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twitterUNLV BASKETBALL:
Lighter Massamba overcomes injury, increases threat
Sophomore center brings more mobility, agility to his game
Rob Miech
Brice Massamba, UNLV’s sophomore center, shows off his freshly cut Mohawk after Monday’s practice.
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 | 2:15 a.m.
UNLV center Brice Massamba drives past forward Matt Shaw during the Rebels FirstLook scrimmage Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
UNLV Basketball: First Look
Rebels fans got their first taste of the 2009-10 UNLV basketball season at First Look, an intrasquad scrimmage, Friday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Sun coverage
It took 65 seconds for UNLV basketball fans to see the new and improved Brice “Truck” Massamba producing for the Rebels.
Early in the scrimmage last Friday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, the sophomore center eased down the court, snatched a pass from new guard Anthony Marshall in stride and slipped in a reverse layup.
A sore left Achilles’ tendon didn’t slow him. An aching left knee and extra pounds didn’t keep him grounded. All of that hampered Massamba the past two seasons.
After an intense summer with the weights, conditioning and keeping his diet in check in his native Sweden, Massamba appears to have honed himself into a viable 6-foot-9, 240-pound weapon.
That’s been one of the revelations of the first four days of UNLV practices.
Rebels assistant coach Lew Hill said it’s all a part of the maturation process. The journey, he said, should be a joy to watch unfold.
“I stay on him all the time,” Hill said. “I tell him you have to love basketball. My favorite saying is, basketball gives you what you give basketball. He’s seeing results.”
That Massamba’s off-season regimen is directly resulting in on-court success pleased many who watched him Friday night, including Findlay College Prep coach Mike Peck.
At one point, Peck, who tutored Massamba in the Henderson foothills, turned to Pilots associate head coach Todd Simon and said he under-appreciated Massamba’s skill set in high school.
“I was really impressed,” Peck said. “After dropping all that weight, he’s nimble and mobile. It’s a joy to see him moving around out there. He wasn’t laboring. I think he really has a chance to help them.”
Expect Massamba to do more this season than set the most devastating screens on the squad.
“When he sets it, you don’t want to run into that,” Hill said. “That’s why he’s The Truck.”
Massamba sank two free throws after getting fouled by Matt Shaw, he nailed an 18-foot jumper from the left side and he converted a three-point play.
He tapped a pass to former Findlay teammate Carlos Lopez that looked like something out of Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s repertoire.
All with a newly cut Mohawk that Massamba dubbed The Warrior.
“We look pretty good, defense-wise,” Massamba said. “We’ve been killing people on offense, too. We’re much quicker than last year. And we have more heart, it feels like.”
Shedding 40 pounds from a little more than a year ago has increased the Truck’s agility, and his three-dribble power moves from the elbow have become commonplace in practice.
He’s flashing left-handed shots, too.
“He has such a good feel for the game,” said UNLV coach Lon Kruger. “Last season, without that mobility or any vertical play, he couldn’t take advantage of his feel for the game.
“This year, he’s moving a lot better and he’s making good plays. We’re real excited about the direction he’s headed. He still has a long way to go, but I think he feels much better about what he’s getting accomplished and the direction he’s going.”
Little things, like tapping the court with both palms with your three teammates in a defensive drill, might get forgotten, which Kruger reminded Massamba about Sunday at practice in the Mack.
Oh yeah, Massamba said after Kruger halted the drill, he forgot to touch the floor.
Hill sees a player that is now 100 percent committed to the game. The skills and toughness, Hill said, were always there.
“The weight just held him back,” Hill said. “Now, that’s what you’re seeing. I tell him all the time, the sky’s the limit. He’s working on his body and mind frame. He’s got a chance to be really good.”
With time, Hill stressed. It won’t happen overnight, Hill stressed. Don’t expect regular double-doubles from Massamba, Hill stressed.
Last season, too many expected too much from him.
“So many people were down on him, but he was a freshman,” Hill said. “The growth and development is the journey that makes it beautiful. If they don’t see the reward after one year, they beat him up.
“As a freshman, you barely play. As a sophomore, you start coming around. As a junior and senior, you’re really good. He’s no different.”
Look at Louis Amundson, Joel Anthony and Gaston Essengue, Hill said, as examples of big men who made steady progress under Kruger and ended up playing key roles.
“Coach Kruger makes you better,” Hill said. “He teaches you … each year they get better, that’s what is so fun. It’s about letting these kids grow and develop.”
