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UNLV Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Runnin’ Rebels

By Jason Burgess

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Assistant coaches Tim Buckley and Kevin Kruger, head coach T.J. Otzelberger, assistant coach DeMarlo Slocum and director of basketball operations DeShawn Henry of the UNlV Rebels stand on the court as the American national anthem is performed before their game against the Texas State Bobcats at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bobcats defeated the Rebels 64-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Assistant coaches Tim Buckley and Kevin Kruger, head coach T.J. Otzelberger, assistant coach DeMarlo Slocum and director of basketball operations DeShawn Henry of the UNlV Rebels stand on the court as the American national anthem is performed before their game against the Texas State Bobcats at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bobcats defeated the Rebels 64-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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UNLV Basketball guard Bryce Hamilton Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
UNLV Basketball guard Bryce Hamilton Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The starting five

Bryce Hamilton is the unquestioned offensive leader of this team after averaging 17.9 points, six rebounds, and three assists as a junior last season. Hamilton is the team’s best shot creator, but unlike previous seasons, the Runnin’ Rebels’ offense this season shouldn’t be largely predicated on how he performs. I expect the power forward spot to come down to a pair of Big 12 transfers who saw limited time with their former teams.

Royce Hamm, Jr. is a 6-9 forward who in four years at Texas never played more than 13 minutes per game. The guy I think ultimately grabs the spot is senior Victor Iwuakor who has the more untapped potential of the two, in my opinion, the native of Nigeria averaged 2.9 points and 2.6 rebounds last season for the Sooners.

Center is an interesting piece for UNLV, the man in the middle will be a name not many have heard of, David Muoka is a lengthy 6-10 big man who averaged three blocks per game and pulled down nearly seven rebounds for Lamar last season. He gives Kruger a defensive presence in the paint while being able to chip in on the offensive end.

Kruger brought in some solid scoring punch, especially in the backcourt where the starting shooting guard Mike Nuga comes over from Kent State for his final season after putting up 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals for the Golden Flashes. The 6-2 guard did all this while shooting 50% from the field and over 38% from beyond the arc.

The biggest question for the Runnin’ Rebels is who will handle the point guard duties. The competition is likely to come down to Justin Webster from Hawaii who led the Rainbow Warriors in scoring at 12 per game but had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.2:1.1 and Jordan McCabe who is a senior from West Virginia who played just 11 minutes per game but had a slightly better ratio of 1.4:.9. Hamilton will be the one with the ball in his hands during crunch time, but the point guard is still a question mark.