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UNLV hoops notebook: 3-point line no long shot for Rebels
Monday, Nov. 3, 2008 | 2 a.m.
The 3-point line will be extended from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 9 inches, but the new distance has not bothered UNLV senior shooters Joe Darger and Wink Adams.
In practice over the past two weeks, each continues to hit plenty of long-range shots from the new arc.
“I don’t think it will affect us,” Adams said. “Last year, we were shooting from there, anyway, if not farther.”
Adams led the Rebels in 3-point attempts with 185 last season, when Darger launched 182. Curtis Terry heaved 183, which will likely be filled by Tre’Von Willis and Oscar Bellfield.
“I don’t think it will affect us because we’re so used to shooting from back there,” Darger said. “I’m not too worried about the line. I’m more focused on the hoop than the line.”
On the Cox Pavilion practice gym, where UNLV trained Saturday, there’s the old 3-point line, in black, and the new one in white.
“Most of the time, you can’t even tell they moved it,” Adams said. “Out here, you can with the two lines. I think once we start playing we won’t really notice it.”
Teams that don’t shoot well from long range will have trouble, according to Darger. For the Rebels, he said, it isn’t an issue.
“It’s not something I think about too much,” he said. “If my foot’s on the line, my foot’s on the line. I’m just stepping in and shooting it, focusing more on the shot and the rim than the line.
“We like to keep the floor spaced, anyway,” Darger said. “We’ll be more worried about the play, getting guys open and knocking down shots than where you are on the floor.”
Up in lights
Friends have told senior swingman Rene Rougeau about the billboards featuring him that are up around town.
“There’s been a lot of talk about them,” he said. “I heard there’s one off Flamingo, but I haven’t seen it.”
One was spotted Saturday heading south on I-15, from Charleston Boulevard. It’s off to the left, big and white. Rougeau, holding a basketball, is on the right side. Season tickets, at $90, are being advertised.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Rougeau, smiling after Sunday’s practice. “I’m glad to see my picture up around Las Vegas now. I wouldn’t have thought that would happen.”
He arrived at UNLV as a walk-on and was put on scholarship over the summer.
“I’m not a star yet,” Rougeau said. “Just want to win, that’s all.”
First test
UNLV will scrimmage at Arizona State on Saturday in a closed-door practice session.
The past two seasons, Rougeau has been part of Rebels teams that have privately scrimmaged at Pepperdine and against the Sun Devils.
“I know what’s at stake,” he said. “We know the older guys have to lead by example and play good defense. ASU is a very good team. We have to work hard.”
Clarification
Chace Stanback spent last season at UCLA and is redshirting at UNLV after transferring. He will have three seasons of eligibility left starting in 2009-10.
He had taken an unofficial visit to Washington, but transferring within the Pac-10 Conference would have required Stanback to sit out a year as a transfer but still use a season of eligibility.
So he would have burned his sophomore season in 2008-09 and would have been a junior for 2009-10. He would have opted to play one season at a junior college, he said, and then would have gone to Washington.
So that’s one reason why UNLV appealed to him.
A few years ago, the Pac-10 eliminated a rule in which in-conference transfers had to sit out two seasons. The newer wrinkle, though, isn’t much better.
A little incentive
No UNLV player or coach has found a photograph of Ford Field in Detroit and posted it in a prominent place in the locker room or basketball offices.
That will be the site for the Final Four next spring.
“But it’s probably a good idea,” Rougeau said. “Might have to do that. We talk about that among the team. Can’t really talk about that too much publicly.
“We have to worry about the season and non-conference. Then, when the time comes, hopefully we’ll be there.”
Free throws
Rougeau practiced Sunday after sitting out Saturday’s practice. He rolled his left ankle Thursday and practiced Friday, but coach Lon Kruger kept him out of Saturday’s practice as a precaution. Rougeau said his ankle is “80 to 85 percent” … freshman center Brice Massamba (left Achilles’ tendon) missed his fourth consecutive practice Sunday. He spent much of the time riding a stationary bike. He grimaced as strength coach Jason Kabo had him do some strenuous pedaling ... rosters for the Legends game, which will be played before UNLV’s exhibition against Washburn on Nov. 11, are still being formed and finalized.
Discussion: 19 comments so far…
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Hey Rougeau: The NIT Final Four is played in Madison Square Garden in New York City. That is probably a safer bet for this team! Want me to print you out a picture?
Wink is the only player that has proven he is any good on this team. The rest of the team is average or completely unknown. I dont know why some fans are so high on this team. The Lousville game in December will really put things in perspective, if not a couple games before that.
Totally wrong rebfan. Discount Rougeau and Darger at your own peril. You are that lost on what they're capable of and what this team will be like with a true low-post game? You have no idea how good newcomers like Oscar Bellfield and Darris Santee will be? Have you been on Mars the past couple of months?