Monday afternoon, Massamba had nearly shaken a days-old cold. He feels much better than a year ago, he said. It’s easier to play when you’re a couple pounds lighter and not hurt.
“I feel awesome,” he said, flashing one of the team’s widest smiles. “But I always feel awesome.”
Discussion: 48 comments so far…
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"As a freshman, you barely play. As a sophomore, you start coming around. As a junior and senior, you're really good." - Lew Hill
Anderson Hunt played as a Freshman and he was good (averaged 12 points per game). As a Sophomore Anderson was the MVP of the Final Four and National Championship.
Sidney Green averaged 16 pts and 11 rebounds as a Freshman at UNLV. As a Sophomore Sidney Green averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds. He was good from DAY ONE!
The problem with UNLV coaches is that they can't recruit. They bring in horrible players and hope that they can teach them over time.
At UNLV we need studs who are ready to go on day one! Not guys who take 3 or 4 years to train only to average 5 pts as a senior. That is not good enough Lon Kruger or Lew Hill.
Go out and recruit some REAL TALENT!
Massamba is not good. NEVER WILL BE! At best he is a 3rd string center who gets 3 minutes per game in clean up time. If we depend on him for more than that, UNLV Basketball is in big trouble.
Even after losing weight, Massamba is still a clutz and looks lost on the court. He can't jump and has zero athletic ability. A real coach would gently remove him from the program and replace him with someone who has REAL TALENT!
People wonder why we are NIT bound. It is because we waste time on players who are HORRIBLE.
anderson hunt was surrounded by all-star talent. the best team ever in college basketball. its easy to be good when you have the teams worst defender on you.
sidney greene had a record of 16-12 (no playoffs) in his freshman year and 31-15 (lost NIT Second round) his sophmore year
now let me as you a question sufferin.... if kruger was 16-12 the first year and NIT bound the second..... would you not be calling for his head? dont answer that we already know the answer
now that was the last time i will ever respond to one of your comments sufferin, and i encourage everyone else to leave it alone too... i am tired of reading his garbage and maybe we can get him to shut up if we just dont respond.
Anderson Hunt was a stud recruit who came into the UNLV program and helped lead us to the Elite 8 his first season here as a FRESHMAN!
Sidney Green was one of the best UNLV Basketball players of all time and led UNLV to our first #1 Ranking during his senior year in the brand new Thomas & Mack Center.
My point is that these guys were studs from day one. They didn't need four years to develop into a player that could contribute maybe 5 points a game. They came in good and they left BETTER! Kruger players come in NO GOOD and they leave MEDIOCRE.
I have never said that Tark didn't have years when he struggled. Tark did have down years and people bitched and moaned about it (rightfully so). The thing with Tark was that those down years hurt him more than it hurt any of us, he hated it more than we did. Tark would work his butt off to make sure he got things turned around and got us back in the Top 10 where we belonged!
Don't wouldn't accept losing. He would do whatever it took to get UNLV the best players in the land and to make us the best.
Kruger and his staff don't seem to care. They recruit like DEAD PEOPLE. If they had any pride they would go out and land us some studs and get us back in the Top 10 where we belong! Instead they waste time with basketball bums like Massamba.
From 1982 to 1992 UNLV was the best Basketball program in the country. NUMBER 1! UNLV went 307-42 during that period which is an 88% win perecentage! I will repeat that, an 88% win percentage!
Kruger and Lew Hill are lazy. They don't care enough to work their butts off to make UNLV the best. They are satisfied with mediocrity and it makes me sick. The sad thing is that UNLV fans are defending these loser coaches and actually praise them for their worthless, lazy behavior.
We need real talent at UNLV. We need a coach who is not afraid to go out and get it. Kruger is not the guy for us.
I look forward to never hearing from you again sportsguy702. Have a horrible day.
Can't the Sun staff ban just ban this D bag from posting. Sniff that ip. Keep him off this site. Although it makes for some good debate, reading the same negative bs day after day gets old! Ban this fool. He has been banned from every other site he creps around.
Agree with you, John. It's getting really old. My enjoyment level of all of this coverage has gone way down. He's hijacked the site for his own personal agenda. Sad for real fans. This used to be my favorite Rebel site.
It's still my favorite Rebel site. You just have to realize that Sufferin' is a typing contradiction. He just did it. He also fails to note that some of our players come here mediocre and end up in the NBA. It's just not convenient for his argument. The guy isn't a true Rebel Fan, he's just someone that needs something to hate in order to feel complete.
