Australia trip gives Rebels head start on 2008-09

In preparation for next season, when expectations for UNLV basketball should be soaring, coach Lon Kruger is taking his team on a long flight to Australia.

The NCAA allows teams to take a foreign tour once every four years. The Rebels went on a three-day trip to Canada before the 2004-05 season, Kruger’s first at UNLV.

The tour to Australia, where the Rebels plan to play about six games, is scheduled from June 23 to July 5.

In previous coaching stops, Kruger took teams at Florida and Illinois to Australia.

“The timing for this group is really good,” Kruger said.

UNLV is expected to return nine players from this season’s team. In addition, two players who are redshirting, freshman center Beas Hamga and sophomore guard Tre’Von Willis, will become eligible and can join the team on the trip.

“We’ve done it a couple other times, and I think Australia is the best,” Kruger said. “It’s good competition. It’s a long flight, but once you get there, the food is easy and the language is easy.

“And they really like the Americans being there.”

The flight from Las Vegas to Sydney, Australia, is about 16 hours and it crosses the International Date Line, so the UNLV team will arrive on June 25. As of now, a general itinerary is set and there is no specific information on a schedule of games.

One of the advantages of the tour, Kruger said, is the Rebels will be allowed to practice for 10 days before going to Australia.

UNLV will enter next season with four seniors — Wink Adams, Joe Darger, Rene Rougeau and Mareceo Rutledge.

Darger, forced to play the center position this season, will move back to a forward spot with Hamga presumably starting at center. Willis, a transfer from Memphis, is a candidate to play point guard and replace senior Curtis Terry.

“I’m sure there will be a couple players in different roles next year,” Kruger said.

The summer trip could benefit the Rebels in several ways.

“I think it will be a lot of fun for us to play some good teams and also have time to kind of bond,” Darger said. “The more games we get together and the more time we spend together, the better it’s going to be for us.”

Fans are encouraged to join the UNLV team on the trip, with the cost starting at $5,000 per person. Information on travel arrangements is available at basketballtravelers.com/fans.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2907.