UNLV Basketball Notebook: Big men return to practice

By Rob Miech

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 | 10:47 p.m.

UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger didn’t exactly salivate while watching actual, genuine big men operate inside during two limited practices this week.

But he did smile about 7-footer Beas Hamga, 6-10 Brice Massamba and 6-8 Darris Santee.

“Well, I have no complaints about last season,” Kruger said. “Joe (Darger) and Matt (Shaw) did a great job. We have a greater appreciation for what they did.

“On the other hand, we do have the option this season of playing big. Last season, we had no option. It’s nice. I think we’ll see a lot of growth and progress in Beas and Brice, especially, two big freshmen who will get better each day.”

The 6-7 Darger and 6-8 Shaw, along with 6-7 Rene Rougeau at times, were left to defend the post last season after 6-10 center Manny Adeife was booted off the team after the first game.

The Rebels worked with coaches for about an hour Monday and Wednesday in the Cox Pavilion practice gym, and they lingered afterward to play some pick-up ball.

Premature hardly describes a review of the players, but Darger drilled just about everything from beyond the new 3-point arc, senior guard Wink Adams looked strong as ever and Santee showed strength under the basket.

Moreover, as freshman guard Oscar Bellfield revealed recently, senior guard Mo Rutledge finished well and showed a nifty short hook touch.

Kruger will depend on Adams, Darger, Rougeau and Rutledge for leadership in 2008-09. Official practice starts Oct. 17.

“I genuinely love their enthusiasm and attitude about working hard, which you expect in the first week,” Kruger said. “If you don’t have it then, you probably won’t get it.

“Everyone new was excited and the senior leadership set a great example, the young guys will follow their lead.”

Kruger said it would be a surprise if Adams, Darger and Rougeau don’t start this season. Before a summer tour of Australia, Hamga and new point guard Tre’Von Willis completed the starting five in practice.

“You know, starting positions are always open,” Kruger said. “I think it’ll be an interesting battle for some starting positions. Two or three have been here a long time, so I’d be shocked if they didn’t start. I’m the first to admit that.

“On the other hand, a couple positions are wide open. It will be interesting to see good, healthy competition in practice.”

On the mend

Kruger said Shaw has been recuperating well from knee surgery. In June, Shaw tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and he had surgery in July.

At Wednesday’s practice, Shaw stood on the sideline and cheered on his teammates. He will sit out the entire 2008-09 season.

“He has spent a couple months in rehab and everything has been going exactly like we wanted,” Kruger said. “Everything is right where we want it.”

That oblong ball

Kruger passed by UNLV football coach Mike Sanford on campus earlier this week and praised the big victory Saturday night at Arizona State.

“I told him I was thrilled for their win,” Kruger said. “They’re playing with enthusiasm. Couldn’t be happier for him and his staff, their families and the players.

“They’ve worked hard. It’s great to see them get results.”

Kruger and his wife, Barb, attended the Rebels’ first football game of the season, against Utah State at Sam Boyd Stadium. He watched the defeat at Utah on television.

Out recruiting, he caught a replay of the end of Saturday night’s exciting end, Phillip Payne’s touchdown catch and Malo Taumua’s blocked field-goal attempt, on television.

Kruger, a native of Silver Lake, Kan., admitted that he’s a bit of a frustrated Kansas City Chiefs fan.

A previous engagement

Lon and Barb Kruger will not be attending UNLV’s home football game Sept. 27 against UNR because of a long-circled function on their calendar.

The marriage of their 28-year-old daughter, Angie, to Mike Ciklin, who passed his board exams over the summer and is a lawyer for the MGM Grand.

Angie Kruger, studying to become an obstetrician, is in her final year of residency at the University of Florida.

“They’ll have a long-distance relationship for seven or eight months, but it’s what you want for your kids; to meet someone you feel great about, have fun with and spend the rest of their lives with,” Kruger said. “You can’t beat that feeling.”

Others have told him what to expect when he walks down the aisle to give his only daughter away.

“People say I won’t be able to get through it,” Kruger said. “I tell them I won’t expect to. I’m OK.”