I was really pumped from the play of both Massamba and Santee at first look. I'd still like to see more gang rebounding from the Rebels.
the truth is that he doesn't know anything about UNLV history. writing nothing alot doesn't make you sound more intelligent. you can't compare a guard to a big forward/center! Now, i like Hunt, but in the NBA he could only be a point and he didn't play the point. Shooters are on every team.
I dont read her garbage anyway because why would I waste my time listening to a used up old hag like her anyway. I love the Rebels and always have and always will. There will always be ups and downs and as a true fan you have to accept that and thats it. You will not find me bashing the team ever. I know that sometimes things get ugly like the end of last year but you gotta beleive that it will turn around and if you dont you just end up sounding like the idiot who posts on our boards that has no life left in her and so wants to create misery in others because she is so miserable with her life. You know misery loves company. GO REBELS !
"He also fails to note that some of our players come here mediocre and end up in the NBA." - VegasNative57
Lou Amundson was a Charlie Spoonhour recruit. Not a Lon Kruger recruit.
The only Kruger recruit I know of that has sniffed the NBA is Joel Anthony. He was terrible at UNLV and he isn't much better in the NBA. At least Anthony has athletic ability which it would be nice if Kruger would recruit more of. But lets be honest here: In his 1st season with UNLV Joel Anthony averaged 2 points per game and in his second season playing at UNLV he averaged 5 points per game. Not exactly someone that UNLV will be hanging a jersey from the balcony for.
The one guy you people always go back to is Joel Anthony and you talk about how great Kruger and his staff are because of Joel Anthony? The guy averaged 2 points and 5 points. I don't want another Joel Anthony and you shouldn't either!
One player in the NBA in five years of recruiting? And that player that you all talk about being so great is Joel Anthony? Come on now.
I should be allowed to state my opinions whether you like them or not. The personal bashing of other posters shouldn't be allowed and I shouldn't do that stuff but that is rare. I should be allowed to state my opinion about the article/column that is written even you if you guys don't agree with it.
If they write a new article/column every day, I should be allowed to comment every day. As long as I follow the rules and don't bash others.
I was around for the Tark years and that style of basketball is gone including how teams played and won. What changed was the landscape of college basketball. Teams were smaller, less athletic and didn't have NBA players playing as Freshman on their teams. Kruger is doing a good job considering all things. His players stay out of trouble and they play well too. I am tired of reading about player (A) getting caught stealing something or player (B) throwing a milkshake at a jack in the box employee. It is nice to have respectable players who are good people too.
I had my doubts when Lon came in too. I am with him now and love what he does for the community. He is a good guy and so is the coaching staff. Brice Massamba is a great kid. We have a lot of great kids on this team. We will do okay this year fellas. Just sit back and hold on tight.
"Massamba is not good. NEVER WILL BE! At best he is a 3rd string center who gets 3 minutes per game in clean up time. If we depend on him for more than that, UNLV Basketball is in big trouble.
Even after losing weight, Massamba is still a clutz and looks lost on the court. He can't jump and has zero athletic ability. A real coach would gently remove him from the program and replace him with someone who has REAL TALENT!"
This comment is nothing short of complete absurdity. The only chance fans have had to see Massamba since he lost the weight was the First Look event, at which he was one of the most impressive players on the court.
He looked nimble and quick. He made both of his free throws, rebounded well, and even had a couple of nice passes. He made explosive plays above the rim, both in warm-ups and during the scrimmage.
I'm not trying to say Massamba is a future NBA All-Star, nor am I assuming he will have a fantastic year. However, all signs point to considerable improvement. He's no Larry Johnson, but to say he still looks lost is a flat out, asinine lie.
The UNLV Football team looked great in preseason when they scrimmaged against eachother also, or so all you Rebel fans told me. I said that they were terrible but the rest of you were screaming about how this would be an eight or nine win season for the Football team.
Massamba is not good. Never will be. I could have told you that from seeing him one time back at Findlay. He was a waste of a scholarship.
We need real talent at UNLV. Kruger is not getting it done.
boring sufferin' really boring.... just go away
I just cannot understand how you can live everday only giving a care about 10 years of a basketball team's history. Yes, in those ten years, they had an amazing winning percentage. But if you are a real fan, you sit through the bad years, God knows the Red Sox did, the Cubs still are.
