Rebel Q&A with … Lon Kruger

Sun Staff

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 | 12:48 p.m.

Editor's Note: UNLV coach Lon Kruger, and assorted Rebels assistants and players, will answer readers’ questions in this regular format. Look for the subject to be announced Mondays at www.lasvegassun.com/rebels, and we will field your questions for three days for an end-of-the-week piece. On the eve of the season opener against San Diego on Saturday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center, we run this week’s inquiries by Kruger.

Question: Your teams always seem to play best in the postseason. Why? – Jeff (Las Vegas)

Answer: Our goal is to make progress, consciously, throughout the year. I think guys develop an understanding of what each can do well and, typically, they trust each other to take care of responsibilities. When that happens, you get good results. Stay fresh, keep them encouraged … and we have had pretty good senior leadership. That’s huge come tournament time.

Q: I can’t wait for the first Final Four trip of the Kruger era. Can we expect you to retire here at UNLV? – Jaime (Henderson)

A: We would have no problem with retiring here at UNLV. We love living in Las Vegas and really appreciate the support of the fans. It’s a great place to recruit to. Obviously, you need all that if you have a chance to advance to the tournament and ultimately go to a Final Four. It’s everyone’s goal. Certainly it’s ours. There are more than 300 teams competing to do that, so it’s not easily done.

Q: It seemed like the offense ran better Tuesday night with third-year sophomore Tre’Von Willis running the point. I think his experience gives him an edge over freshman Oscar Bellfield. What about the point guard play and will there be any changes for Saturday? – Jaime (Henderson)

A: We’ll start the same way on Saturday. I agree that ‘Tre’ played with more attack and more purpose Tuesday. It’s not a surprise. It’s open for Oscar and he’ll get better and better. We’ll get a good combination from those two point guards. I really like Tre’s energy coming in with the second group.

Q: Coach, I was curious about Tuesday night. Rene Rougeau ran out of the tunnel, leading the team, carrying the American flag. Only Joe Darger, though, placed a hand over his heart for the national anthem? – Liz (Las Vegas)

A: I think, if you look around the crowd, some (fans) do place a hand over their heart. Others don’t. I’m a fan of that. But, certainly, I’m not going to impress my ritual on anyone else. I think it’s an individual choice and am respectful of that. If someone asks my opinion, I would encourage it. That’s as far as I would go with it.

Q: With the renovations at the Thomas & Mack, did they lengthen the sidelines to accommodate your entire roster? On a serious note, do walk-ons approach the program or does the staff reach out to players and invite them to walk-on? – Jeff (Provo, Utah)

A: We do have a bigger roster, but I don’t know if there were more chairs added or not. Quite frankly, there are enough there. I don’t know if it’s more than last season. Walk-ons are important. Before they enroll at UNLV, whether it’s by us seeing someone who is a candidate or a high school coach approaching us, we get to know the player. Walk-ons do a terrific job of having the right attitude of understanding their role. They have to enjoy the experience. We want that.

Q: Who does UCLA transfer Chace Stanback remind you of? – Jimmy (Los Angeles)

A: It’s hard to compare players with someone else. I do know Chace is doing a terrific job in practice. He has approached his redshirt year exactly the way you would want, in terms of working extremely hard every day and competing like crazy. He has a great attitude and is upbeat in wanting to improve himself and challenge his teammates to help this season’s team. It’s exactly the way you want a young person to approach the opportunity.

Q: How much are you going to miss Curtis Terry? – David (Las Vegas)

A: Last season, Curtis gave us great leadership and a sense of security, because of his confidence. From the point guard perspective, I think Oscar and Tre will provide a lot of things you want in the position. Each year, the personnel changes. We want good direction and stability and leadership out of the point guards.

Q: What is your favorite ABBA song? Did you ever see the group, and when and where? – Dylan (Seattle)

A: (Laughs) I haven’t seen the group. I have seen ‘Mama Mia.’ I love that music. It’s such an uplifting, feel-good performance. My wife, Barb, and I have seen it three or four times, here and New York. My favorite song? Oh, gosh. I don’t know if I know them by name. The ‘Mama Mia’ title song? I don’t know its name.

Q: What was the most nervous aspect about your heart surgery? (Kruger underwent sextuple-bypass surgery 15 months ago) – Tom (San Diego)

A: Probably the most difficult time was between noon on that Tuesday, when I had an angiogram, and the Thursday surgery at noon. We could communicate to people that this is not an emergency rush to the hospital-type scenario, so people weren’t stunned to read about it. Even then, we couldn’t contact as many people as we wanted. Those two days were anxious. Surgery? Had not control over it or the result. I am very blessed to have found the problem and also blessed to have great doctor care. (Dr.) V.C. Smith and his team, apparently, did a great job. I feel very, very good today.

Q: What’s your best golf shot, when and where? – Mike (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)

A: I’ve had a couple holes-in-one in Kansas. One, I was able to see. The other was just out of sight, over a contour or green. Anytime that happens, those are memories. One was in Manhattan and the other was in St. Marys. Those shots stick out and stay with you.

Q: Do you have a favorite golfer? – Mike (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)

A: I grew up a big fan of Jack Nicklaus. I appreciated Arnold Palmer for the impact he had in the game, his skill and accomplishments. Today, I’m overwhelmed by Tiger Woods, his ability and accomplishments, not only in golf but the world in general. Very seldom do you get a Michael Jordan or Tiger, people who can have the impact those two have.

Q: You always seem so professional, but what was the most personal aspect of coaching your son? (Kevin Kruger led the Rebels to the Sweet 16 in 2007.) – Allen (Henderson)

A: That was terrific. I’ve never hidden how outstanding and great that was. Just the opportunity to spend every day with him at a point, 23 years old, when you typically don’t have that chance with your son or daughter. The best part of it, you were more anxious from a coaching standpoint. You go in wanting very much for the team to do well. And you’re also anxious for your son to do well. It was the toughest year for Barb. She said that many times. It was very, very stressful for her. She wanted Kevin to do well and the team to do well.