Rebels’ NCAA resume needs work

It's becoming a February-to-March tradition in Las Vegas, but Lon Kruger is not celebrating it, and he prefers to not discuss it.

UNLV is looking like a fringe NCAA Tournament team again, so the bubble debate has begun. The bracketologists change their projections weekly while fans and media members weigh in with assorted opinions.

What do the Rebels need to accomplish down the stretch to reach the NCAA's field of 68? Will they be relegated to the National Invitation Tournament?

"I'm sure it's in the back of everybody's mind throughout the whole season," junior point guard Oscar Bellfield said.

Kruger will be faced with those questions more often now, especially after the Rebels blew an opportunity to beef up their postseason resume by losing 63-57 to No. 6 San Diego State on Saturday.

"We have to just focus on each game. It's the bad answer, but it's the truth," the UNLV coach said. "We can't worry about the next five games. We've got to worry about the next one."

The Rebels, 18-7 overall and 6-5 in the Mountain West Conference, should be able to clear their next hurdle, which is Air Force (13-10, 4-6) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLV has bullied the league's lightweights but has been flattened by the top three teams, going 0-5 against Brigham Young, San Diego State and Colorado State.

On the surface, the Rebels' postseason credentials still appear solid. They rank 29th in the nation in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and 30th in strength of schedule. Those numbers would appeal to the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

But almost all of UNLV's best work was done in November, when it defeated Wisconsin and Virginia Tech. The Badgers are tied for second in the Big Ten, and the Hokies, fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are coming on strong.

The Rebels' neutral-court victory over Kansas State in December is not as impressive. The Wildcats' top two players were suspended for that game, and they have slumped to 4-6 in the Big 12.

In terms of Mountain West play, UNLV's only semi-quality victory came at home, 63-62 over fifth-place New Mexico (17-8, 5-5).

A 78-63 loss to Colorado State on Jan. 19 is a scar because it was a blowout on the Rebels' home court. "Nobody wants to go to the NIT," sophomore forward Quintrell Thomas said after the Rebels were routed by the Rams and before they snuck by the Lobos.

"When we lost early in the season, there was one bad loss, and that was UC Santa Barbara," Thomas said.

The truth is UNLV's bad losses are not too bad. But the problem is its absence of marquee league wins. Losing to the Aztecs, in front of a rowdy sellout crowd in a game the Rebels led with less than three minutes remaining, was a squandered opportunity.

"We definitely let one get away," Bellfield said. "We've just got to win, and we've got to stay together."

Senior guard Tre'Von Willis, who played in the NIT two years ago, said, "I think that's the story of our season. We've let a few get away. For us to take the big step, and looking down the road, we need to learn how to close out games."

UNLV has two more shots on the road -- at Colorado State on Saturday and New Mexico on Feb. 23 -- to attempt to make up for losing key games at home.

"When you drop home games, it's very costly," Kruger said. "The fans have been fantastic, and they have done their part. When you drop three at home in conference, that's always tough to overcome."

As far as the Rebels' RPI and NCAA chances, Willis said, "We're not worried about that."

UNLV faded late last season but reached the MWC tournament championship game and survived the NCAA bubble.

"Don't let anyone tell you that Vegas is not an NCAA Tournament team," San Diego State coach Steve Fisher said. "They are really good and a team that beat Wisconsin, Kansas State and Virginia Tech."

The good news is the conference tourney is at the Thomas & Mack again. The not-so-good news is the Rebels might need to win the automatic NCAA bid, and if they don't, Fisher is not on the selection committee.

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