More importantly, if our team all time is 1037-418 (3rd best in nation all time), I couldn't be upset. I would say Kruger has the best idea out there for his students (consistency). Think about the teams that have these rollercoaster seasons, especially in an age today where these college students are thinking about their NBA stock constantly. I think Kruger is helping these STUDENT-athletes understand that there is so much more out there than training to be "the next Lebron."
So no, we aren't going to see Anderson Hunt, Larry Johnson, or anything resembling 1990 anytime soon. But we are going to see a continued basketball presence, and consistency in a strong basketball program.
Yes, we won 1990, but we did it ONCE. And you are going to continue living in that year. You are going to measure this program for that year.
I guarantee you Duke (as much as I hate to admit), UNC, Syracuse, Georgetown, Kansas, St. Johns, Louisville, Arizona, and other consistent teams are not living in one or two championships. Their fans enjoy the continued winning, and the continued media attention, and the strong loyalty to their team.
The best part is that with consistency, our loyal fans are able to do the same thing. 1990 will not ever happen again. We may win another National Championship, but it won't be like 1990. We won't do a lot of things from 1990, but regardless, the fans are growing, and its not because we are happy with being average. We are happy to see a program that is consistent, and continuing to challenge itself every single day.
Suf, If you are going to quote people - see your "VegasNative57" reference - make sure you are quoting the right person. Cardinal error.
To gats: Thank you for you post. I disagree with alot of what you said but that is ok.
At this time UNLV shouldn't even be mentioned with programs like Duke, UNC, Syracuse, Georgetown, Kansas, Louisville or Arizona because our program has slipped to a much lower level of basketball. Under Lon Kruger we are not a consistent Top 25 presence like those other programs are, in fact I don't think we have ever been ranked in the Top 25 two weeks in a row under Lon Kruger.
UNLV basketball is consistent now. CONSISTENTLY BAD! Maybe you want to see it stay that way, I don't!
Kruger belongs at a quiet mid-west Football school where they have little passion for Basketball. His style would be a perfect fit for some lowlife Big-12 or Big Ten Football school where they barely follow Basketball. I am sure his once every five year trips to the NCAA Tournament would be appreciated at a place like that and getting to the NIT the other four years would be not only acceptable but praised.
AT UNLV WE DESERVE BETTER. We should demand better!
I am not living in the past. I am living in the present. I could name you coaches right now that would take this UNLV job and would be able to recruit us big time PLAYERS that would excite the fan base and have NBA potential. Reggie Theus is a perfect example. Reggie Theus would return UNLV Basketball to where we belong in three years or less. The guy can recruit and he would make us a National Power overnight. He wouldn't make excuses, he would just win!
Keeping Lon Kruger is a mistake. UNLV will never be at the consistent level of a Duke, UNC, Kansas, Syracuse or Louisville as long as we have Lon Kruger. Kruger can't recruit at that level and he never will be able to. Kruger can't even recruit at Steve Fisher's level (a horrible coach)!
I don't want to be consistently mediocre. Maybe you do, maybe that is why you celebrate Kruger. I dream of UNLV being better! Not in 1992 but in 2012! All of you who think we can't be a Top 10 program are just fooling yourself. UNLV could and should be in the Top 10 right now but we never will be as long as we keep Kruger.
Enjoy the season. Enjoy the NIT.
I hope Brice reads this stuff and gets motivated.
I would hate to agree with Sufferin, but the eccentric is right. We haven't been a consistent top 25 presence. We ARE mediocre during season play. The few tournament wins were nice, but not enough. That's why this year is so important to us fans. Especially to the naysayers. It's now or never. If this is Kruger's best team, like everyone says, including the basketball staff, then I'm expecting this team to make a run past the Sweet 16. There's excuses why we shouldn't. Only time will tell.
Sufferin your delusional. Nothing more to it. You're basically saying that we MUST be #1 at all costs! lol! "I will not accept mediocrity" man stop whinning you are flat out hilarious. We all want to win, but its more about the Journey my friend. Stop living in the 1990 and come to 2009. Belive me it is easy to support this 2009 UNLV program. One that DOES recruit TALENTED, class act kids that are WELL coached by class act coaches. Under Kruger we can say UNLV deffinetly is a top 75 program and that DOES say alot. Now at what number they fall in that is the debate, but under Kruger the program IS respected and credible. Come into the light buddy, dont be afraid lol!
you to WhinnigWebble! lol!
this tourney wins were just what the doctor orderd. This year is not now or never people. When you say things like that you automaticly set the team up for failure. Just sit back and enjoy.
Sufferin... Are you out of your mind... I know this program is not as classy as the Bayno days, ahem Lamar Odom... Those days were great for the program and only took like 4 years to finally fall off our record...
