UNLV Runnin’ Rebel Roster 2024 - 2025

[UNLV2001]

On 4/5/2024 at 9:56 AM, RebelTexan said:

Gotta hope there is a plan B for PG, and a revamp of the roster through the portal.  Still need defensive/scoring wings and ball-handling guards to round out the roster.  The expectation should still be NCAA for CKK and staff for year 4, which is a fair expectation for a first-time HC.

It's playing roster lottery every year............USU won the lottery this last season with a new coach & 12 new players, good winning season.........USU should be on good shape going, wait?!? Sprinkle hired away for big $$ and new players jumping into transfer portal........never mind USU building off 23/24 season 

Maybe Kruger can win the roster lottery next season, or maybe the unknown name UNLV might hire to replace Kruger might have better luck playing ROSTER LOTTO 

[UNLV2001]

On 4/5/2024 at 10:40 AM, renoskier said:

I suppose that could happen but I don't really don't know why it would.

Overall, college athletics does well on many levels. Although I never attended Nevada, I'll still go to games regardless of whatever level they are competing at. It's about entertainment, discretionary time and money, if you enjoy football, basketball, or any other sports, are you suddenly not going to enjoy them any more?

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm not ready to join the "sky is falling" crowd. 

It's more that as a fan, you can't get hyped on a decent season & then maybe building on that over a few seasons -- It's more like pick up basketball, every season whoever the coach is, tries to get enough players to fill a roster & hopes whoever he picked up can play........guess the good news is, if he has a bad season, he can start over the next season & the next season & the next season & the ne..........

[UNLV2001]

 

[RebelTexan]

On 4/5/2024 at 10:40 AM, UNLV2001 said:

You can't be this naive to think that simply ousting KK for another guy will change the reality that UNLV is a middling mid major with a limited NIL 

You just said the UNLV NIL is the issue then turn around and scream about a coaching change -- Really? What coach is going to step into a program where the NIL is slim pickings ?!?! 

Amen, brother.  Not sure what fantasy world some of the fans live in, thinking a "real" coach can come in this late in the recruiting cycle and just run through the MW and make a run in the NCAA their first year.  It's going to take some time for a new coach to be hired, assemble a staff, and recruit a roster of maybe 13 new players, including difference makers on the NIL-cheap.  Oh and if they don't make the tourney first year, their seat becomes flaming hot.

[renoskier]

On 4/5/2024 at 10:54 AM, UNLV2001 said:

It's more that as a fan, you can't get hyped on a decent season & then maybe building on that over a few seasons -- It's more like pick up basketball, every season whoever the coach is, tries to get enough players to fill a roster & hopes whoever he picked up can play........guess the good news is, if he has a bad season, he can start over the next season & the next season & the next season & the ne..........

I think it will have the affect of separating the good coaches form the good recruiters.

[UNLV2001]

On 4/5/2024 at 10:56 AM, RebelTexan said:

Amen, brother.  Not sure what fantasy world some of the fans live in, thinking a "real" coach can come in this late in the recruiting cycle and just run through the MW and make a run in the NCAA their first year.  It's going to take some time for a new coach to be hired, assemble a staff, and recruit a roster of maybe 13 new players, including difference makers on the NIL-cheap.  Oh and if they don't make the tourney first year, their seat becomes flaming hot.

Frustration is running high and the usual response is to change the coach & that will fix everything..............Used to be it was easier to change the coach than the players......now it's change both & why not ?!?!

Even if a new coach comes in, it's not likely the new coach will keep any of his players beyond his first season anyway 

[Rosegreen]

On 4/5/2024 at 10:40 AM, UNLV2001 said:

You can't be this naive to think that simply ousting KK for another guy will change the reality that UNLV is a middling mid major with a limited NIL 

You just said the UNLV NIL is the issue then turn around and scream about a coaching change -- Really? What coach is going to step into a program where the NIL is slim pickings ?!?! 

A coach with a track record, charisma and style of basketball that players want to play. We’ve seen mid majors have success with the right coach. 

 

NIL isn’t the sole issue, Dedan was paid six figures from his nil deal with unlv. Others were paid as well, prompting coaches in the conference to say unlv has a lot of money on the floor. 
 

