UNLV Rebels forward Royce Hamm Jr. (14) celebrates with teammates David Muoka (12), Keshon Gilbert (10), and Donovan Williams (3) after beating the Gardner-Webb University Bulldogs, 64-58, at the Thomas & Mack Center Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 | 2 a.m.
UNLV basketball is playing a big game on Friday, and that is an accomplishment.
Credit first-year head coach Kevin Kruger for that. Sure, the game itself — a showdown with No. 4 Michigan at T-Mobile Arena — was scheduled long before Kruger got the job, as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Main Event series. But if it weren’t for UNLV’s plucky 3-0 start, it’s safe to say there would be considerably less anticipation surrounding this game than a matchup against a Final Four contender would warrant.
Need some evidence of that? Look no further than 2016, when UNLV found itself in an eerily similar situation. First-year coach Marvin Menzies took over a team that was scheduled to play No. 5 Duke at T-Mobile Arena, but Menzies’ patchwork squad was seriously under-talented and entered that game with a pedestrian 5-3 record. Everyone expected a slaughter.
Duke obliged by annihilating UNLV, 94-45.
The buildup to that 2016 game was dreary, from UNLV’s perspective. A true gallows walk.
The vibe couldn’t be more different this time around. After winning three straight home games to open the season (all in close fashion), UNLV is genuinely excited to test itself against a national-title contender. The scarlet and gray fully expect their defense-and-toughness formula to allow them to compete with a team that made it to the Elite Eight last year under head coach Juwan Howard.
After scoring a season-high 15 points in Monday’s win over North Dakota State, junior swingman Donovan Williams didn’t hold back when discussing his expectations for the Michigan game.
In his words, UNLV is viewing it as an opportunity to make a statement.
“You always know every game is important, but you always have games, especially as a player, that you circle [in your calendar] like, this is a game we have to win,” Williams said. “Every game is a must-win, but some games they just feel a little bit more important. And I think coming up on this Michigan game, we know they’re a great team. We know the pieces they have, and we know the pieces that we have. So we’re not going in feeling like an underdog. We’re not going into Friday like, ‘Oh man, we’ve just got to hang around with these guys.’ We’re going in and we’re like, ‘We’re gonna win this game, we’re gonna put the world on notice—at UNLV we’re nothing to play with.’”
There’s no mistaking Williams’ messaging there.
Of course, UNLV will have to play its best game of the young season in order to actually pull off an upset on Friday. So far Kruger’s squad has proven adept at defending the basket, holding opponents to 37.1% shooting. They’ve had serious issues putting the ball through the hoop themselves, however, making just 36.2% of their own attempts.
All three games have boiled down to a simple formula: Get stops, and get the ball to Bryce Hamilton in the final minutes. So far it has worked, as Hamilton (17.0 points per game) has delivered just enough in the clutch to push UNLV across the finish line each time.
That kind of rock-fight gameplan probably isn’t going to be as effective against a Michigan unit made up of five former Top-50 recruits that ranks fifth nationally in KenPom.com’s adjusted offense and second in adjusted defense. UNLV will have to score efficiently, defend with passion and play a smart 40 minutes.
After finding a way to win their first three games, albeit against lesser opponents, Williams believes UNLV is capable of putting together its best all-around performance right now.
“These three games have all felt like March, February-type games for us,” Williams said. “It’s not supposed to feel that way, but we are a new group. We’re trying to gel together, we’re trying to figure out what works the best, how to get wins. But I think ultimately we’re proud we were able to come out and win these games.
“I think we’re ready,” he continued. “Our coaching staff is ready, and I think between now and Friday we’re just going to get more ready.”
Kruger, who barely blinked when Royce Hamm recorded a walk-off block to seal Monday’s win over North Dakota State, is predictably preaching a more even-keeled approach this week. A prime-time, national television matchup against a marquee opponent on the Strip is bound to take on a big event atmosphere, but Kruger wants his players to prepare for Michigan the same way they prepared for the first three games.
“We’re going to do the same thing,” Kruger said. “We’re going to get ready for Michigan as we did North Dakota State, Gardner-Webb and Cal. We know they’re incredibly talented. They’re somebody that we kind of aspire to be. They’re in sync. They understand each other. They play basketball the right way. They play together. Those are things we want to do.”
Even the ever-steady Kruger can’t entirely dampen his anticipation, though. Like anyone else who has gotten excited about UNLV’s surprising 3-0 start, he is looking forward to seeing how his team measures up.
“Really just excited to go play them and see what we’re made of,” Kruger said.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
