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Kruger, UNLV brace for Kent State

Mar 20, 2008 - 11:53 AM No. 9 Kent St (28-6) at No. 8 UNLV (26-7) 2:55 pm EDT

OMAHA, Nebraska (Ticker) - Lon Kruger is back in a familiar, if not unexpected, setting.

Kruger guides Nevada-Las Vegas against Kent State on Thursday in a first-round matchup of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional.

Having lost five seniors from last season's squad that advanced to the regional semifinals, the Runnin' Rebels (26-7) were unlikely candidates to repeat as champions of the Mountain West Conference tournament.

That earned MWC Coach of the Year honors for Kruger, who joined Jim Harrick as the only coaches to ever lead at least four different schools to multiple NCAA appearances.

Kruger is 7-3 in NCAA first-round games and has won his last four. For the season to continue, he'll need another stellar effort out of guard Jo'Van "Wink" Adams, who scored 23 points in a 76-61 victory over Brigham Young in the conference tournament title game.

While eighth seed UNLV lacks size, that may not provide as much of a hindrance against No. 9 Kent State (28-6), which posted its 10th consecutive 20-win season.

The Golden Flashes won the Mid-American Conference tournament with a 74-55 victory over Akron and enters the NCAAs having won 11 of their last 12 games.

Senior forward Haminn Quaintance, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, plays bigger than his 6-8 frame, averaging 7.5 rebounds to go along with 69 blocked shots and 60 steals.

"We don't know much right now about Kent State," Kruger said. "We do know they are very well coached and had a great year and will present a big challenge for us."