Reader Q&A: UNLV sports and cereal talk

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | 2 a.m.

With football having wrapped spring practice and the basketball roster nearly full after a flurry of offseason activity, this seems like a good time to open up the UNLV mailbag for a reader Q&A.

Let’s jump right into your questions:

@OnthePath13

What in the world is taking Kevin Kruger and staff so long to fill the last two roster spots? What do you think it means?

@MikeGrimala

I think it means they are being selective. Kevin Kruger had no problem filling the first eight open scholarships via the transfer portal, so he can get kids to say yes. But now that the roster has taken shape, Kruger said he wants to make sure the final spots go to someone who complements what they already have and who can bring additional value.

Another factor is Bryce Hamilton’s decision. Though he has been largely written off at this point (including by me), I get the sense the coaching staff hasn’t entirely given up hope for a return from last year’s leading scorer. I still think it’s farfetched, as Hamilton not only declared for the draft but entered his name in the transfer portal as well, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see UNLV keep an open roster spot at least until he makes his final decision.

@m1foley

How will Kevin Kruger and staff persuade coveted recruits to come to UNLV?

@MikeGrimala

The best way to entice recruits, obviously, is by winning games. As a first-year coach, Kruger can’t point to a black-and-white track record yet, so then you move on to less tangible pitches.

I’ve talked to a lot of recruits in my time covering college ball, and the No. 1 factor they cite over and over again is the relationship they develop with the coaching staff. The coaches that do the best job of connecting with the young men—each of whom are unique, hailing from various backgrounds and with different personalities—end up securing the commitments.

Kruger was praised for his recruiting ability when he was an assistant, so I think he’s good at developing those relationships. Once you do that, the secondary factors come in, such as playing time, development plans, style of play, location, etc. I have no reason to think Kruger won’t get good players to come to UNLV.

@PeterSalisbury5

I know you won’t ask but is UNLV’s starting QB for next year on campus yet?

@MikeGrimala

The lead-in to that question feels like an insult, but I’m tough so no worries there.

(Ten minute break for sobbing.)

Okay I’m back. In my professional opinion, I do believe UNLV will be in the market for a transfer quarterback before the start of the 2021 season. Going winless in his first season was not part of Marcus Arroyo’s plan, and after that disaster I can’t see him being content to go into Year 2 with a bunch of question marks at the most important position (which is what UNLV has right now).

Whether it’s someone like Tate Martell or a less flashy option, someone is going to shake free before training camp and UNLV should be prepared to pounce on a starting-caliber QB.

@CandCParlay

Has UNLV raised enough funds to pay off the loan for the Fertitta Football Complex? How much is still owed?

@MikeGrimala

This is a good question and I don’t have an immediate answer. The bill on the Fertitta Complex kind of took a backseat during the pandemic, but I’m on the case now and I promise to chase down the specifics.

@Reb_Hombre

What happens first, UNLV football makes a bowl or UNLV basketball makes the tournament?

@MikeGrimala

Logically, the answer should be football, since it’s way easier to qualify for a bowl game (.500 record) than it is to make the NCAA Tournament (one of the best 68 teams). But UNLV’s football program is so far away from being competitive, I’ve got to go with basketball here, even considering that fact that the hoops program just changed coaches and is turning over 85 percent of its roster this offseason.

@Chairman_Watts

Is cereal soup?

@MikeGrimala

No. At least I don’t think so. My favorite cereal, Life, is certainly not a soup. I feel like soup has to have a broth; milk does not qualify as broth. I don’t like questions like this. What’s next? If hot chocolate has mini-marshmallows floating in it, is that a soup? Stop the madness.

@KonaSimon

What are some of the changes Marcus Arroyo has brought to the UNLV football program? I’m curious how different a Power 5 program is to UNLV and if he has tried to bring UNLV up to that level as best he can, and how that’s different from how Sanchez did things.

@MikeGrimala

It’s difficult to point to some aspect of the day-to-day operation of the program, because nothing has been normal since Arroyo took charge. The pandemic has basically kept Arroyo from developing a baseline for the past year.

The uptick in recruiting has been noticeable, however. Tony Sanchez’s final recruiting class (2019) ranked eighth in the Mountain West, according to 247 Sports. Arroyo’s 2020 class ranked second, and his 2021 class is third. That’s a big, big jump, and logic dictates that if Arroyo keeps consistently bringing in good players, eventually they will comprise a good team.

As it stands, five of UNLV’s top 15 recruits all-time are Arroyo commits, including Class of 2022 quarterback Jayden Maiava, the highest-ranked QB ever to pledge to the scarlet and gray. So Arroyo is getting power-conference players.  

@nevadaracer00v

What would you consider to be acceptable progress for the UNLV football team and men’s basketball team to make this year?

@MikeGrimala

Three wins for football, top half of conference for basketball. I know that’s going to rankle some diehards who are disgusted by the bar being set so low. But considering where the programs are right now, those goals are attainable (but not a guarantee) and would give the respective fan bases reason to believe in the young coaches currently in charge of the programs.

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