Prior to Kruger and after Tark when did we even have a team make it out of the first round of the Tourney... Let alone make it to the Sweet 16...Oh thats right during the illustrious Bayno years, see not above about Odom... Also the second Tourney visit we got beat by Kansas, that's right they went on to win the championship that year...
Yes the Rebels had an "off" year last year... But wink was not healthy the entire season which by going to all the home games last year you could see... and they still had a winning record, +20...
And for you to think the rebels are going to be rough this year is truly uneducated...
We have a true point guard in Jasper and at 6'6 none the less, Willis gets to shift to a true shooting guard... and we have some real size under the basket, not Darger at 6'8 playing center... Also keep in mind Shaw is not injured either... and we have Chase who had to sit last year...
So I am with everyone above Kruger is great for UNLV and the community as a whole...
Sufferin, er, robert, you are treading in the wrong place with your personal attacks and name-calling, like you did yesterday when you called Kruger a very unflattering name ... you always tend to do that, and any more of it absolutely will not be tolerated in this arena. You already know that, so don't push it.
You're a supposed Rebels fan and yet you write like you do about Massamba? His potential is so high and he's on the brink of doing some solid things for that team and program, and yet you take the tack that you do ... mystifying.
To reiterate, though, personal attacks in any way, shape or form will absolutely not be tolerated in this space.
Of course, Reggie Theus would make an AMAZING coach. Here's his resume:
New Mexico State, he turned around the team from a 6-24 squad the year before to 16-14, and then sent them to the first round of the NCAA before losing (its the WAC, what did you expect?). New Mexico State, btw, plays in the WAC, well known for its share of National Championships, right?(HAH)Name one NBA player from New Mexico State that actually was picked in the first round. Anyone? Then, he went to Sacramento and was fired what well what we can assume is a "decent" record of 44-62. He didn't even get to finish the season! Not even half!
You could argue that Lon failed miserably in the pros as well, and that is a point well argued, he's not a pro coach, some are just meant for college. But Reggie's college basketball coaching career did not bring any notable players into the NBA, something you feel will no doubt make the UNLV team a top ten program. As evidence, I provide you Greg Oden, Michael Beasley, Adam Morrison, and Baby Davis, who recently brought amazing publicity into their colleges, only to be overhyped, and relegated to poor publicity and bench time. Ladies and Gentleman, your NBA first and second round draft picks!
Lon may only have Joel Anthony in the NBA (though laughable),but he has turned around a college squad before, and sent many of them to NCAA tournaments.
So you can say that Kruger isn't a good fit at UNLV, but for the love of God, please find a better arguement for a replacement than Reggie Theus. Have Fun!
Reggie Theus was the #1 recruiter for Rick Pitino at Louisville and the recruits he helped bring in led Louisville to the Final Four.
Theus is also a personality. Tarkanian was a personality and he fit perfectly in Vegas. That is THEUS! A perfect fit for Las Vegas.
With Theus at the helm, UNLV Basketball would be absolutely unstoppable! Theus would be the king of Las Vegas, he would be known throughout the nation and UNLV would once again become the most popular College Basketball program in the WORLD!
Reggie Theus is the answer for UNLV.
In two years Theus took New Mexico State from a 6-24 record to a 25-9 record with an NCAA Tournament bid. IN TWO YEARS! At some lowlife place called New Mexico State, and he did it with style. Opposing fans loved to hate him and Theus brought INSTANT EXCITEMENT.
I was never a Theus guy back in the day. People would come up to me at the T&M and try to sell me "Hire Theus" shirts in the mid 90's and I would tell them to "GET LOST, Why do you want to kill the Rebel Program?" But once Theus worked with Pitino and at New Mexico State he proved that he is the real deal. Perfect for Vegas. Personality, Great Recruiter, NBA Experience and coaches Runnin' Rebel Basketball! Not this Kruger Krap that you see on the court.
Theus is well spoken, nice looking, and a good dresser. Reggie Theus has that "Wow Factor" that will light up the T&M once again and return Runnin' Rebel Basketball to our rightful spot. Theus is one of us and we have to move Kruger out of the way as soon as possible so that we can bring back REAL RUNNIN' REBEL BASKETBALL back to the Mack the way it is supposed to be played. With big time talent, a big time entertaining coach and athletes that light up the scoreboard and rip down the rims!
Theus is impressive and he is our man.
