Always dangerous University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) arrives in Freedom Hall Wednesday riding the crest of a six-game winning streak and an 11-2 won-lost record. Victims this season have included Arizona, Cincinnati and Fresno State.

Senior guard Wink Adams, the team’s leading scorer with 14.1 points per game, is listed as a game-time decision, recuperating from a lower abdominal strain incurred in a game last week against Southern Utah.

If Adams does make a quick recovery, get your arms up and get out on your man: He hit seven consecutive three-pointers in a 79-64 win over Utah on Dec. 20.

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The Running Rebels are mentored by Lon Kruger, who coached the Atlanta Hawks prior to accepting the UNLV position in 2004. It was as head coach of the Hawks that Kruger guaranteed season-ticket holders that the Hawks would make the playoffs or get a $125 refund. The Hawks failed to make the playoffs and Kruger was fired midway through the season.

Kruger also held head coaching positions at Florida, Kansas State, Illinois and the University of Texas-Pan American. He is one of five coaches to take four teams to the men’s NCAA basketball tournament.

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Calendar Girl – The first 7,500 fans to attend the Lady Cards’ season-opening Big East Conference Game against Depaul on Saturday will receive a free Angel calendar, featuring U of L All American forward Angel McCoughtry. Game time is 2 p.m. at Freedom Hall. See ya at the Heavenly Gate on Phillips Lane.

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Baseball Memory – Stumbled onto a real memento at the gift shop at Freedom Hall while attending the Lady Cards-New Hampshire game: a home-plate shaped clock commemorating the Baseball Cards’ appearance in the College World Series. Normally, the clocks go for $45, but they’ve been marked down to $22.50. Only five clocks remained after I got mine. Good way to remember a great time in UofL baseball history.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.