UNLV Rebels forward Keylan Boone (20) celebrates after making a three-point basket during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against the Colorado State Rams at the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 2 a.m.
- What:
NIT first round - Who:
UNLV at Princeton - When:
Wednesday, 5 p.m. - Where:
Princeton, N.J. - TV:
ESPN+ - Radio:
1100AM, 100.9FM
UNLV has waited 11 years to play in a postseason game, and the drought will finally come to an end on Wednesday night when the Scarlet and Gray take on Princeton in the first round of the NIT (5 p.m., ESPN+).
It’s going to be a tough test for UNLV, which comes into the game on a two-game losing streak. Princeton is a difficult team to gameplan for, and Kevin Kruger will likely be down two starters.
Can UNLV win and keep its season alive just a little while longer? Three keys to watch:
Lineup concerns
Senior center Kalib Boone remains unlikely to play after missing Thursday’s Mountain West quarterfinal due to an ankle injury. He didn’t participate in practice this week, and while Kruger said “there’s always hope” that Boone could heal enough in time for the opening tip at Princeton, it’s a long shot.
Boone’s shaky status was expected. What the team didn’t anticipate is the absence of senior wing Luis Rodriguez, who did not make the trip to New Jersey and will not play on Wednesday.
A team spokesman said Rodriguez is dealing with a family matter.
That’s a big loss for the Scarlet and Gray, who rely on Rodriguez to defend the opponent’s top perimeter threat. Junior wing Shane Nowell started in place of Boone last game, so Kruger will have to decide if he wants to replace Rodriguez with a big man (Isaiah Cottrell, Karl Jones) or a smaller guard (Justin Webster, Brooklyn Hicks, Jackie Johnson).
Whichever route Kruger takes, UNLV is going to be playing a lot of lineups that don’t have much experience together.
Let D.J. cook
We got a look at UNLV’s offense without Kalib Boone, and it was the D.J. Thomas show. The freshman took over against San Diego State, attempting 21 shots and scoring 29 points in 43 minutes in the overtime loss.
Now with Rodriguez and his 9.0 field goal attempts per game subtracted from the lineup, Thomas may have to assert himself even more as a primary scorer.
The good news for UNLV is that Thomas is excited for his first taste of postseason competition.
“It’s more basketball to play. It’s doing something I love, so I’m blessed to be playing right now,” Thomas said. “Princeton is an historic program, and historic gym. A lot of really good guys, good players, really good teams they’ve had there, so it’s going to be a great experience for me.”
Princeton offense
Princeton University was founded in 1746, and it feels like they’ve been running the same offense since then. And it works.
The Tigers grind their halfcourt sets to the point of tedium. They rank No. 311 in adjusted tempo, but it’s a machine that produces a lot of good possessions and a lot of good shots late in the shot clock, resulting in an attack that slots in 28th nationally in efficiency.
It’s hard to defend, as Princeton spreads the floor and launches a high volume of 3-pointers. The team ranks ninth in both attempts and makes per game, and they hit at 35.7% from deep. Six different players average at least 2.7 long-distance attempts, so everyone on the floor is a threat.
UNLV has faced opponents with similar principles, if not similar actions. Air Force is another extremely slow team that works the shot clock and searches for backdoor cuts, so the Scarlet and Gray should be familiar with the kind of mental discipline required to defend for 30 seconds without a lapse.
Keylan Boone said defending as a team will be the key.
“Great 3-point shooting team,” Boone said of Princeton. “Just locate them early, try to attain their best guys early and make them play team ball.”
Who: UNLV (19-12, 12-6 MWC) at Princeton (24-4, 12-2 Ivy)
When: Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Where: Jadwin Gymnasium (Princeton, N.J.)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 1100 AM, 100.9 FM
UNLV leaders
Scoring
D.J. Thomas: 14.1 points
Rebounds
Keylan Boone: 6.6 rebounds
Assists
D.J. Thomas: 5.2 assists
Princeton leaders
Scoring
Xaivian Lee: 17.3 points
Rebounds
Caden Pierce: 9.4 rebounds
Assists
Xaivian Lee: 3.6 assists
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