I want Kruger gone. I never wanted him to begin with. I won't hide the fact that I think we are wasting time with Kruger. We are judge sitting in mediocrity waiting year after year under Kruger and nothing with ever change. Kruger's best years are behind him and they weren't that great.
The Answer for UNLV is Reggie Theus and the sooner we bring him home where he belongs, the better!
I could also name you 50 other coaches I would take over Kruger.
"The Answer for UNLV is Reggie Theus and the sooner we bring him home where he belongs, the better!"
Wow... I've always thought your posts were ridiculous in the past but this one has truly taken the cake! Dumbest post I have ever read.
FACT: Lon Kruger is a far better college basketball coach than Reggie Theus probably will ever be.
Don't get me wrong I loved the guy as a player and he IS an awesome recruiter (who wouldn't turn down a handsome fellow with swag and bball skillz to back it up, who comes into your living-room and tells your mom that he wants you to come be on his team. Hell who's mom would turn that down!) But he is not a leader of a college basketball program let alone a head coach. No way buddy!!!
You throw out stats of what Thues did at NMS, they shadow in comparison to what Kruger has done in 5 years at UNLV. You cry about Kruger not recruiting NBA lottery picks, name me one lottery pick Theus got at NMS. You boast about the kids Theus "recruited" at Louisville, NEWSFLASH those kids went to play for Patino not Theus! Man get real dude! Theus will never be coach at UNLV, NEVER! And rightfully he shouldn't. At least not now! Let him groom for about 8 to 12 years at a small school (New Mexico State) then come to me with his resume. Then we can talk. Until then Theus is ONLY as good as Assistant Coach/director of basketball operations at UNLV.
Peace.
Wow! I will totally stear away from sufferin and stick to what this piece is about. Massamba looked like a new man at first look, to me the most improved rebel on the court. If he can play consistant ball throughout the season this team can be good. IMO he should start over Santee. Anyone who wants to crack on Marshall doesn't see stardom writen all over AM. He crossed over Tre and totally left him 3x and dished some nice dimes off those crossovers. He wasn't looking to score but could have if he wanted to.
Jasper will be a matchup nightmare, he pushes the ball fast with those long strides and his court vision is real good. Stanback is going to be the key on this team, how well he scores will determine how far we will go IMO.
While an assistant at Louisville, Theus landed a number of top-tier recruits, including guards Terrance Williams and Andre McGee.
In March 2009, Demarcus Cousins, Rivals.com's No. 2-ranked recruit, said the 6-foot-9 power forward and McDonald's All-American will "very strongly consider playing for any school Reggie Theus gets hired to coach."
A second recruit, 6-7 swing man Victor Rudd (ranked No. 107 by Rivals.com), who played this past season at Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep, gave an even stronger endorsement of Theus through his AAU coach and guardian.
"I can tell you Victor, with 100 percent certainty, will be going to Arizona if Reggie is there," said Bill Hankins from his home in Los Angeles.
Victor Rudd ended up at Arizona State and Demarcus Cousins ended up at Kentucky.
While at NMSU, Theus landed a national top 15 player in Herb Pope of Aliquipa, Pa., who transferred to Seton Hall after Theus left to coach the Kings. Pope will be eligible to play for Seton Hall this season.
Reggie Theus would make UNLV a Top 10 program overnight. Bringing in Big name recruits, filling up the Thomas & Mack Center and bringing back excitement with Real Runnin' Rebel Basketball.
Kruger could never get big name recruits. He has Findlay Prep in his back yard and can't get anything more than the leftover scrubs out of that place.
With Theus in charge at UNLV would be unstoppable and win MULTIPLE NCAA Championship. We would once again be a proud program with a Real Runnin' Rebel in charge.
Nope. He wouldn't. Just like he didn't make NMSU a top 10 program overnight (and don't tell me it would be different at UNLV)...Again dude, all those top 10 Louisville recruits (including Terrence Williams and McGee) went there to play for Patino! Sure Reggie caught their eye when they seen letters and had visits by the man. But Ricky P was the man with the experience and influence that got those kids to commit. Basing your logic on guys like Demarcus Cousins saying they would "strongly consider" a school coached by Theus proves the ridiculousness of your theory of him as a coach for UNLV. To you point guys "strongly consider" Lon Kruger too lol! Also putting stock in the comments of Victor Rudd's guardian. Man you're in lala land. Right were you belong.
