Kevin Kruger: Father Lon's "mini-me" on the floor, the 6-2 point guard who gained his UNLV eligibility after transferring from Arizona State under a now-you-see-it, now-you-don't NCAA variance is the team's unquestioned leader. Kruger's toughness, calm demeanor and confident shooting touch—he made seven 3-pointers in last week's conference tourney—will be critical if the Rebs hope to topple well-tested teams from the ACC and Big 10.
Wendell White: The first-team all-league selection has been a shadow of himself since breaking his jaw in a game on February 11, playing tentatively with it wired shut. The Rebels will need the forward to resemble the low-post beast opponents struggled to stop early in the year as UNLV takes on physically stronger foes.
Joel Anthony: Pronounced Jo-el, Mr. Anthony took MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors despite coming off the bench in all but six contests. The 6-9 Montreal native isn't especially thick, but his massive wingspan will create serious problems for Yellowjackets or Badgers who dare test the UNLV lane. Any dude who blocks 13 shots in a single game is one serious badass in our book.