Fisher enjoying Aztecs-Rebels rivalry

At some point, Dave Rice and Steve Fisher will have a conversation about their relationship and decide if it's a long-term deal. The talk between the coaches has not happened yet.

San Diego State-UNLV is arguably the most heated rivalry in the Mountain West Conference. But conference realignments are tearing apart rivalries all over the country, and this one is in jeopardy, too.

The Aztecs are exiting the Mountain West in 2013 and taking their basketball problem to the Big West. But Fisher said he hopes next season's series won't be the last time he sees the Rebels on his schedule. 

"I think it's a game that should continue to be played," Fisher said. "Everybody loves going to Vegas. We've had wonderful games. There's a healthy respect and a burning competitiveness between the teams."

Rice is in his first season as UNLV's head coach, but he was a longtime assistant for the Rebels and Brigham Young, so he appreciates the history of the Mountain West. Fisher has been part of the conference since its inception.

"I'm the only guy who has been in this league for 13 years," Fisher said. "I love the league."

He also likes facing UNLV, for at least one obvious reason. San Diego State has won six straight and nine of the past 10 in the series going into today's meeting at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Kruger-to-Rice transition 'seamless'

In April, when Lon Kruger left UNLV to take over at Oklahoma, Fisher said he was sad to see one of his closest coaching friends leave the league. But he sees no cause for Rebels fans to be disappointed with Rice as the replacement. 

"It's a seamless transition," Fisher said. "I'm a real advocate of Lon Kruger. He did a magnificent job in Vegas, and then to bring Dave back home ... you could not have prayed it would turn out as well as it has." 

UNLV is 21-4 and ranked No. 14 under Rice. 

San Diego State, 20-3 and ranked No. 13, owns the nation's highest winning percentage (54-6, 90 percent) since the beginning of the 2010-11 season.