Oh, Sufferin, you're just full of cutesy quips, eh? Not to mention ... constant negativity that must make your doctor happy at all the return visits.
Rob:
Why do you bother with this ignorant guy? He's the same guy who was touting the wonder and glory of Charlie Spoonhour after he was hired, while the rest of us knew the reality. His poor attitude and lack of ingenuity is tired and worn out.
A nation of sports writers, columnists, and knowledgable fans can see this is a top 25 team, clearly supported by our ranking in preseason polls at #26. The above writer posts to get attention since he gets little in his personal life.
Let's focus our energy on positive results, and cheer on a team of good kids and hard working coaches.
By the way,thanks for all you do - your coverage is second to none.
In a few months there is going to be a different attitude from all of the naive UNLV fans. I am sorry to say it but Krugers luck cannot last forever and he will return UNLV to his mediocre ways with his 59% career win percentage. Thats right fans, 59% career win percentage. Pretty impressive, huh. I just want UNLV to be a winner on the national scale and I dont think Kruger has what it takes to get UNLV there.
You are right RebelD ... points well taken. Will focus time and energy toward ideas and people who matter. Thanks.
And you're welcome for the coverage. We will have updated and fresh stuff daily, so keep watching. It'll only get bigger and better.
4evr, what are you talking about? Kruger has already taken the team to the national level. Did you not see that Sweet 16 run? This one is poised to do some damage, and Kruger has that program to where it is improving yearly. You cannot ask for more.
Haha, that's RebelRobert posting under two different handles.
Nice one bitter guy.
Reminds me of Randy Quaid's character from Major League II -- he'll be the only one frowning while we're all celebrating the Rebs' success.
Hey Rob,
I hate to focus on a negative but your report on Brice Massamba has me a little concerned. Is his injury anything significant? Will he be ready to go come Washburn?
Missing working in the athletic offices huh Robert(rebfan4evr and Sufferin)? Bitter and ignorant, man what a combination.
Actually I am not Rebelrobert. Do not assume that all UNLV fans are pleased with a coach who has a 59% career win percentage and who lucks his way into the NCAA tournament. I do not buy into the hype. There will be dissapointment in the rebel community when all of the preseason hype doesnt come to fruition. Luck does not last forever and Krugers will run out, and he will have UNLV back in the NIT in no time at all. I am not happy at all saying that, but it is what I believe and hopefully I will be proven wrong, but I doubt it.
Ok first of all Lon's winning percentage is 59.795 most people would round that up to 60%, but negativity is something you seem to be good at. He has been to the National championship tournament 11 times including a final four and an elite 8 appearance.
Also to put this in perspective the Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton has a career winning percentage of 60%. Also other coaches such as Rick Majerus, Bo Ryan, Bruce Weber, and Jim Boehiem have winning percengages of 62.5%. However, most of these coaches have been at programs that have been much more successful than UNLV has been post Tark. Then you consider that Lon has always taken over programs that were struggling and built them back up.
Also, in the last 2 years (when UNLV has been good, incase you were wondering) UNLV is in the top 10 for wins in the nation and 2nd to only UCLA west of the Mississippi in wins.
Lon's winning percentage at UNLV is also 68.42% and in the last 2 years his winning percentage is 79.17%.
Dude, if you're not RR you're certainly a clone who talks EXACTLY like him.
I frequent many Runnin' Rebel boards and there's only one who throws in obscure percentages while trying to put a negative spin on the Kruger era.
Looks like a hater, talks like a hater, must be a hater.
how can u be a rebelfan4ever if all you do is riducule our team. Your no fan at all. It's people like you who have nothing going on in there lives so they talk about our basketball team. Look at Krugers track record. He's won at every school he's been to. So before you open your mouth next time, do your homework son. This is your daddy talking!!!
Rob,
your coverage is tremendous. Keep up the exceptional work! As a 25+ yr Runnin' Rebel fan it's so gratifying to support a program that has returned to relevance -- and in a year or two, dominance. Your reporting on this site fills an important void for us long suffering fans who can't wait for the season to start.
Be good to see guys like Dickel, Kambabla and Rosegreen runnin the courts at the T&M again.
Hey now, jkw2004, don't forget about that school that beat UNLV in the tourney last year when you're talking about teams west of the Mississippi ;-)
nice...my bad.
Grayback, touche. Traval, am working on an update of Brice as I type this (Tue, 5:06 pm)... Look for that in Wednesday's notebook, on today's scrimmages I just returned from and other tidbits from practice. (Sorry, I'd respond here but need to hustle on the story. Thanks)
midnight lute, thanks for the feedback! Just keep watching what we do. We'll keep you informed and entertained, to say the least! gracias...
Not sure about Kambala, Lenny. I didn't see his name on a list I was given for the Legends game. I'll put something together on that. It's tough, though. Guys who say they'll show don't, then they'll have last-second shows. So, you never really know... but stay tuned...