Kruger steering UNLV basketball through COVID-19 postponements

By Ray Brewer (contact), Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 | 10:10 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 | 2:14 p.m.

UNLV saw Saturday's game at Air Force postponed today due to a positive COVID-19 situation within the Scarlet and Gray program. It’s not the first time a UNLV contest was called off this season, and it’s probably not going to be the last.

That uncertainty will continue to loom over the program — and really, all programs around the country — as COVID positives surge.

As he tries to steer his team through an unusual season in his first year as a head coach, Kevin Kruger said not knowing is the biggest hurdle.

“Uncertainty is kind of the thing,” Kruger said today after the Mountain West announced the postponement. “Decisions aren’t made quickly. You can try to do everything you can to play and get ready, and then you find out at a certain point that you can’t play.

“It feels like you’re in a situation where if this happens, then that happens, and there are like 10 of those [variables].”

While UNLV tries to ride out the surge, Kruger said the team has gone back to virtual and remote protocols similar to those that were in place for long periods last year.

As team members maintain distance from each other and the basketball court, Kruger said the program has to prioritize health and safety.

“We’re communicating how we can,” Kruger said. “A lot of FaceTimes. Our communication as a [coaching] staff is calling and seeing how they’re feeling. Basketball is not really the main focus.”

Air Force is the second UNLV game to be postponed this week. A contest that had been set for today at San Jose State was also moved due to COVID-19 within the SJSU team.

UNLV is next scheduled to play Jan. 11, when the Scarlet and Gray will host New Mexico at the Thomas & Mack Center. They’ll then host Fresno State on Jan. 14 before traveling to San Diego State on Jan. 18.

The disruption to the schedule has already been severe. Since facing Hartford on Dec. 11, UNLV will have played just three games over the next month. And with COVID cases continuing to soar, there are no guarantees the New Mexico game will go off as planned.

When UNLV does get on the court, it will have to deal with basketball-related issues stemming from its inactivity.

COVID-19 has proven to be particularly hard on the respiratory system, so Kruger will keep a particular eye on his players’ conditioning once they’re able to resume basketball activities — whenever that may be.

“It’s definitely conditioning,” Kruger said. “Everybody’s COVID experience is different, so you don’t really know. It’s hard to tell with a guy what they experienced, what they went through, how they’re feeling and the impact. We do everything we can to make sure they’re safe to push themselves. It’s not like after the mandatory isolation quarantine they’re the same exact person they were from a conditioning standpoint as the day before they started to feel under the weather. And then if your conditioning struggles, and it’s tough to say this, you hope to stay away from any injuries that can occur from not being able to catch your breath or move the way you’re accustomed.”

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