UNLV guard Luis Rodriguez (15) defends against Wyoming during the second half of an NCAA basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. STEVE MARCUS
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 | 2 a.m.
There came a point during UNLV’s breakout 2023 football season when dream became reality, and a path opened for the Scarlet and Gray to lay eyes on a conference title. It happened due to a winning streak in Mountain West play, combined with teams above them in the standings losing at the right time.
Suddenly, the situation escalated from “nice story” to real title aspirations, and the race was on.
A similar confluence of events could be happening with the UNLV basketball team right now.
Kevin Kruger’s squad is hot, riding a four-game winning streak after going on the road and knocking off New Mexico at The Pit on Saturday. That improved their league record to 6-4, tied for sixth place with UNR, which doesn’t sound like much of a reason to get excited until you realize they’re just one game out of first place in the loss column.
That’s right — one game.
It’s not a position many would have expected UNLV to be in after losing two of its first three conference contests, including a particularly heartbreaking last-second defeat at the hands of Utah State on Jan. 13. But the team has found its footing, morphing into a physical, scrappy squad that simply wears down its opponents with 40 minutes of intensity.
Kruger has been happy to see his players embrace that formula while grinding out four straight victories.
“January, February, March roll around, the game just gets more and more physical,” Kruger said. “That’s what it’s about. You get an opportunity to throw your body in there and maybe get a stop, maybe get an offensive rebound or an extra possession, and it can be the difference in a game come this time of year.”
Senior wing Luis Rodriguez has been a big part of the team’s transition to bully ball. At 6-foot-6, he has the size to get physical with frontcourt players while possessing the quickness and athleticism to stick with guards on the defensive end.
In addition to being one of five UNLV players averaging double figures in scoring (11.7 points per game), Rodriguez also leads the team in steals (1.7) and rebounding (6.9).
Rodriguez is a vocal proponent of UNLV’s style of play, and believes it will give them an edge as they head into the season’s stretch run.
“Extra-effort plays,” Rodriguez said. “I feel that’s what it’s going to come down to. The games get kind of tight and get closer, especially in March when it’s win or go home, stuff like that. So down the stretch, it’s playing smart, playing together and using the experience that we’ve built this season.”
Kruger said the players’ mental toughness has also been a key component in getting them back into the Mountain West race.
“It’s a testament to the guys keeping their attention and focus forward, where it needs to be: on the next game,” Kruger said.
UNLV will travel to Fresno State on Wednesday; that same night, first-place Utah State (8-3) will trek up to Laramie to take on a Wyoming team that is tough to beat on its home court. Should the Scarlet and Gray win and Utah State lose, Kruger and his crew will fly home after the game in a virtual tie for first place.
From this point forward, now that first place is within reach, every game a high-stakes affair.
Rodriguez and his teammates are very much aware of that fact, but he doesn’t want to get distracted by the standings.
He wants everyone to continue doing the little things that have gotten them back into the mix.
“We know what’s ahead,” Rodriguez said. “There are some big games ahead. [We’re] not letting that stop what we’ve got going on, staying focused and knowing that if we take it one game at a time, we’re capable of winning.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
