Rebels not reluctant to let it fly

Spotting up to shoot behind the 3-point line is as much a part of Curtis Terry's daily routine as breathing, eating and talking. UNLV's senior point guard has a close relationship with long-range jumpers.

In that respect, he connects well with Rebels coach Lon Kruger, who sets his players free to shoot the 3.

"If you're a shooter in Coach Kruger's system, you're definitely going to get a lot of looks," Terry said. "If we have an open shot, he tells us to take it.

"He doesn't like to slow us down. He lets us go. As long as you're effective and show that you can do these things in practice, he lets you have free rein in the game."

UNLV (13-4 overall, 2-1 Mountain West Conference) again will count on its 3-point shooting in today's game against Wyoming (6-10, 0-4) at 7:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Rebels have a 14-game home winning streak against conference opponents. But that's far from their most impressive streak.

Since the 3-point field goal was adopted by the NCAA for the 1986-87 season, UNLV holds the national record for most consecutive games (685) making a 3-pointer.

In finishing 30-7 last season, the Rebels set a school record for 3-point field goals attempted (802), and they are continuing to put them up at a rapid-fire pace.

UNLV averaged 21.7 3-point attempts per game last season, and that average is up to 24.4 this season.

"Any guard loves playing in this type of offense," junior guard Wink Adams said. "Every year, it seems like it's getting faster and faster."

Kruger might portray a conservative image, and he does preach the strict principles of man-to-man defense, but he takes a more liberal approach on the offensive end.

In his first year as coach at Kansas State in 1986, Kruger said he realized the value of the 3-point shot, and in the past 20 years the 19-foot-9-inch line has had an increasing impact on college basketball.

"I think when it first came in, a lot of coaches said, 'Well, we're not going to shoot that shot.' Today, it's approaching 40 to 45 percent of the shots taken in a game," Kruger said. "It made sense that if you've got guys who can shoot it, percentage-wise it's a good play."

UNLV assistant coach Steve Henson, who played for Kruger at Kansas State from 1986 to 1990, said Kruger has remained consistent in his philosophy of allowing freedom to his shooters.

"It's kind of your equalizer," said Henson, who attempted 6.7 3-pointers per game as a college senior and made 44.7 percent for his career. "Teams that aren't as athletic or teams without great post play, they can offset that with great 3-point shooting. It can bail teams out if they're maybe lacking in one area.

"For this UNLV team, without (big guys) in the post, it has kind of forced us to be out there shooting the ball, and we have a lot of guys who can shoot it. It has become a huge part of what we do."

The Rebels have been successful this season using basically a five-guard lineup on most occasions, and they have made 36 more 3-point shots than their opponents.

"The psychological effect, the emotional effect the 3 can have ... teams will play zone, but you hit a couple 3s and they get out of it," Henson said. "If you've got a great game going defensively and somebody comes down and hits two 3s in a row, it can just really sap you. It gives teams a big lift offensively and can frustrate defenses.

"It's a huge part of the game now. There definitely is less mid-range stuff. Guys are wanting to shoot the 3 or get all the way to the rim."

Next season, the college 3-point line will be moved back one foot to 20 feet 9 inches.

"I don't think it will change the philosophy a lot," Kruger said. "You might limit the number of people shooting 3s, which is not a bad thing."

UNLV has 1,007 field-goal attempts this season, with 415 (41.2 percent) coming from 3-point range. Terry is the team's most accurate 3-point shooter, hitting 40 of 88 (45.5 percent).

Surprisingly, the Rebels rank last in the Mountain West in 3-point accuracy (32.3 percent). But they help offset that by ranking first in the conference in 3-point defense (27.7 percent).

Joe Darger, a 6-foot-7-inch junior who has been forced to play the center position, leads UNLV with 92 3-point attempts.

"I've seen Joe hit more than 20 3s in a row in practice," said Adams, second on the team with 90 attempts but shooting a career-low 28.9 percent this season.

Terry said the Rebels' affinity for the 3 does not mean they play a helter-skelter offensive style.

"The way we get after it defensively opens up the game offensively," Terry said. "Coach Kruger is very knowledgeable with Xs and Os, and it shows in practice. The plays he runs and the different ways he can get guys open is unbelievable.

"We definitely don't want to just sit out there and shoot all 3s. That's not a good way to play. Our defense is going to keep us in games."

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