There’s just a lot of question marks surrounding the program and that’s tied to the guy running it. 

[UNLV2001]

On 4/5/2024 at 10:58 AM, renoskier said:

I think it will have the affect of separating the good coaches form the good recruiters.

Can a coach recruit to his system anymore with the turnover each season ?!!? 

Take UNLV....landed a top flight FR PG, that used to be something a coach could build around for the next 2-3 seasons............who knows what any teams roster will be like after any given season ?!?!

[B_Lootz]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:27 AM, Rebels18 said:

Cut Kruger loose

 

We can curse the world and the changing landscape but if CSU, unr, SDSU, unm, etc can muster continuity then why can't we?

DTJ doesn't want to play for Kruger anymore.

Neither did Gilbert. Neither did Hall.

 

I wouldn't want to play for the goof either

This is where I stand. What is the point of delaying the inevitable and wasting a season when we’re going to be right back here a year from now after another 14-17 win campaign? If it’s getting blown up then blow it up completely and start from scratch now rather than waste an entire season. A new coach is going to have about as much time as Kruger would have anyway at assembling a roster.

 

 

[RebelTexan]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:01 AM, Rosegreen said:

A coach with a track record, charisma and style of basketball that players want to play. We’ve seen mid majors have success with the right coach. 

 

NIL isn’t the sole issue, Dedan was paid six figures from his nil deal with unlv. Others were paid as well, prompting coaches in the conference to say unlv has a lot of money on the floor. 
 

There’s just a lot of question marks surrounding the program and that’s tied to the guy running it. 

Dedan was paid 6 figures (allegedly), but I'm sure he's fielding offers of 10x that amount now.  I'm thinking if he leaves, that will be the biggest factor in his and his family's decision.

[4UNLV]

On 4/4/2024 at 9:18 PM, UNLV2001 said:

 

Either way.........Kruger or no Kruger, it's doubtful UNLV will get a coach that can make much of a difference because it's not so much about coaching / recruiting / facilities, it's about how much money does the NIL attached to that school can fork over to keep talent from being poached by any program with deeper pockets 

If the UNLV NIL is limited, what coach wants to step into a situation where any decent recruit you might land is subject to being poached .........literally impossible to build a program by HS recruitment & who knows who's coming or going on a yearly basis -- Can see why some seasoned coaches are retiring because with the combination of the transfer portal & NIL it's just a crap shoot on cobbling together a roster

All we probably know at this point is that Kruger is still the coach & who else might enter the portal and what scraps can Kruger convince to come in a scramble to assemble a roster for 24/25...........then repeat the process in 25/26 regardless of who the coach might be 

Used to be a coach with a recruit like Thomas could use that to build for a few seasons........now who knows 

if Thomas does depart, then that could trigger a mass exodus & leave UNLV starting from scratch roster wise 

 

 

On 4/5/2024 at 7:54 AM, B_Lootz said:

Surely you didn’t come to this realization just now? Welcome to the land of the haves and the have-nots, but I expected Kruger and the collective to do everything they could to keep DT. That is their #1 priority this off-season, no question, and if they can’t do that then we need to stop wasting time with a Kruger at the helm. There’s no point to just wasting a season, other than we just don’t have the money to cough up for the buyout, when we already know he is incapable of assembling rosters that can come together to get to the NCAA tourney and win and there’s too much inconsistency with his coaching and his player’s preparation and effort. For every Creighton there’s a Southern or Air Force. We’re done.

Here’s the thing.. uNLV is in the position of supposed low NIL funds because of the shit show trail of coaches in the last 30 years. Had the admin not screwed up time and time again there would be so much money for NIL it isn’t even funny. It will continue until they pony up the money (s lot of it) to get a proven good coach who is not an Alford, KK, etc., and show they absolutely are committed to getting basketball back to the top 25 consistently. Once they do that the NIL will flow freely. Nobody is going to invest in what’s going on now, the Rebs haven’t even made the tournament for a dozen years. And THAT shouldn’t even be the goal. But coaches like we’ve had wander through here lately are what is going to keep our program dead. These kids want to play for championships, not just barely get in. (And yes, be paid.) They need to find a GREAT coach and pay him a bunch to come here and fix this program. Otherwise kids like DJ will not bother to come here at all.  

