Even before T.J. Otzleberger left UNLV for Iowa State there was an expectation that UNLV would undergo a roster transformation in the offseason.
Once Kevin Kruger took over, the turnover started. But no one imagined it would be this massive.
With UNLV announcing that Nick Blake is leaving the program, the Rebels have lost 94 percent of the minutes and 96 percent of the scoring from last year’s roster.
The only returning players to see the floor last year are Marvin Coleman, Reece Brown and walk-ons Trey Hurlburt and Kendrick Gilbert. Those four combined to score 69 points last season.
Not nice at all.
UNLV is used to seeing roster turnover. This is the 10th straight season the Rebels will have lost at least 50 percent of the minutes from the previous year’s team.
But 96 percent is unbelievably high. Even when you have a bad team, continuity should still be expected, at least more than four percent.
It makes the Kevin Kruger hire even more curious. The Rebels promoted an Otzelberger assistant. Generally, that is done to continue what the previous coach had started. But that won’t be the case in Vegas.
Kruger has done a fine job building the roster out with transfers. But losing Nick Blake, Bryce Hamilton, David Jenkins, Mbacke Diong and top-50 recruit Arthur Kaluma represents a lot of failures this offseason for Kruger.
Now UNLV has two scholarships left to use. Hamilton has yet to commit to a new school and could conceivably return to UNLV. But Kruger will likely add a couple more transfers before next season starts. Or scoop up an under recruited high school senior.
We don’t know if UNLV will be any good next season. But we do know, the roster will be full of Kevin Kruger’s players.
Wow. Must be a good reason. I hope this coaching staff can rebound. I have lived here 43 years and have never seen anything like this in the program.
Yeah this is an incredible amount of turnover. Lots of solid players gone, even if last year’s team was bad.