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UNLV Basketball Preview: #28
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October 22nd, 2008
by Joel Welser
» Tags
UNLV Basketball
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Overall Rank: #28
Conference Rank: #1 MWC
2007-08: 27-8, 12-4, 2nd
2007-08 postseason: NCAA
The Mountain West Conference had a good 2007-2008 campaign and should again in 2008-2009. And once again UNLV will be towards the top. The Runnin’ Rebels return three starters from the team that fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to the eventual national champions. Coach Lon Kruger has done a great job building the program up over the last few years. If that trend continues, UNLV will be tough to stop.
Who’s Out:
But they will have to do it without Curtis Terry and Corey Bailey. Terry did a little bit of everything and averaged 11.1 points, 4.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds during his senior season. His overall numbers might be replaceable, but it will take three people to do it. Bailey, a forward, rarely put up huge numbers, but he was a steady force under the basket. Troy Cage and Marcus Lawrence have also wrapped up their collegiate careers at UNLV.
Who’s In:
The Rebels need to find some depth in the frontcourt, and preferably a starter as well. Beas Hamga should fit into that starter role. The 7-0 center could have been a major contributor last year, but he redshirted. With that year in the program, Hamga will be prepared. He has some work to do on the offensive end, but on the other side of the court he is dominating. The lack of experience might slow Hamga for a little while, but the Cameroonian will come around sooner rather than later. Junior college transfer Darris Santee and incoming freshman Brice Massamba hope to provide some much needed depth in the paint. On the wing the newcomers are DeShawn Mitchell and Tre’Von Willis. Willis appeared in 17 games and averaged 2.6 points with Memphis two years ago. Point guard Oscar Bellfield is a nice pickup for the Rebels. With the absence of Lawrence, Bellfield could see some quality playing time as the backup point guard.
Who to Watch:
Bellfield will learn the ropes from Wink Adams. The 6-0 senior has always been a solid scoring point guard, but last year he really turned into more than just a scorer. Adams dished out 3.1 assists per game and kept the turnovers to a minimum. But it is still his scoring that makes him a great player. Adams averaged 16.9 points per game as a junior last year and he can score in just about every way imaginable. With Joe Darger on the wing, the Rebels have their other versatile scoring threat. Darger was a consistent double-digit scorer a year ago and the 6-7 senior is a solid outside shooter and a more than capable rebounder. There was a time not long ago when former walk-on Rene Rougeau was nothing but a defensive specialist. In 2007-2008, the 6-6 guard started scoring as well and ended the year averaging 9.0 points per game. He is not the shooter that a team would normally like at the two guard spot, but Adams and Darger give the team enough three-point shooting. Mareceo Rutledge and Kendall Wallace did not see too much playing time their first seasons in Las Vegas, but at least both are now experienced options who can give the starters a break.
Final Projection:
The backcourt has plenty of talent and experience, but the same cannot be said about the frontcourt. The loss of Matt Shaw, who will red-shirt this season after tearing a ligament over the summer, is a major blow. With Rougeau being 6-6 and Darger 6-7, those two will slide up to the three and four spots, with Willis sliding into the starting lineup. While that lineup is solid, UNLV will run into problems when facing bigger opponents, or if Hamga gets into foul trouble.
Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Wink Adams, Senior, Guard, 16.9 points per game
Tre'Von Willis, Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season (transfer)
Rene Rougeau, Senior, Guard, 9.0 points per game
Joe Darger, Senior, Forward, 11.3 points per game
Beas Hamga, Freshman, Center, DNP last season
CHN Preview: CHN Top 144 Ranking | 2008-09 Preview & Awards | Coach Interviews | Discuss the Preview
Comments
Shaw
Submitted by Shawn Siegel on Wed, 2008-10-22 18:43.
That was a bad mistake. As the editor of the site, I aplogize for that oversight.. probably the biggest error on any of these Top 144 articles.
A little off...
Submitted by LawnKruger (not verified) on Thu, 2008-10-23 15:09.
