On March 7, 2025, UNLV’s basketball team faces New Mexico at 7 p.m. in The Pit, broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. The team has excelled without star guard D.J. Thomas, out due to a shoulder injury since February 15, winning three straight games. Coach Kevin Kruger has kept a tight rotation of seven core players, enabling strong chemistry and increased responsibility for players like Jaden Henley and Julian Rishwain, the latter scoring a career-high 26 points against San Diego State. While relying on fewer players may pose fatigue risks, the team’s success builds momentum heading into the Mountain West Tournament.
Friday, March 7, 2025 | 2 a.m.
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What:
UNLV vs. New Mexico -
When:
7 p.m., Friday -
Where:
The Pit (Albuquerque) -
TV:
CBS Sports Network -
Radio:
1100 AM, 100.9 FM
Could the UNLV basketball team be thriving without their star guard D.J. Thomas?
This would have seemed an outrageous question just a week ago, yet the circumstances have shifted.
For much of the past two years, Thomas has been the key player for the team, consistently leading in scoring, assists, and minutes played.
However, since the sophomore suffered a shoulder injury on February 15, a transformed UNLV team has emerged victorious, winning three consecutive games and showcasing some of their finest basketball of the season.
UNLV’s record stands at 3-1 without Thomas, and following impressive wins at home against UNR and San Diego State, it’s reasonable to suggest that the Scarlet and Gray will pose a challenge in the upcoming Mountain West Tournament.
How has head coach Kevin Kruger managed to optimize the team’s performance in the absence of their standout player? By refraining from attempting to fill his role.
Rather than broadening the rotation and allocating minutes to inexperienced players, Kruger has relied on a solid core of seven contributors to compensate for Thomas’ absence.
Junior wing Jaden Henley and senior forward Jalen Hill have assumed most of Thomas’ ball-handling responsibilities. Senior wing Julian Rishwain has stepped up in the realm of outside shooting. Meanwhile, junior center Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry and senior guard Jailen Bedford have played significant roles in rebounding. And so forth.
Rishwain scored a personal-best 26 points to guide UNLV to triumph over San Diego State on Tuesday, exemplifying how players have risen to the occasion in more significant roles.
“New guys are stepping up and hitting important shots,” Rishwain stated. “Everyone is enhancing their game positively, and we’re securing these victories. It’s a fresh perspective on the Rebels, and we’re figuring it all out.”
Henley’s role has changed dramatically. In his first 21 games alongside Thomas, Henley averaged 11.4 points and 1.1 assists. But in his first game without Thomas, he managed just one point in a loss to Colorado State; since then, he has averaged 20.7 points and 4.0 assists.
Hill commended Henley for stepping up when it mattered most.
“I think his confidence is really high right now,” Hill noted. “He may have had a tough game against Colorado State, but he was learning. After that, he found his stride. He recognized what he needed to do. I love how he’s playing at the moment.”
Much of Kruger’s approach has been shaped by necessity. Junior guard Jace Whiting was intended to be the main backup to Thomas, but he has been sidelined since the second game due to a foot injury. Apart from Bedford, there are no other scholarship guards left on the bench.
This situation has led Kruger to rely on a seven-player rotation for extended minutes. Lineups that would have been deemed unconventional earlier in the season are now getting significant playing time and yielding results.
This cohesive play has brought positive outcomes for UNLV, although based on a small sample size.
In the last four games where Thomas participated, UNLV averaged 14.3 different lineup combinations per game. Kruger made 23.3 substitutions each game, with an average five-man lineup lasting just 98 seconds.
In contrast, with Thomas unavailable, Kruger is operating with only 8.0 lineups and making 19.3 substitutions per game, resulting in an average shift time of 119 seconds.
Against UNR, five different shifts exceeded three minutes, with three lineups remaining on the court for five minutes each. That’s considerable time in the landscape of college basketball.
A potential downside to relying on a limited rotation might be fatigue, yet the apparent advantage is that UNLV’s lineups are developing significant chemistry due to their extensive time together on the court.
While Kruger would certainly prefer having a player of Thomas’ caliber available, he acknowledges that such familiarity can create positive intangible benefits.
“It certainly can,” said Kruger. “It’s about achieving comfort and establishing rhythm. I believe there’s truth in that. The longer players are on the court—especially for some of the guys we have—they can find their rhythm and flow. This has been evident in our recent games, as we’ve had a few players playing all 20 minutes in the second half, which we will likely need for the games ahead.”
UNLV’s current starting lineup, which includes sophomore Brooklyn Hicks in place of Thomas, had spent just four minutes and two seconds on the court together in the first 26 games. In Tuesday’s win over San Diego State, they managed to log a significant 15:39 together (outscoring the Aztecs 29-26 during that timeframe).
Can this intense basketball strategy lead to long-term success? Perhaps not. However, for the time being, Kruger and UNLV are making it effective.
The players are fully committed, and for a team that must win four games in four days next week, that’s the essential point.
“With our backs against the wall, we’ve got seven or eight guys out there playing,” Rishwain mentioned. “No one truly believes we’re going to win these games, but we’re building momentum as we head into the conference tournament and into our next matchup.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.