June 9, 2008
LAS VEGAS - A special $90 entry-level season ticket for UNLV men's basketball has been developed for the 2008-09 season, the athletics department announced Monday.
A limited quantity (2000 seats) of $90 season tickets have been identified in the balcony level end zone areas (behind both baskets) and will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, along with other non-donor (non-Rebel Athletic Fund) season tickets for the upcoming season.
The $90 season tickets are good for all 18 Runnin' Rebel home games at the Thomas & Mack Center and may be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS (3267), online at UNLVTickets.com, the Thomas & Mack Center ticket office or any UNLVTickets outlet.
"We wanted to do something that gave everyone in the valley a chance to enjoy Runnin' Rebel basketball," UNLV head coach Lon Kruger said. "This is a great entry level for our fans to become season ticket holders and will help us build upon the already strong atmosphere in the arena."
Because of increased demand, UNLV men's basketball season tickets are going on sale to the public two months earlier than last season. Balcony season tickets are $175 and a limited quantity of non-donor lower plaza level seats are available for $485. A total of less than 1,300 seats are available in the lower level plaza of the Thomas & Mack Center for Runnin' Rebel basketball.
UNLV finished the 2007-08 season with an overall record of 27-8 and lost to eventual national champion Kansas in the NCAA Tournament's second round. The appearance in the NCAA Tournament was the second straight for UNLV, which advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2007, and the first time that the Runnin' Rebels won games in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments since 1990 and 1991. UNLV finished second in the Mountain West Conference this past season with a 12-4 mark for the second consecutive year and won the MWC Tournament championship, also for the second straight time.
Kruger, who was named the 2007-08 MWC and USBWA District VIII Coach of the Year, will enter his fifth season at UNLV in 2008-09 after compiling a four-year mark of 91-42 (.684), including a record of 57-15 (.792) over the last two seasons. UNLV's 57 wins over the past two years ranks ninth in the country among teams that have played in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments and is the second-most victories over the last two years among teams in the West, only behind UCLA.
UNLV has a 15-game home win streak, which is the 11th-longest active streak in the country, has compiled a record of 38-3 at home over the last two seasons and has won 24 straight games against MWC opponents at the Thomas & Mack Center.
UNLV loses only two players from last season's team - seniors Curtis Terry and Corey Bailey. The Runnin' Rebels will have four seniors on the 2008-09 roster in Wink Adams, Joe Darger, René Rougeau and Mareceo Rutledge (three of them starters) and return a total of seven letterwinners from last year, while welcoming six new faces. Several publications have listed UNLV in their early 2008-09 preseason Top 25 polls.
UNLV's 2008-09 non-conference schedule was announced last week and is available at UNLVRebels.com. The Runnin' Rebels will get an early start to the season this month as they take a summer foreign tour of Australia. The team will leave for the trip on June 23 and return July 5 and will play six exhibition games while in Australia.
Practices in preparation for the trip will begin on Tuesday, June 10. For practice times and locations, the public is encouraged to contact the men's basketball office at 702-895-3295. Media interested in covering the team from June 10-23 will need to make arrangements through the media relations office.
A public send-off for the Runnin' Rebels heading to Australia will be on Saturday, June 21 at 5 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to attend the practice and show support for the team. For more information on the trip, visit the "Runnin' Down Under" section of UNLVRebels.com, which may be accessed from the main page.
- Additionally, registration is ongoing for this summer's UNLV Runnin' Rebel Basketball Camps.
Day Camps will be offered from June 16-18 and August 4-6. Both camps will have three sessions. The first will be from 9 a.m. - noon (ages 8-10), the second will be from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (ages 11-13) and the third will be from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. (ages 14-18).
The UNLV Runnin' Rebel Basketball Camp is a fun and challenging learning resource for every player. Players of all levels will improve their skills through intense and detailed instruction on the proper execution of offensive skills and fundamentals. Players will receive individualized training from UNLV coaches, staff, players and high school and college coaches. Each camper will participate in individual contests and team competition as well as receive a camp T-shirt and ball.
The cost of each camp is $150 per session. June 14 is the registration cutoff for Camp 1, while Camp 2 needs to be registered for by August 2. For more information and to register online, visit the camp website, which can be accessed from the men's basketball page at UNLVRebels.com or directly at UNLVBasketballCamp.com. For more information, please call the UNLV men's basketball office at 702-895-3295.
