How are the Runnin’ Rebels doing so far?

Rob Miech, Las Vegas Sun

Friday, March 23, 2007 | 6:57 a.m.

Having learned plenty from a regular season in which it lost consecutive games only once, UNLV aced its first postseason test by winning the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament.

The Rebels have fast become honors students, beating Georgia Tech and Wisconsin to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

They play Oregon tonight in St. Louis in a Midwest Regional semifinal that promises to offer another stern test.

In a late timeout Sunday against the Badgers in Chicago, coach Lon Kruger said, the players were all calm and cool during the most heated moment of the game. He was being too kind, as Wendell White revealed.

Kruger later admitted to the Sun that he had to put the fire back in their eyes, and games, with some choice words and fire of his own.

We offer a report-card review of the squad after the first week of NCAA tournament exams.

Comment: Increased scoring average from 14.2 during season to 20.5 in NCAAs ... Shot 8-for-12 in both games ... Degree-of-difficulty attempts are wowing the national media.

Comment: Since cortisone injection kept him out of two early-December games, the left knee has been pain-free ... Nearly doubled scoring output, from 7.3 ppg to 13 ... Made three of four late freebies to seal Wisconsin deal.

Comment: Stellar assists-to-turnovers ratio of 15-3 ... Those four 3-pointers against the Badgers were money, too ... But, Kevin, that 0-for-8 drought vs. Georgia Tech kept us from adding that "+."

Comment: Sticky defense set tone against Jackets ... Four days off were vital to helping heal tailbone injury ... Must be effective hounding Oregon guard Aaron Brooks tonight for UNLV to advance.

Comment: Showing shooting confidence, but shouldn't stray as much ... Lon Kruger needed to temper him in opener ... 7-for-7 at the line, with 15 boards.

Comment: Junior swingman Curtis Terry was clutch, with a 3-point shot and floater in the lane, late vs. Wisconsin, but he has made only one of four free throws ... Senior center Joel Anthony (three blocks, eight rebounds) has been raw on offense ... Sophomore forward Joe Darger (3 points, two rebounds, five fouls) seems distracted and overmatched ... Marcus Lawrence, Corey Bailey, Rene Rougeau and Matt Shaw have combined to play 20 total minutes.

Comment: The command he had of his players in a private film session on the eve of the tournament was impressive ... He is even-keeled and easygoing, to a degree. Don't cross him or disrespect the game. When Essengue mini-erupted about a call against the Jackets, Kruger quickly yanked him to the sideline - "Never ... !" he demanded. Essengue took a seat.

Comment: Steve Henson (Georgia Tech) and Greg Grensing (Wisconsin) nailed their advance scouting assignments, and Lew Hill rounds out some impressive work by Kruger's lieutenants. Think a few blue-chippers have been watching? "It's huge," Hill said. "Kids are now getting to see on TV how we play, what we can do and how (Kruger) coaches. Sometimes, a kid in the East or Midwest, they don't see us that much. Now ... they see, 'Wow, (Kruger) let s 'em play. They're unselfish, together and winning.' "