But enought jousting with you my friend. Massamba WILL have a monster year this season, and he will crack the starting 5 (right along side Shaw or Santee) by season end mark my words! Lopez will end up being the 2nd or 3rd string big man on this team. Huge upside but he isnt quite ready yet.
I think Massamba will be good this year not great.
I think everyone is missing the big flashing light with Theus. Would he help UNLV of course.
WE need LArry Johnson to be the head of recruiting!!!!!!! He has said that he wants to become involved consistently. If he was made assistant coach and head of recruiting then big time talent would more consistently come here. Kruger has done the smart thing to get Larry back here. Now go all the way and put him on payroll and really get this program to the top. If Larry is hired then you will see Stacey, Greg, Anderson, Moses and others to come back and support this program.
Larry Johnson is the answer to this program!!!!!!
Touche! Larry Johnson for Director of Basketball operations.
Larry Johnson for anything UNLV....and quick!
Talk about a recruiting upgrade! Don't know what Smatresk is waiting for.
Wah, wah, wah! Sufferin- Quit your crying! You're going to flood this city with all of those tears.
Wow, what an interesting thread today!
Sufferin', in all sincerity, you should lighten up. I've come down on Mike Sanford pretty hard since the Wyoming loss, but I've never laid my frustration on the players. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that they're just college kids. Having said that, you have every right to voice your opinion on these forums. I may not agree with you very often, but I certainly support your right to say it.
I promise to wash my mouth out with power steering fluid after I say this, but Sufferin' also made a couple of good points. Coach Kruger and his staff haven't proven themselves to be great recruiters. However, he's a quality X's and O's coach. I'd take someone like Lon any day over a coach like Billy Bayno, who was a proven recruiter, but weak play caller.
Maxson, Finfrock, and Massimino left this program in such disarray, the effects are still felt to this day. I think any Rebel fan worth his salt knows that Lon Kruger has done the best job with this basketball team since Tark, and like Tark, he does great things with what he has to work with. The recruits will come when the tradition of winning has been reestablished, which we've already seen in the past three seasons.
Lon has also embraced this community and the rich basketball heritage at UNLV. You think a guy like LJ would associate himself with the program again if he didn't notice good things happening?
I would love to see Reggie Theus coach here someday. Nobody wants the gig more than he does, and I think he'd be a great fit. But, I think he needs to cut his teeth on a second, smaller program before he becomes the heir apparent at UNLV.
Brice looked like a different player Friday night. I'm proud of what he's accomplished in the offseason, and look forward to seeing him play a larger role this year. He may not be a blue-chipper, but with the right mindset, determination, and coaching, even walk-on's (see Rene Rougeau) can become impact players.
Go, Rebs!
Back to the article I had a quick question... Did Massamba lose some of his weight from the bottoms of his feet? Wasn't he 6'11" last year? Same with Lopez? Wasn't he 6'11" who was projected to grow to 7'2"? I know the listed heights can be suspect ( Wink over 6'), but oftentimes college player supposedly get their "real" measurements at NBA combines and they grow even more!
Are all these guys really just 6'5" playing on 9' rims and the NCAA and NBA are in cahoots to sell tickets?
Anyway this year can be a fantastic year for the Rebs and I'm stoked to see it, but the huge potential year for this team is 2010-11.
htown, yeah, take some of those heights tongue-in-cheek ... adding an inch or two is quite common, at some point, then it gets perpetuated ... etc etc ... When he was at Findlay, Lopez told me about a doctor's projection that he'd hit 7-2. Maybe he will. Maybe he won't. He doesn't want to, though. He's tall enough, he said. A hair (or two) under 6-11, yeah, that might be a good call. But, really, so what? If you can play, you can play.
Amassing a roster of 5-star over-hyped high school kids is a recipe for disaster and it wouldn't guarantee a championship or a Final Four for that matter. It would be impossible to build team chemistry with one-and-doner's who think they're bigger than the program. And, do we really need the distraction of unscrupulous agents and boosters that would almost certainly get us in hot water? Why invest in selfish kids who don't give a hoot about the university? Why offer a scholarship to someone who could care less about an education?
Lon Kruger is a class act and he's assembled a roster of classy young men who represent the university well. How could you not root for these kids? I know I'm not alone by saying it will be fun watching Brice, Carlos and the rest of the cast develop. I'll take these kids any day over the teams assembled by Calipari, Floyd, Harrick, etc.
Why don't you move to Kentucky Sufferin? You'll soon see your formula for success is a train wreck waiting to happen
Much respect for Theus but hiring him as our basketball coach, before he gains more experience, would be a mistake...
