Kruger: I’m not going anywhere

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 | 7:09 a.m.

Having spent 30 years in the coaching profession, second-year UNLV coach Lon Kruger has seen and heard just about everything. The criticism and opinions that come with the profession mostly do not affect him.

Unless his integrity is involved, as it was recently when he was mentioned in an elaborate scheme in which he would take over at Arizona State and former Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins would land at UNLV.

Such a move would require more than a little behind-the-scenes contact and maneuvering.

Kruger, under contract at UNLV for four more seasons, said it was pure fiction.

"I was a little surprised at the significance, or credibility, that people give to the Internet" and other gossip and reports, Kruger said. "Obviously, no one has control over that. Certainly, I don't.

"And I'm proud of the way I don't, or satisfied, in that I don't contribute to that. I'm not throwing my name out there. I've never done that, and I never will."

A veteran Arizona State official laughed at those rumors on Tuesday, saying he was surprised how they became a "firestorm" last week.

"You can't control what other people do," Kruger said. "And they don't have to sign their names to it. I don't understand people giving credibility to that."

From above

When asked to assess the program after two seasons under Kruger, UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick declined to comment. He said he evaluates coaches and programs internally.

When pressed, Hamrick said, "We need stability in all of our programs."

And the winner is ...

Asked to name one team that he thinks will win the NCAA tournament that starts Thursday, Kruger tabbed Texas, a No. 2 seed that plays 15th-seeded Pennsylvania in the first round of the Atlanta regional.

"The popular choice is Duke or Connecticut," he said. "Logic lends itself that way. But you know who's playing extremely well? Kansas. They're still a bit young, but maybe Texas can get it going. I'll throw Texas out there."

As a darkhorse selection, Kruger went with Pittsburgh. The Panthers, a No. 5 seed in the Oakland regional, open against 12th-seeded Kent State.

Tough stuff

Kruger said he aims to get the Rebels to play more physical next season. To that end, he is confident that Joel Anthony will help.

A 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward from Montreal, Anthony redshirted this season and regularly dominated, playing with an edge, in practice.

"He'll bring some toughness, some of that ruggedness we're looking for," Kruger said. "Without question, he likes the physical nature of the game. It will be a transition for him to do it in a live game, with officials and all the elements. But we think he'll do fine."

Highs and lows

The highlight of the season? Kruger said his second UNLV squad increased the team's overall work ethic. "This group didn't back away," he said. "They kept battling."

The lowlight? The 52-50 defeat to Air Force at the Thomas & Mack Center on Jan. 25 and a 63-60 loss to San Diego State in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament in Denver.

"With (an NCAA) tournament bid on the line and losing (to the Aztecs), that's always disappointing," he said. "Those two games ... even though the effort was good, the results were disappointing."

Next season

UNLV will have a solid returning core, which will include guards Jo'Van Adams, Jason Petrimoulx and Michael Umeh, swingmen Curtis Terry and Wendell White, and post players Gaston Essengue and Anthony.

Guard Marcus Lawrence of Bishop Gorman and forward Troy Cage of Baton Rouge (La.) Glen Oaks High were fall commitments, and Kruger has two scholarships left.

"At least one will have size," he said, "and the other will be the best player available."