Saturday, June 21, 2008 | 7:01 p.m.
At least 600 fans showed at the Thomas & Mack Center late Saturday afternoon to springboard the UNLV basketball team to Australia.
Rebels coach Lon Kruger opened practices to the public over the past 10 days, and a couple hundred fans regularly attended the sessions on three different courts.
“I’ve loved it,” said guard Mareceo Rutledge. “It’s been a little intimidating, just with people watching. It’s not normal.”
Kruger enjoyed the public’s response to his invitation.
“Thanks for coming out,” he said into a microphone before his team’s 10th and final five-minute scrimmage Saturday against a group of alumni. “The guys appreciate it. We’ll have a great time in Australia and represent you well overseas.”
Lou Amundson, Dustin Villepigue, Kevin Kruger and Wendell White were the former Rebels who teamed up against the current edition. Walk-on players Scott Hoffman and Rob Ketchum helped round out the alumni team.
Current Rebels who shined on Saturday include Joe Darger’s precision 3-point shooting, Rene Rougeau’s all-around hustle and slick rebounding, and the usually tenacious Wink Adams, who reported no lingering problems from rolling his right ankle at Friday morning's practice.
Tre’Von Willis, a third-year sophomore transfer from Memphis, looked very strong at the point, shooting from long range, dishing to teammates and driving.
Beas Hamga, the 7-footer, struggled. Amundson blocked his shot twice, and Hamga shot free throws poorly.
Amundson laughed when the crowd serenaded him with the “Looooooouuuuu” chant that he frequently heard during his UNLV career.
The crowd roared when the courtside announcer said UNLV's 57 victories over the past two seasons are second only to UCLA, with 65, in the west over that period.
Kruger arranged for Saturday to be a semi-official sendoff for his team, because the Rebels also practice Sunday at 3 p.m. and Monday at 10 a.m., both at the Mack and open to the public, before flying to Australia on Monday night.
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