Ron Kantowski on the Mountain West Conference tournament and how stories on coaching changes usually spread faster than lead changes

Thursday, March 9, 2006 | 7:21 a.m.

You knew it had to happen. History has proved that it's impossible to hold a Mountain West Conference basketball tournament without a juicy rumor about the UNLV basketball coaching job surfacing.

Even when it isn't open, like now.

Sometimes, these rumors even morph into facts. Two years ago, UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick walked into the press room at the Pepsi Center in Denver and insisted that Lon Kruger's hiring wasn't imminent although it would be announced roughly five seconds after they cut down the nets.

In 2001, it was the courtship of Rick Pitino that created a distraction. All UNLV got for that shameless wining and dining was a 20 percent gratuity on top of dinner. Before that, it was another Rick - Majerus - who told the Rebels "thanks" but "no thanks." This would usually happen in odd- or even-numbered years, or whenever Majerus was feeling unwanted. Or hungry.

Other rumors seem to fly out of left field. Or the left-field bullpen (Dr. Tom Davis). With the possible exception of Red Auerbach and "The White Shadow," it might be difficult to name a coach who hasn't been linked to the UNLV job.

So as the Rebels get ready to tip off tournament play against New Mexico today, you can add former Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins' name to the list.

Here's how this one supposedly would go down: Kruger, who already has a cushy job, would have to find another one (such as Arizona State). That would open a spot for Huggins, who doesn't have a job, but is looking hard.

Somebody would then have to pay Huggins a lot of money. And somebody would have to contact the NCAA to see if that was OK, because if there are two hens that aren't at the top of that organization's pecking order, it would be UNLV and Huggins. Then Huggins would have to sign something that addresses drinking and driving and graduating players.

At Cincinnati, his blood alcohol content was higher than his team's grade-point average. That's what led to Huggins' ouster after all those 20-win seasons and close calls against Northern Arizona and East Tennessee State in the Big Dance.

"I don't think this is smoke," said one UNLV official, who requested anonymity. "But a lot of dominoes would have to fall."

Although stranger things have happened (can you say Rollie Massimino?), the spacing of these dominoes just doesn't seem right.

While Huggins' hiring would certainly create a buzz and, barring a national championship, Rob Evans will be shown the door at ASU, what would the Sun Devils gain by hiring Kruger, other than a good story? His son, Kevin, is ASU's leading scorer and has another year to play, but the jury is still out on his old man as a coach this time around.

So UNLV would have to fire Kruger and spend another $1.5 million or so on buying out his contract. And although a lot of season-ticket holders would disagree, he doesn't deserve to be fired after just two middling seasons.

That's why I don't see this three-way deal going down.

But if Huggins, who was spotted sitting in first class on a flight from Las Vegas to Cincinnati on Wednesday, were to book a direct flight to Tempe, it would be a lot less complicated.

Although university system Chancellor Jim Rogers has been swinging a pretty big ax, he appears to be sitting this one out. He claimed to know nothing of Huggins' visit, other than he has heard the same rumors.

"These basketball rumors have gone on for 30 years," Rogers told the Sun. "Next week they'll be making you coach."

Well, he's 1-for-2 from the field.