Wow. This article is remarkably inaccurate. Wink Adams has been the starting shooting guard for several years. Not point guard. Did you just see his height on a stat sheet and assume he runs the point?Rougeau is a guard/forward combo and has mostly played at the 3 or 4. Tre'von Willis will likely be the starting point guard, with Bellfield and maybe Wallace backing him up. Everyone close to the program (including head coach Lon Kruger) has been saying/hinting for weeks that Darris Santee will be starting with Hamga and Massamba battling for playing time as his back-up. Those three big guys plus Darger and Rougeau (both proved more than capable of holding their own down low last year) and I'd say we have a deep all around team, not just at the guard. Oh, and Marcus Lawrence got kicked off the team half way through last season. I'm surprised you didn't say Emmanuel Adeife and Lamar Roberson will be missed. I think UNLV is a top 20 team, but you are entitled to your opinion concerning their preseason rank. However, I would recommend familiarizing yourself with this team a little more; your information is a little skewed.
Need to get facts straight!
Submitted by rebelfanforever45 (not verified) on Thu, 2008-10-23 15:40.
If your going to rank UNLV near the top 25, you think you would know more about the team. Wink is a shooting guard first of all. I guess with 3.1 assists a game you can get that mixed up. Secondly, you probably have just read other websites and got information there about the rebels and assumed that Beas Hamga would be are starter. Darris Santee will be the starter and Hamga and Massamba will be battling for the 2nd spot, even though all 3 will get playing time the first few weeks. The reason we don't get any respect is we are televised on a pretty weak station "The Mountain" and it gives absolutly no national exposure. I just wish people who would call themselves expert would learn to do better research on programs like this because as fans it really does make us mad that we don't get respect year after year. The rebels will be preseason top 25 most likely this year and will make a big run in the Tournament.
Matt shaw was decent but was
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008-10-23 18:05.
Matt shaw was decent but was no where to be seen when it mattered most he lost his starting job before conference play anyway he wasn't that big of a contributer so it doesn't matter they have big men now and people who can shoot what shaw tried to do so it shouldn't be a major blow. thanks for fixing the mistake though.
I think the people writing
Submitted by UCLABruin8 (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-28 01:15.
I think the people writing the comments might be being a tad harsh, but oh well. UNLV should be in the top 25, and they will prove that to you guys in a few weeks. BTW, Willis is the starting PG, Wink is the SG(has been for 3 years, and hes one of the best SG in the country, hands down), Darris Santee will be the starting center, and Hamga+Massamba will give the Rebels the most front court depth in the MWC.
Since when did UNLV fans get
Submitted by JoePa (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-28 09:09.
Since when did UNLV fans get so cocky? This is UNLV, not UCLA.. just cause athlons or whoever puts you 24th doesnt mean you're legitimately a top 25 team. You guys will finish somewhere around 40th, maybe lower. calm down.
40th?
Submitted by rebelbandman (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-28 11:47.
40th!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! BCS bias, is all that is, We'll see when the season comes around, but 40?? Wow
Not that funny
Submitted by JoePa (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-28 12:18.
Seriously, when was the last time UNLV beat a decent team outside of league play? Kent State? Nevada? That's it? Beat one legit Top 10-25 or even Top 50 team during the year and we can talk.
Joe Pa UCLA
Submitted by Darren (Las Vegas) (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-28 12:26.
Well Joeypa, there was a time when UCLA wished they were UNLV. And it wasn't that long ago. It's a shame UCLA had the NCAA in their back pocket and helped tear down the dynasty. UNLV would have rivaled UCLA as far as the biggest dynasties ever in college sports.
Now this is getting funny
Submitted by JoePa (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-28 12:46.
Fellas, the 70's and 80's are over. You realize you've won 3 NCAA games in the last 17 years right? 3? Even Tulsa has doubled that sad total.
Not that funny
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-10-28 12:44.
