UNLV Rebels

By Kevin Kruger · November 28, 2008 · 2 AM

Editor's Note: Kevin Kruger is the son of UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger. In his lone season playing for his father, Kevin led the Rebels to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament two seasons ago. He played for Utah in the NBA Development League last season and signed with Lukoil Academic, in Sofia, Bulgaria, in early November. He will provide periodic updates to the Sun about his exploits, on and off the court, in Eastern Europe.

My transition to Bulgaria has been rough.

I was incredibly homesick the first week or so I was here and just wanted to go back home. But I have started to warm up to the place, realizing that this is now my job and will probably never be as fun as it was in college.

I am currently in a hotel in what is not the nicest part of Sofia. My contract for Lukoil Academic came with a furnished apartment, British satellite TV and a car.

The European guys laugh when I ask when I am going to get the satellite. Guess it's never coming. But whenever you ask for something on your contract, regardless of the situation, you get it “tomorrow.”

I was picked up at the airport by the team manager, Vesko. He also is the team translator. I was surprised at how many people here do not speak any English. I am not sure why I assumed more would speak a little.

The area I am in looks exactly like the Hollywood movies depict Eastern Europe. Spray-painted buildings and dark alleys. When I first arrived I was a little nervous for my safety.

But I learned quickly that this is a very safe place. Old ladies and women walking around at 9 or 10 at night are common, something that rarely takes place in the states.

The other Americans on the team have been great to me. I don't have a car yet, so they have to shuttle me around to and from practice, and I always tag along any time they go eat.

Of the 15 days I have been here, we have eaten at a Chinese restaurant down the street about 10 times. It really helps when former Rebels volleyball player Maria Aladjova goes with us places.

She has saved us and helped us already more than I could ever explain.

It can be really frustrating trying to go places and get things not knowing any Bulgarian. She has made it possible for us to eat the foods we like at restaurants and also get to where we want to go. Explaining to cab drivers how to get places can be pretty tough.

As for basketball, we just played our third game since I got here, and first Eurocup game. We lost on a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to lose by a point.

It was honestly one of the hardest losses I have ever had. This game was so important, and would have given us a great start to the Eurocup, which are the more "important" games.

The team is great, most of the guys speak enough English to have conversations with and be able to talk to on the court.

The crowds have been pretty good. The gyms are small but they are filled. The people really get into it over here, they really support their teams.

Off the court I don't do much. I download movies and sitcoms off of itunes and watch them all day. I have watched every episode of "The Office" at least three times each.

(This is where the British satellite comes in.)

I talk to my parents every day. Before I left I bought a Blackberry with a global plan, so I use the blackberry messenger to talk to them and Shaina, my girlfriend.

The time change adds some difficulty, since we're 10 hours ahead, so there is a part of the day I talk to nobody. But being able to talk to them has made it possible for me to do this move.

I follow the Rebels religiously. I read every article possible on my dad's mailouts. Still amazes me how there seems to be so much anxiety because we only beat a team by 10 or so points.

We lost to UC-Santa Barbara at home my season, and I would have to say we turned out just fine.