Kruger’s heart into new season

Wild sideline antics never have been part of Lon Kruger's personality. So the UNLV basketball coach, two months removed from heart bypass surgery, is not worried about toning down his act.

There are no doctor's orders for him to stay calm and control stress, either.

Kruger reports he is healthy and ready to follow his usual routine this season, which officially begins with the Rebels' first practice at 7 p.m. Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"I certainly don't feel any different than I did a year ago," he said. "And when I get into it and get going, I don't expect to feel any different.

"If my body tells me something different after a couple weeks of practice, then we'll respond accordingly. But I don't expect that to be the case. I think it will be pretty normal."

Kruger, 55, did get a surprise in late July, when he took his annual stress test. After blockages in his heart were identified, he checked into St. Rose Hospital for open-heart surgery Aug. 2.

Doctors performed six bypasses during the four-hour procedure. The surgery was on a Thursday; Kruger was home by Monday and back in the office to work for an hour Tuesday.

His rehabilitation began two weeks later, and he said the "best-case scenario" has been the result.

"I was healthy going into it, so I think that was a big advantage," he said. "I had no symptoms. I had no shortness of breath or any pain at all. So I felt like I was totally healthy at the time. We were very lucky to catch it when we did.

"I was walking around with those blockages and didn't realize it, so the potential for something much greater was there, and I think this averted that."

The biggest challenge Kruger faces is teaching a young team how to grow up.

Kruger, 64-34 in three years, guided UNLV to a 30-7 record last season. The Rebels reached the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 for the first time in 16 years.

But that team was led by five seniors, including two players now in NBA training camps. Kevin Kruger, the coach's son and starting point guard, is with the Orlando Magic. Backup center Joel Anthony is trying to make the Miami Heat's roster.

UNLV lost five of its top seven scorers as Wendell White, Gaston Essengue and Michael Umeh also graduated.

Junior guard Wink Adams, the team's second-leading scorer last season, returns with seniors Corey Bailey and Curtis Terry. The Rebels welcome five newcomers, and a potential sixth, 7-foot freshman Beas Hamga, is still waiting on the NCAA to rule on his eligibility.

"I think last year we were expecting to have a veteran, experienced group, and that transpired into being a great year," said Kruger, who received a new five-year contract in June that guarantees him $5.2 million.

"This is a totally different group. They have a lot of interest in doing good things, but right now they're not really sure what they have to do to get there. That's what we have to work on together to make progress during the next six weeks."

UNLV opens the season Nov. 9 at home against Montana State, and Kruger said he's eager to run practices and his energy level is high.

He has not played golf since June but was cleared to play two weeks ago. He started rehab by getting on a treadmill two weeks after surgery.

"I started with five minutes, and that taxed me. I added a minute a day to get back to 45 minutes," said Kruger, who also does push-ups and sit-ups as part of his daily workouts.

"There in the first few weeks, every afternoon I was ready to take a nap, and I did. I've kind of cut back with each week, and now I'm missing those afternoon naps, but I haven't felt the need for them."

Kruger's father, Don, had bypass surgery at age 53 and a heart transplant seven years later. He died of complications from skin cancer in 1998 at age 65.

"He was a guy who didn't smoke or drink and was always very active," Kruger said.

"I've been very careful to follow the doctors' orders through the rehab, and it's been very good. I do what I can do and don't overdo anything. I feel, and have felt for the past month, totally normal."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2907.