will (1) need to have a base of at least 5-6 players who hold over to maintain a culture (2) be able to accept recruits that have the right basketball skills in addition to being coachable and not too selfish (3) be able to command respect without being too authoritarian (4) be able to get new players to buy into the culture and their roles fast.
I think some coaches won't be able to do this. Too structured, too had ass etc. You'll still have some of these types of coaches, and they can be successful, but they'll need to be at P5 schools that can recruit freshmen.
But a mid-major coach to have long-term success will have to be able to get in high-quality transfers that will blend in with a corps of holdovers.
I'm hopeful about CKK and staff. I think they can do it.
Neither am i! I am just worried about quality recruits. We need to UPGRADE.
Gilbert needs to get a jumper. He's no threat right now. Teams like Reno, CSU, Wyo... they can all pull their 7-8 guys off the bench and not cringe whenever they square up to shoot. Their rosters are crowded with shooters. That's what I want. Even guys who only take 3-4 shots but make 2-3. You can execute patterns all you want, but if you can't hit the open shot, it's all for naught. Forget about those guys who can get to the rack and miss layups. We always seem to have plenty of those guys. I love length and athleticism - you need some of those guys - but you're not dunking your way to victory. Give me some shooters!
