Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2006 | 8:07 a.m.
Ricky Morgan began last season on the UNLV bench, then started the final 12 games. This season, he started the first five games before being relegated to reserve duty.
Neither the former Iowa State starter nor coach Lon Kruger view Morgan's different roles as promotions or demotions.
"You've just got to be humble," Morgan said. "You have to be realistic with yourself. Guys who play their roles last a long time, and they usually end up successful."
Saturday at Utah, Kruger said, Morgan made a difference -- giving the Rebels breathing room in an eventual 12-point victory, instead of sweating out a tight game -- by sinking all eight of his second-half free throws.
In UNLV's last five games, Morgan has committed only one turnover in 61 minutes, a span in which he has had eight assists.
"I hate turning it over," he said. "I hate getting beat on defense. I hate not contributing. Coming off the bench or starting, I want my minutes to be positive, whether it's five, 15 or 25."
Upon further review
After Monday's practice at the Thomas & Mack Center, senior forward Dustin Villepigue said he was even more impressed with the alley-oop dunk that Louis Amundson converted off one of his passes at Utah.
The lob, from the right wing, was a bit short. Amundson flew in from the left post, cupped the ball below and in front of the rim, with two defenders right there, and slammed it home. Villepigue saw a replay Sunday night.
"We worked on it before the game," he said. "Usually, during the games, I'll make a connection with him. But it was awesome. I know if I can get it up there enough, he'll go get it."
Favorable schedule
With the Mountain West Conference schedule no longer dictated by a Saturday-Monday routine and a regular 9 p.m. slot on ESPN's "Big Monday" telecasts, the league moved to a Wednesday-Saturday pattern this season.
San Diego State visits UNLV on Feb. 16 in a Thursday game that will be aired on ESPN2, but that's an exception.
Kruger likes the new format, which is generally the schedule that the Big 12, Big Ten and Atlantic Coast conferences follow, because it gives the players more time to recover and coaches more opportunity to plan.
"TV exposure can be good," he said. "But we weren't getting in many households, anyway, at midnight on the East Coast."
Also noted:
* Don't look for much scoring tonight when UNLV (10-7, 4-1 Mountain West) hosts Air Force (16-3, 4-2) at the Thomas & Mack.
The Falcons are second in the nation, allowing only 53.2 points a game, and the Rebels lead the MWC with a stingy field-goal percentage defense of .410. In 12 nonconference games, UNLV foes have shot 45.1 percent.
* Kruger said his forwards have done well defending big players and Rebels guards have been successful in extending defensive pressure, making the other guys start their offense farther out than accustomed.
"If you can get that combination," Kruger said, "usually you get pretty good results."
* Kruger said junior guard Michael Umeh (right knee) had some lingering soreness after playing 16 minutes at Utah and will be closely monitored. He injured the knee on New Year's Eve at home against Southern Utah, then missed two games.
Umeh played seven minutes at San Diego State, 16 at home against Colorado State and the 16 at Utah. Kruger said Monday he was disappointed to hear that Umeh's knee is still tender.
"For his sake, he's still on limited minutes," Kruger said.
* Villepigue barely ducked out of the way of Colorado State guard Cory Lewis's punch/elbow last Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack. Lewis was ejected, then suspended one game for fighting. Villepigue said "a little" shoving under the Rams' basket premeditated Lewis' actions.
"He just took it totally the wrong way and threw a cheap shot," Villepigue said. "I'm surprised he did it. Luckily, I saw him throw the punch, or I would have had some broken bones."
*****
By the Numbers
30
Louis Amundson's national rebound ranking. He is averaging 9.5.
***
1.52
UNLV's assists/turnovers ratio, best in the Mountain West.
Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at [email protected].
archive
