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StumblePublished Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 | 3:52 p.m.
Updated Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 | 1:51 p.m.
UNLV’s basketball team left for its first road trip today. In fact, it’s on a bus right now to Long Beach, Calif., to play Long Beach State in a private scrimmage late Saturday morning.
Friday afternoon on the I-15 between Las Vegas and Los Angeles?
Ugh.
At least the contingent of Rebels is heading west, against the grain of what usually is a disaster of a Friday afternoon journey heading this way.
Still, coach Lon Kruger and his squad likely could fly to New York to get to a closed-door scrimmage against St. John’s quicker than it will arrive in Long Beach.
(Coach, if you’re reading this … time isn’t exactly of the essence, so may I recommend El Tarasco, at the corner of Rosecrans and Highland, in Manhattan Beach for a late dinner? Three chicken tacos. Extra mole sauce.)
(You’re welcome.)
The private run marks the de facto start of the season, since UNLV plays host to Division-II Washburn in a Tuesday exhibition and goes up against Pittsburg State next Saturday.
New point guard Derrick Jasper, the transfer from Kentucky, salivated about finally getting his UNLV career underway against other competition.
And he said his right knee, which has taken so long to mend from surgery, is doing fine.
The right knee of guard Tre’Von Willis didn’t look so fine after Friday morning’s practice, but he said there’s nothing to worry about.
Late in the session inside the Cox Pavilion practice gym, Willis left the barn with trainer Dave Tomchek and returned wearing an ice wrap around his right knee.
Just a little sore, Willis said, a little precaution to make sure he feels good for Saturday.
Assistant coaches Greg Grensing and Steve Henson ran most of Friday’s practice, as Kruger bolted early to check out a couple of high school practices. Afterward, the squad boarded a bus.
Hopefully by now they’ve passed the Peggy Sue’s diner that is out there in the middle of the desert, stuck in the 1950s. If not, it’s gonna be a long trip.
Coach, if you do stop at Tarasco on the way back …
Follow Rob Miech on Twitter at twitter.com/RobMiech.
the scrimmage last year vs asu was more telling then we thought. hopefully this squad will do much better versus csulb... cant wait.
Come on Rob, I've made that Friday drive a thousand times with no traffic problems. The only stop and go I ever encountered was in line at the Barstow In-n-Out.
now that's funny oregon, no trouble? LV to LA ... Long Beach, on a Friday, hitting the So Cal basin in the late afternoon. Right, that's fun.
Coming this way? Not a good deal after noon. But you know that, and we're talking about the other way.
Barring accidents, it should be a decent ride through the Cajon Pass. Then the fun begins. But you know that
Maybe Oregon drives down to Hesperia or Victorville ;P He wouldn't know. In all seriousness though, excited for the fellas. Hope they enjoy and find themselves as a team as well
Hey Rob when are the podcasts starting about basketball? You guys do a great job, I just wish there were more sometimes. Maybe add a shorter one a day before the game this year? Keep up the great work
rebel08,
the latest pidcast talks about bball for a good 7-8 minutes..listen to it all the way thru...
that doodling is a little random (ROB) but its good
rebel08, they'll be coming fast and furious ... especially when the football season is put to bed. thanks
fan11, thanks for the plug on the hoops talk in the latest one. random doodling? enlighten me. :-) If that's in reference to the "Yakkity Sax" tune, that's definitely befitting of the pigskin season, right?
rob, yes i mean the yakkity sax song.. and yea it is a good theme song for the 09 rebels football team..the song resembles clumbsyness, not knowing whats going on, and straight up stupidity
fan11, yep. Sad, but true. Hey, it's a tough job, no doubt. Something tells me help is on the way in a few weeks...
alright rob, i keep checkin on the story about the scrimmage..maybe it hasnt started yet, i dont know.. but im eager!!!
fan11, just posted the story ... scrimmage had its pluses, and minuses ... look for it very soon up on the stories on the main page ... (how's that for a tease!) :-)
you're killin me rob! but without you there would be barely and coverage on unlv basketball
ha, sorry 11... don't mean to ... be a tad patient, we've just run into a little glitch