Ok, I see your point, but if you look at our record over the past 2 years its pretty darn good... Just to list a few
*2 yrs ago we did beat a #2 seed in Wisconsin in the tourney...a pretty big win... also
07-08 - 27 total wins
at San Diego - 2008 Tourney team
Home - BYU - top 25
Home - New Mexico - top 50
06-07 - 30 total wins
at Texas Tech
at Nevada - top 25
Home - Airforce top 25
Home - Texas A&M CC 2007 Tourney team
We have had some pretty good wins the last couple of years and completely understand why Rebel fans are upset. It's just the simple fact that our team keeps winning games and are given no real consideration on the national stage...57 wins in the past two years is the best in the west besides UCLA, but we constantly have to hear about Gonzaga, St. Mary's and the entire pac-10. I do see your point though, its not like we have been demolishing the North Carolina's or Kansas's of the world but we are making a name for ourselves. #28 I can live with that for now, but I guarantee we will not finish around 40...and in March if you are still around you can come back to this board and apologize. Deal?
Joe Pa i agree it is sad
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2008-11-03 01:00.
Joe Pa i agree it is sad that UNLV is third on the all time winning percentage list. And its just sad that UNLV is gonna tear apart anyone they play this year. and to answer your queation of what good team have we ever beat. what about texas tech 2 years ago(biggest game of the year) how about a ranked Nevada team 2 years ago. how about #2 Wisconsin in the tourney 2 years ago. How about Arizona barely escaping a win last year. And just to let you know last year our tallest guy was 6'7" and look how far we went. And just to let you know, this year we have a 6'11" 255lbs JUCO transfer, a top 5 in the nation 7' Center, and 6'9" 265lbs Juco transfer this year, not to mention our transfer from memphis and our new point guard in Bellfield( my opinion) who is even better than our guy from memphis, not to mention the transfer from UCLA, the #3 SG in the nation and slew of others for 09-10. we are three deep at each position this year. and we can play with anyone this year, and will play with anyone this year, and go DEEP in the tourney(at LEAST Sweet 16) so dont tell me that UNLV sucks. Cuz everyone better get ready, the REBELution has begun!
UNLV is weak
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 2008-11-14 20:14.
SDSU usually wins the MWC this year they are rebuilding and will still be in contention its between BYU and SDSU and UNLV i give the edge to BYU then SDSU UNLV fans quit being so cocky
sdsu's won the mwc like once
Submitted by Shawn Siegel on Sat, 2008-11-15 11:12.
sdsu's won the mwc like once in the last decade.. not sure how thats usually
UNLV is a nobody...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2009-01-19 00:19.
UNLV's a nobody! Why you guys all bragging about UNLV? ESPN probably mentioned their name ONCE b/c they won their weakass conference...any of the PAC 10 teams will kill UNLV, even the beavers LOL
VbYiurUJYKJqOt
Submitted by Motivation to lose weight (not verified) on Sun, 2012-04-08 03:49.
RCXPmV Thanks again for the post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
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About Joel Welser
Columnist
College Preview Editor
Contact
jwelser@collegehoops.net
Background
"Joel Welser does a tremendous job covering college basketball. He gives his readers knowledgeable and insightful information on college hoops." -Ernie Zeigler, Head Basketball Coach, Central Michigan University "Joel Welser writes clean, knowledgeable copy that always hits deadline." -Greg Eno, former editor-in-chief, Motor City Sports Magazine Growing up in Michigan, Joel Welser inherited a love for Big Ten sports. After defying all family traditions and not going to Michigan State, Joel headed out west to earn his bachelor degree from California State University, Northridge in Cinema Television Arts, specializing in screenwriting. For reasons still unknown, after his stint in Hollywood, Joel headed back to Michigan where he remains to this day complaining about the cold. Joel has found a successful formula with the popular top 144 series at collegehoops.net and has also written college football and college basketball previews and articles for various websites and magazines.
Location
Portage, MI
You obviously don't know
You obviously don't know anything about college basketball because unlv should be in the top 25 regardless and its kind of old news like end of the season matt shaw is out of the year with a knee injury and is red shirting so you wrote a whole article about nothing the Rebels still get no respect.