'Hungry' Rebels debut with opening practice - Sports

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Oct. 17, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

'Hungry' Rebels debut with opening practice

Team eager to rebound after unfulfilling year

By MATT YOUMANS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

UNLV Basketball - Men

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The UNLV men's basketball team starts a scrimmage Friday night during its first practice of the season at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Photos by Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Point guard Derrick Jasper, a transfer from Kentucky, lines up a shot during Friday's practice.

Derrick Jasper, Anthony Marshall and an impressive group of newcomers debuted Friday as UNLV opened the basketball season with a late-night practice at the Thomas & Mack Center.

An estimated crowd of 4,500 was greeted by an old favorite -- Larry Johnson, arguably the greatest player in Rebels history.

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UNLV coach Lon Kruger tipped off the event by introducing Johnson, who received a loud ovation before addressing the fans.

"Johnson came in the locker room to talk to us, and I don't know how to describe it. It was just a great feeling," said Marshall, a freshman guard from Mojave High School. "He talked about the old days. He's a real cool person.

"I came out and ran through the tunnel, and it was pretty exciting. I've been waiting for this for a long time, so I'm glad it's finally here."

Johnson will return next month for a 20-year reunion. The Rebels' 1990 national championship team will be honored Nov. 10, when UNLV plays Washburn (Kan.) in an exhibition game.

Kruger's optimism about the season is in contrast to how the Rebels left things in March, when they finished 21-11 with a loss at Kentucky in the National Invitation Tournament's opening round.

"Generally speaking, when a team doesn't make the NCAA Tournament one year, the players come back hungrier, and this team has certainly done that," Kruger said.

After the graduation of team leaders Wink Adams, Joe Darger and Rene Rougeau, the Rebels' top returning scorer is junior guard Tre'Von Willis, who was voted preseason All-Mountain West Conference first team.

Jasper, a 6-foot-6-inch point guard, also will have a major influence. Jasper redshirted last season after transferring from Kentucky.

When the players lined up for a 20-minute scrimmage, Jasper, Willis, sophomore guard Oscar Bellfield, senior forward Darris Santee and junior forward Matt Shaw started on the White team.

The Black team starters were Marshall, senior guard Steve Jones, junior guard Kendall Wallace, sophomore center Brice Massamba and 6-11 forward Carlos Lopez, a freshman from Findlay Prep. Freshman guard Justin Hawkins was the first substitute.

Chace Stanback, a sophomore who transferred from UCLA, did not play because of a minor left ankle injury.

Kruger expects to use Jasper, Willis and Bellfield frequently in a three-guard lineup. Stanback can play guard and forward spots.

"I think we all bring a little different quality to the game," Jasper said. "Oscar can shoot it and drive it. Tre is a great scorer. Chace is a big guard, but he can play the 3 and 4 (positions). I just play defense and try to lead this team. I plan on scoring, too. We have some players who have potential to be great scorers."

Jasper and Bellfield are natural point guards, something that could lead to more running when they are on the floor together.

"When we're both on the court, whoever gets the ball goes with it," Jasper said. "We have players who are really good at pushing the ball."

Bellfield made three 3-pointers in the scrimmage, which ended 39-38 with Shaw blocking Wallace's driving shot that would have won it at the buzzer. "Was it goaltending?" Wallace said.

Santee and Massamba showed improved post moves, creating hope the Rebels could have a stronger inside presence this season.

Jones, a transfer from Arizona State, and Santee are UNLV's only seniors, and Jones is one of the team's most vocal players.

"We're just really hungry, and we really want to erase the memories of last year," Jones said. "When you have a sour end to a year, it burns in your brain the whole offseason. We're not pleased with how things ended, and we don't want a repeat performance."

• NOTES -- UNLV recruit Erik Swoope, 6-5 forward from Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood, Calif., attended practice. ... Two local walk-on guards have been added to the roster: Tyler Norman from Faith Lutheran and Mike Martinez from The Meadows.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Mike wrote on October 19, 2009 02:49 PM: If you follow the Rebels, you'll know we have some size here and more on the way. This year we have Brice Massamba (6-10) and Carlos Lopez (6-11) to play in the post. They both showed some decent post presence during the scrimmage. In addition, Matt Shaw (6-8) coming back will make a big difference inside and Santee (6-8) looked pretty good during the practice as well. Also, don't forget that next year, we will have 6-10 Henry Buckley coming in who is transferring over from Kansas. It just takes time to get everything going. Kruger was WELL ahead of schedule in getting UNLV back into the Top 30-40. Also, talented big men are not a dime a dozen, and the good ones are scooped up by big name programs first. I'd rather have a good wing/guard than a big scrub. If you're comparing us to BYU and Utah, you have to take into account the fact that they have a built-in recruiting advantage called the Mormon religion. Elite Mormon athletes go to BYU/Utah, go on their mission and then come back. Jake wrote on October 18, 2009 12:36 AM: How come Kruger can't recruit size? I know many Rebel fans don't follow the Utes, but if you thought Luke Nevill leaving was the end of size, you will be in for a shock. Utes returned David Foster home from a mormon mission, he is 7-3, and showed more potential that Luke as a freshmen. Rebels are going to need size to continue to compete. Year in and out.....Kruger continues to sign small forwards. Good luck Rebels! rebinreno wrote on October 18, 2009 12:33 AM: LJ did graduate in 2007, he attended the graduation ceremony which was awesome. Eliminate_UNLV_sports wrote on October 17, 2009 06:18 PM: Did LJ ever graduate? If our new crop of BB players want to train for the NBA, they can play at private basketball schools like Duke, or else practice their craft in the Italian league. Keep Nevada taxpayers out of it. RealityKingpin wrote on October 17, 2009 09:19 AM: Most committed Rebel fan ever.... BUT...at some point we have to be able to sign at least one legit 6-10 post player...or a legit 6-9////not listed 6-9 and really 6'6, with no, ZERO post ability.... At the minimum you need a shot blocker....When we had Joel anthony that made a huge difference....two anthonys on one team would be better...... it sucks to have good players and do really well all year only to get whooped by the top teams because they sit there and dunk, or get put backs all day long..... VegasNative57 wrote on October 17, 2009 09:11 AM: Coach Kruger - Thank you for bringing the Runnin' Rebel family back together. Having LJ start the event last night was incredible. Great seeing Tark and others embrace this program again. That was a fun, fun night at the Mack. So much potential with the new guys - and that was without Chace. I can't wait until Nov. 10! jj wrote on October 17, 2009 08:49 AM: I've been a Rebel fan for 30 years but this group is very slow , I hope bec. it was only a practice, has a potential to take UNLV again to the next level...I obseved the practice very well.