|
September
1st, 2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
UNLV Rebels
Overall Rank:
#71
Conference
Rank: #4 MWC
2005-06:
17-13, 10-6, 4th
2005-06
postseason: none
 After another
season of mediocrity,
UNLV is looking to rebound and make it
back to the postseason. A fourth place finish this year in the
Mountain West Conference should be enough to at least make the NITs, but a trip to the NCAAs is possible if the big guys can
produce.
Who’s Out:
The
starting frontcourt of Louis Amundson and Dustin Villepigue is
gone. Amundson led the squad with 14.3 points and 8.6 boards,
while Villepigue tacked on 6.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per
contest. Jason Petrimoulx started 25 games as a junior before
opting not to return to the program. Fellow guards Ricky Morgan
and Robert Berkey have run out of eligibility.
Who’s In:
The big get
for Coach Lon Kruger is his son Kevin Kruger, who transferred in
from Arizona State under the new rules for a fifth year player
who graduated in four years. The young Kruger is a tremendous
outside shooter and will be the go-to scorer for the Rebels.
Incoming freshman Marcus Lawrence is a smooth pure point guard
and will battle for minutes right away. The perimeter doesn’t
need much more help this season, but the future of the backcourt
is well established with the additions of redshirt freshmen
Efrem Lawrence and Scott Hoffman and wings Corey Bailey and Troy
Cage. In the frontcourt, Joel Anthony returns after sitting out
last season. In 2004-2005, the 6-9, 250 pound center averaged
1.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. With the
starting center job all but locked up for Anthony, bigger
numbers are expected from the Montreal, Canada native. Beside
Anthony, Matt Shaw will battle for minutes. The 6-8 power
forward has the size and strength to compete in the MWC as a
freshman and can score in the paint or step out and hit the
short jumper.
Who to Watch:
Jo’Van Adams will move back to the starting point guard spot.
As a freshman last year, Adams averaged 10.9 points, 2.4 assists
and 3.3 rebounds. If he can run the show effectively, keep the
turnovers down and find the scoring threats on the wings, the
Rebels will be in for a good season. Michael Umeh and Curtis
Terry are solid options on the wing. With the addition of
Kruger, one will be relegated to the bench. Umeh is a little
undersized to be effective at the three spot and his outside
shooting skills make him a likely candidate to provide a spark
off the bench. Terry, who averaged 7.4 points and 3.0 rebounds
last season, can provide more help to the big guys on the glass.
Final
Projection:
Maybe
expectations are always a little high for UNLV, but this squad
has the potential to surprise some people in the MWC. Not
making a postseason would be a massive disappointment this
year. Much of the team’s success will lie on Wendell White who
may start at the power forward spot. Listed as a 6-6 guard,
White has the athletic ability to get on the glass and be
effective up front. Foul trouble and depth will be a problem in
the paint and the newcomers and returning players like Gaston
Essenque and Joe Darger will have to be ready to contribute
effectively.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected
Starting Five:
Jo’Van Adams,
Sophomore, Guard, 10.9 points per game
Kevin Kruger,
Senior, Guard, 15.0 points per game at ASU
Curtis Terry,
Junior, Guard, 7.4 points per game
Wendell White,
Senior, Guard, 7.3 points per game
Joel Anthony,
Senior, Center, DNP last season
|
