By Rob Miech · May 20, 2008 · 6:25 PM

Last year, UNLV enhanced basketball coach Lon Kruger’s contract to a five-year, $5.2 million deal.

He’s been worth every penny.

He’s such a draw, all 72 openings – at $1,000 a spot – have sold out for a golf tournament he’s sponsoring Wednesday at Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club for his team’s summer trip to Australia.

Kruger guided a program in transition to the NCAA tournament in March, when it beat Kent State and then lost to eventual national champion Kansas.

To get an early look at what promises to be an exciting 2008-09 team, led by senior-to-be shooting guard Wink Adams, Kruger will take the Rebels on a six-game tour of Australia.

He’s familiar with the continent, having taken both Illinois and Florida there when he coached those programs.

To raise funds for the trip, Kruger arranged the golf tournament at Spanish Trail. Or, at least, Spanish Trail members showed their overwhelming support.

“The opportunity to take this group of players to Australia, from a timing standpoint, is huge for our program,” Kruger said. “Folks at Spanish Trail almost voluntarily came forward and said, ‘We can do this in support of that trip.’

“They’re great partners. It helps tremendously.”

The Rebels will play primarily against Aussie club teams from June 23 to July 5. Plus, they get to practice for 10 days before going Down Under.

“This turnout is a reflection of people enjoying the program and wanting to take ownership,” Kruger said. “The turnout at the Thomas & Mack Center has been growing. They’re getting more involved and impacting the games, and having a good time.

“In the real world, winning is huge. But providing a good experience for families and having fun together, that’s the heart of all this."