Revenge factor revs up UNLV

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Lon Kruger has several years' worth of positive memories of Kansas State, where he was a two-sport star in the early 1970s and a successful basketball coach in the late 1980s.

The UNLV coach added the Wildcats to the Rebels' schedule last year. The experience was one he would like to forget.

"When you lose a game," Kruger said, "you remember it a little more vividly than the wins."

UNLV, which is 10-2 and fell from the national rankings Monday, gets a shot at revenge when it faces No. 11 Kansas State (9-2) at 6 p.m. today at the Sprint Center. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

When the teams met at the Orleans Arena last December, the Wildcats embarrassed the Rebels, 95-80. In Kruger's seven seasons, no opponent has put up more points in a game.

"It was our first major test last year, and we didn't do half of the things we wanted to do," UNLV sophomore guard Anthony Marshall said. "I don't want to say it's payback. But we want to play a lot better than we did last year.

"As a player, you want to play these tough nonconference games. In order to be a great team, you have to beat great teams."

Kansas State's Frank Martin might argue the notion that he's coaching a great team at the moment. The Wildcats appear to be reeling after their worst performance of the season, a 57-44 loss to Florida on Saturday.

But they boast one of the nation's top players in Jacob Pullen, a 6-foot senior guard. Pullen lit up the Rebels last year by making seven 3-pointers and scoring 28 points.

"It starts with Pullen. He sets the stage for them," Kruger said. "He can score a lot of different ways, so you have to give him extra attention for sure."

Pullen's game has suffered some, however, after the departure of star guard Denis Clemente. Pullen is averaging 16.5 points per game but shooting just 31.3 percent from 3-point range.

"You just can't relax on him. At any time, Pullen can get it going," Marshall said. "You have to know where he's at on the court at all times. You can't lose sight of a player like that."

UNLV is expected to be at full strength on the perimeter. Senior guard Derrick Jasper, who had a hyperextended right knee and was held out of the Rebels' 72-50 victory over Southern Utah on Saturday, practiced Sunday and Monday and could return to the lineup.

Kruger said if Jasper can't play, Marshall, who scored a career-high 17 points Saturday, will get the start.

Kansas State's strength on the front line, anchored by forwards Curtis Kelly and Jamar Samuels, overwhelmed UNLV last year.

The Rebels are now deeper in the interior with 6-8 Quintrell Thomas, a sophomore transfer from Kansas, 6-10 junior Brice Massamba and 6-11 Carlos Lopez.

"They were a very physical team and they crashed the boards pretty hard," Marshall said. "We're a little more physical this year. With the addition of Carlos and Q, we think we match up with them pretty well."

UNLV is 2-1 on the road and won three games on a neutral court in Anaheim, Calif., a schedule Kruger said has geared his team for this type of challenge.

"You always schedule in November and December with two things in mind -- preparing your team for conference play and also thinking about strength of schedule for an at-large bid if you don't win the conference tournament," Kruger said.

"We've had a lot of good tests, and certainly Kansas State will be as tough as any."

■ NOTES -- The teams are not scheduled to meet next season, but Kruger said he would like to extend the series with Kansas State. "We've talked about it. We haven't finalized anything," he said. ... The Rebels get four days off after today's game and resume practice Sunday.

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