UNLV hoops notebook: Wallace trying to develop his touch

By Rob Miech

Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 | 2 a.m.

UNLV sophomore guard Kendall Wallace misses a long-range jumper, a whistle stops play and he does a 360 -- with his hands on his head -- inside the Cox Pavilion practice gym.

Last Saturday, after another miss on the Thomas & Mack Center court, he took a few steps back, turned, then smacked the black padding atop the scorer’s table.

To say the least, that woke up a visitor sitting two feet away.

“Oooooh, I get frustrated with myself sometimes,” Wallace said. “I get a little mad at myself. I need to try not to show so much emotion this year. I have to hold myself back from that.

“It can affect what my teammates think of me, confident-wise, and it can affect my confidence. I need to keep it to myself and try not to show any emotion.”

In 28 games as a freshman last season, Wallace shot 29.3 percent from the field, including 20.8 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

In six games in Australia this past summer, he shot 36.5 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from 3-point range. He averaged 8.5 points, fifth on the Rebels.

For someone who won three consecutive state titles at Mesa (Ariz.) Mountain View High, where he averaged 17 points his final two seasons, the transition to elite Division-I has been challenging.

He tried shooting higher than usual last season, to get his shot over taller foes, and that contributed to his woes.

This season, he’ll be more of a shooting guard than a ball handler, and Wallace is trying to launch the shot more in front of him than high. He said his shot has a better rotation.

As he develops his touch, Wallace finds himself battling newcomers Oscar Bellfield and DeShawn Mitchell, fresh out of high school, for time at the “two” spot.

Wallace said the influx of talent could be daunting to a young guy trying to earn a solid role.

“But I think it’s good for the team and good for developing the players,” Wallace said. “The competition we have out there every day in practice helps. I see it as a good thing.

“Our team is really deep. We’ll be able to turn and pressure people on defense, and push the ball on offense, get some easy looks and get some points off our defense. We’ll play a real high-tempo pace this year.”

Making the transition from high school to the top level of Division-I ball often takes a lot of adjustment, UNLV coach Lon Kruger said.

“His identity, which we keep telling him, is making shots,” Kruger said. “When he doesn’t, he might worry too much. You have to make a good percentage. You’ll miss shots. That’s the nature of the game.

“But you can’t let that one miss cause another missed shot.”

Kruger talks to all of his players about playing the next play. Can’t change what just happened. Learn from it, but put it in the back of your mind.

“Kendall might miss a shot, but he can’t let that affect the defensive possession coming up or affect his next shot,” Kruger said. “We talk about that a lot. Don’t dwell on something that has already passed.

“In high school, Kendall did a little bit of everything. Here, he’s more of a shooter. It’s an adjustment. I think he’ll shoot the ball well, though.”

Tattoo you

The ink isn’t even dry on Wink Adams’s right shoulder, and the left one is wet again.

On a tattoo spree, he had a nifty Houston Astros logo etched on his right shoulder Sunday. Thursday, he had a “UN” inked to the left of the basketball on his left shoulder and an “LV” on the other side.

A big “1” was also drawn in the background of the ball.

He said he will have his mother’s name (Reandre) and her initials tattooed on his arms by Sunday.

“Then it’s over,” Adams said. “I’m through.”

Dinged up

Freshman center Brice Massamba has been walking lightly lately.

Wednesday, Darris Santee came down hard, with his elbow, on Massamba’s left wrist in the Cox Pavilion practice gym. He had it wrapped and he returned a few minutes later.

He said Santee had hit a nerve but he downplayed the injury.

Thursday, in the Cox main court, Massamba injured his left knee and ankle. He sat out most of the practice with ice wrapped around both.

Friday, in the practice gym, Massamba sat on the sidelines and intermittently left to undergo treatment with trainer Dave Tomchek.

Visitors

Among the crowd Friday were Findlay coach Mike Peck and assistant Todd Simon, and Pilots power forward Carlos Lopez.

In blue sweats, Lopez greeted every UNLV player and shot around a bit with Massamba, his teammate last season, after practice.

Lopez, and guards Anthony Marshall and Justin Hawkins all told the Sun they are eager to sign national letters of intent on Nov. 12, the first day of the weeklong early signing period.

Dates to remember

Kruger’s weekly radio show, on ESPN 1100-AM, starts Tuesday, from 7-8 p.m., at Brendan’s Irish Pub inside the Orleans … in conjunction with a Legends alumni game and an exhibition game against Washburn on Nov. 11, a shotgun golf tournament will be played at noon Nov. 10 at Dragon Ridge Country Club. Cost for a trio is $2,000, and each will have a former Rebel to round out the foursome. Greg Anthony, Lou Kelly and H Waldman are some ex-UNLV player who will take to the links. The price includes lunch and refreshments on the course, tee prizes, a meal after the golf, and tickets to the alumni and exhibition games … the season starts Nov. 15 against San Diego at the Thomas & Mack Center … for more information about any of the above events, call 702-895-3295 or 702-895-1533.