UNLV basketball team to get fill of home cooking in 2007-08

UNLV coach Lon Kruger might take a summer vacation and a business trip or two, but he plans to spend most of his time at home. The same goes for his basketball team.

The Rebels’ nonconference schedule for the 2007-08 season features 12 home games and only two on the road.

Kruger tailored the schedule for a young team with one returning starter, junior guard Wink Adams.

“Last year, we were able to go on the road a little more with five seniors,” Kruger said. “With a younger team, you want your schedule to be more home-oriented.

“The majority of our games are at home, so if we come together and mesh as a team, it’s a schedule we can do well against. It’s a real exciting home schedule.”

UNLV, which faces Washburn in an exhibition game, opens the regular season against Montana State on Nov. 9 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

After a game against Division II Dixie State, the Rebels host Louisville on Nov. 21 and UNR on Nov. 24.

UNLV plays Fresno State on Dec. 8 at the Orleans Arena. The game is scheduled there because the National Finals Rodeo will be occupying the Thomas & Mack.

The Rebels host Arizona on Dec. 19 in the second year of a four-year series. The Wildcats, who won last year’s meeting 89-75, return to Las Vegas in 2008. The teams play again in Tucson, Ariz., in 2009.

Minnesota, with new coach Tubby Smith, is the featured opponent in the Duel in the Desert event in late December. The other teams participating are Kennesaw State and Nicholls State.

The Rebels also host Texas-El Paso and Tennessee-Martin. The opponent for one other home game has yet to be determined.

The two road games on the schedule are against Northern Arizona and UC Santa Barbara.

The UNLV athletic department has not released dates for all games. The Mountain West Conference schedule will be released in the summer.

Kruger said he was appreciative of the fan support his team received at home last season. The Rebels went 19-1 at the Thomas & Mack, including three victories in the conference tournament.

UNLV finished 30-7 and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 but loses seniors Joel Anthony, Gaston Essengue, Kevin Kruger, Michael Umeh and Wendell White.

UC Santa Barbara dealt the Rebels their lone home loss, 79-76 in a game Kevin Kruger missed with an ankle injury.

“Our crowds were so good last year. If we want to establish a real home-court advantage, this schedule gives us the chance,” Lon Kruger said. “We want to make it a tough place to win.”

UNLV went 4-1 in nonconference road games last season, beating Hawaii, UNR, Texas Tech and Houston.

The Rebels routed Northern Arizona 93-53 in a neutral-site game at St. George, Utah.

* NOTE — Registration is open for UNLV’s summer basketball camps. For more information, go to unlvrebels.com or call the basketball office at 895-3295.