A rematch with Louisville at the Thomas & Mack???

UNLV is still putting the finishing touches on next season’s Runnin Rebels non-conference basketball schedule with two more home games to be filled.

One of those will likely be filled by a Division II opponent so as to not hurt the team’s all important RPI (D-II games don’t count against the RPI). The other is expected to be against a marquee opponent. And UNLV head coach Lon Kruger said Tuesday that he is “hopeful” that marquee opponent could be Louisville.

Think that game would create a little bit of a buzz?

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino once showed strong interest in the Runnin’ Rebel head coaching position before taking the Cardinals’ job instead. And of course there’s the matter of UNLV’s 56-55 upset of the then No. 18-rated Cardinals last New Year’s Eve at historic Freedom Hall, one of the biggest wins of the Kruger Era of UNLV hoops.

Pitino left the court swiftly after that one without shaking Kruger’s hand, an incident the UNLV coach quickly downplayed.

Lets hope the two schools can shake hands soon on a rematch for this year at the Thomas & Mack.