[Rosegreen]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:02 AM, UNLV2001 said:

Can a coach recruit to his system anymore with the turnover each season ?!!? 

Take UNLV....landed a top flight FR PG, that used to be something a coach could build around for the next 2-3 seasons............who knows what any teams roster will be like after any given season ?!?!

That’s not what CKK did though, he surrounded Dedan with seniors and 6th year covid guys. CKK was shooting for the top of the mountain.

[UNLV2001]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:01 AM, Rosegreen said:

A coach with a track record, charisma and style of basketball that players want to play. We’ve seen mid majors have success with the right coach. 

 

NIL isn’t the sole issue, Dedan was paid six figures from his nil deal with unlv. Others were paid as well, prompting coaches in the conference to say unlv has a lot of money on the floor. 
 

There’s just a lot of question marks surrounding the program and that’s tied to the guy running it. 

UNLV's track record on hiring coaches with charisma & style of play has been exemplary over the last 20 years !!! 

[4UNLV]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:05 AM, RebelTexan said:

Dedan was paid 6 figures (allegedly), but I'm sure he's fielding offers of 10x that amount now.  I'm thinking if he leaves, that will be the biggest factor in his and his family's decision.

I think he wants to actually PLAY for a NCAA championship, hey, I even miss that excitement.. The money is indeed a factor, but he wants to win. 

[UNLV2001]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:06 AM, Rosegreen said:

That’s not what CKK did though, he surrounded Dedan with seniors and 6th year covid guys. CKK was shooting for the top of the mountain.

KK was subject to filling via transfers to cobble together a roster .........just like most coaches have to do these days 

I'm not saying KK is the endall for UNLV......but this situation goes beyond just KK 

[renoskier]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:02 AM, UNLV2001 said:

Can a coach recruit to his system anymore with the turnover each season ?!!? 

Take UNLV....landed a top flight FR PG, that used to be something a coach could build around for the next 2-3 seasons............who knows what any teams roster will be like after any given season ?!?!

No, a coach can't become fettered to "his system", he's going to have to figure out how to win with what he's got.

[B_Lootz]

On 4/5/2024 at 12:06 PM, Rosegreen said:

That’s not what CKK did though, he surrounded Dedan with seniors and 6th year covid guys. CKK was shooting for the top of the mountain.

Yep, he’s gone the ‘win now’ route with how he’s assembled the rosters his first three seasons and all that has gotten him is one postseason appearance getting to the NIT quarters.

And now he’s staring at a complete rebuild heading into his 4th season without his star PG. He’s going to go the ‘win now’ route again with assembling whatever pieces he can (which he’s proven three previous times that he can’t). 

[UNLV2001]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:09 AM, renoskier said:

No, a coach can't become fettered to "his system", he's going to have to figure out how to win with what he's got.

When was the last time we had a RED SHIRT on any of our teams on the BB side ?!?! 

That used to be a common tool coaches used to get a player in the program & system.........now it's scramble to find bodies to fill a roster & hope you can form the clay into some workable shape 

[quickdraw]

The more things change the more they stay the same. For all of the talk about it is still all about the best path forward. No matter how people want to phrase it there are still only 2 camps and they are the same 2 for the past decades. 

1 Fire the current coach no matter who or what and go out to hire the proverbial big name big dollar guru of the hardwood. This is the 2 to 3 year cycle we’ve been on for the past 15 years or more.

2. Try something different.

[Rosegreen]

On 4/5/2024 at 11:03 AM, B_Lootz said:

This is where I stand. What is the point of delaying the inevitable and wasting a season when we’re going to be right back here a year from now after another 14-17 win campaign? If it’s getting blown up then blow it up completely and start from scratch now rather than waste an entire season.

 

 

Idk, I lost total faith in CKK now. Harper is quiet for a reason. Ultimately the issue is the buyout, 1.5 or 2 million is no small amount. Then there’s the issue of hiring someone. 

I’ve said before if you can get a Wade or Bryce Drew, pull the trigger. Though I think we’re looking at a lame duck season and CKK gets the axe next season.