Anthony Marshall is a big time recruit for this UNLV program. Scout.com had him rated as the #3 SG in the west coast and the #12 SG in the country, and he is the Nevada player of the year. Those rankings aren't bogus either, Marshall put up huge numbers against the nations best in AAU tourneys all over the country. Marshall snubbed the greatest college b-ball school of all time "UCLA" IMO to stay home and play for UNLV. Howland was all over his jock, he loves those guard combo's for his system, I promise you Marshall would have played immediately for the Bruins.
Love Theus but when he left NMSU the NCAA was already looking at him for violations. The NCAA will always have a microscope on UNLV but with a guy like Lon at the helm they are wasting their time.
Suff... If Lon is so bad then why did Indiana, Arizona, USC, Minnesota, heck every open position have his name attatched to it. Because the guy wins and does it clean and with class!!!!!
If Sufferin' Robert didn't interject his personal vendetta against the program he might actually make some sense.
Derrick Jasper is the type of player who should commit to UNLV from the start. Same with Chace Stanback and Quintrell Thomas. These are very athletic players with good hearts, and that's what the Rebels have been missing. Hopefully, the Rebels will continue win so those types of kids will begin to come here again -- just like they did in the 70's, 80's and 90's.
Furthermore, we don't need another coach to help with this, we need to not botch up another good thing like Charlie Cavanaro and Mike Hamrick did in the past. That means getting Mr. Larry Johnson into kids' living rooms right NOW.
I dont care how much money they have to pay Larry but you would see an immediate impact with him taking a huge role in thisw program.
Lon Kruger attaches his job to every big time job that becomes available because he is looking to bolt. NOBODY WANTS HIM!
I have emailed all of those big time schools beggin them to take the great Lon Kruger and they just won't do it!
Kruger has a paid staff promoting his every move and putting his name out their every time he shakes a sick kids hand or sells a stupid book.
NOBODY WANTS HIM!
Kruger makes sure his name is mentioned for every big job. This is a guy who loves to move and needs new excitement in his life ANNUALLY or he gets bored easily.
Look at Kruger's history. Is he someone who sits still? The first person to offer him a job and he is gone! Problem is, NOBODY WANTS HIM. No other schools are buying into his PAID HYPE MACHINE. That sad thing is that UNLV is paying for Kruger to hire an outside consultant to promote our worthless coaches every move. UNLV pays for our coach to Promote himself. PATHETIC.
A good person would just go visit sick kids, they wouldn't need a press release every time they do so.
I just bought my season tickets!!!!
GO REBELS!!!!
BTW... Sufferin.....
do you need a hug?
If you have any tangible proof whatsoever of any of your worthless attacks on Kruger then bring em out. Otherwise, place your forked tongue behind your teeth, Wormtongue.
It's like you copy the same speech every preseason and paste it onto the latest article.
Rob, when are you going to bet rid of this guy? It's darn near slander at this point.
@Gray and rebelred
I couldn't agree with you more. I don't care what is going on with the UNLV athletic department at this point. There has never been a more obvious hire than Larry. HIRE HIM QUICKLY! RECRUITING RECRUITING RECRUITING!!!! Not to mention he would excite the community immediately. Just imagine the money he'd bring in from donors. And all this on top of being one the better human beings on the planet.
Interesting how a story about a kid's progress can morph into a larger philosophical debate.
I, for one, enjoy Sufferin's sufferage. At least the guys cares. If you don't agree with him, you don't have to read his posts. It's nice to see someone mixing it up that actually knows the team and its history. It's not like he's a fan from another school simple rebel-rousing.
Kruger has to be given credit for having a team this year that people expect to move beyond the Sweet 16. It's been 20 years since that's been the case. Some might say Kruger's progress has been slow, but I see it as methodical and highly preferable when compared to what other high profile coaches do to shorten the success curve.
I think this is the tipping point season. If the team plays up to its potential (and catches a few breaks), the Rebel Dynasty people like sufferin' are all waiting for will be reborn.
Lets look at Kruger's recruits:
(Stanback) = The Cali. state player of the year & if my memory serves me correct is also the all time leading scorer in the state of Cali.
(Jasper) = Could have played for any top 15 program coming out of high school.
(Willis) = Cali.'s 4th all time leading scorer.
(Bellfield) = 1st team all city in LA says a lot.
(Shaw) = 1st team all city in LA as well.
(Marshall) = Top (3) player in the west coast.
(Thomas) = Top 100 player in the country as a senior.