Communication is key as UNLV basketball works through summer

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 | 2 a.m.

As the UNLV basketball team approaches the midway point of the summer practice window, head coach Kevin Kruger isn’t so worried about how his players are scoring and rebounding. He’s more interested in what they are saying.

Fostering strong on-court communication has been a theme through the first four weeks of workouts, as the team tries to meld seven newcomers with six returning players.

Calling out offensive sets, managing spacing and organizing the defense all require the players to be on the same page and communicate with their teammates in real time. It takes time and reps to develop that kind of teamwide chemistry, and UNLV is putting in the work to get everyone acclimated.

Kruger said a couple of returning vets have taken the lead so far when it comes to speaking up.

“Rob Whaley has done a good job communicating,” Kruger said. “Brooklyn Hicks has been communicating. They have the advantage of being returners and knowing what’s expected from us as a staff, but they’re all doing their best. Jace Whiting has been doing a good job with communicating. I think they understand and are making the effort.”

Whaley, a senior forward, and Hicks, a sophomore guard, have the advantage of entering their second year in Kruger’s system. Whiting, a junior guard, transferred to UNLV this offseason after playing his first two years at Boise State.

UNLV went 21-13 last season, qualifying for the NIT in Kruger’s third year at the helm. It was the program’s first postseason appearance since 2013.

In an effort to get the players talking, Kruger said the team is still deemphasizing drills in favor of 5-on-5 scrimmage periods. Those live stretches will see the teams compete for three or four possessions, followed by the coaches stepping in to give some direction, then another handful of trips up and down the court.

In that environment, Kruger wants the players to do most of the coaching.

“We want to put them in situations where they have to figure it out, and they’ve been having a lot of good conversations,” Kruger said. “The guys have been able to talk to each other and communicate what they’re thinking and what they’re seeing. There haven’t been any blow-ups. It’s been a good three weeks.”

One complicating factor is that UNLV is still without its starting point guard. D.J. Thomas remains sidelined as he recovers from offseason wrist surgery, but he has been attending practices and participating in some noncontact activities.

Coming off a superlative debut campaign that saw him average 13.6 points and 5.1 assists per game, Thomas would be the natural choice to command the team, but there is no desire to rush him back onto the floor.

Caution is paramount, Kruger said.

“Very little,” Kruger said when asked how much Thomas has been doing during summer practices. “We’re not going to take any chances with that hand getting hit.”

After this week, UNLV will have four weeks of summer practice remaining.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.