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twitterUNLV BASKETBALL:
Rougeau makes his voice heard as a team leader
Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Rene Rougeau, a walk-on for the UNLV basketball team, started 27 games last year.
Rene Rougeau File
- Full name: Rene Anthony Rougeau
- Nickname: Ne-Ne
- Age: 22
- Height/weight: 6-feet-6, 210 pounds
- Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
- Family: mother, Debra; father, Glenn; sisters Dominique, Angelique and Monique; brothers Pierre and Sean.
- Etiwanda High: Averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds as a senior, when Etiwanda went 32-3.
- UNLV: Redshirted upon arriving in Las Vegas, he played 38 games as a reserve his first two seasons; started 27 of 35 games last season, averaging 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds, shooting 50.8 percent from the field.
Work hard, on three. One, two, three. “Work hard!” Rebs on three. One, two, three. “Rebs!”
UNLV senior swingman Rene Rougeau directs huddle-exiting chants in basketball practice with the energy and focus of a general, and the zeal of a cheerleader.
He barks at teammates out of position, tutors them on strategy and is the Rebel most apt to rest an arm on the shoulder of another player, applauding a smart move or boosting someone who’s down.
Wink Adams and Joe Darger are UNLV’s senior starters who will lead by example when the season starts Saturday against San Diego. They won’t say much. Their actions, and points, will speak for themselves.
Rougeau, 22, has the versatile game, impressive rise from walk-on status and willingness to say what needs to be said, to any Rebel, to give him clout.
UNLV coach Lon Kruger frequently talks with Rougeau about … talking.
“I’m more vocal than a lot of other guys,” Rougeau said. “I have to speak up. The guys trust me. They follow me and respect me. At the same time, I have to give them respect.
“Coach trusts me with a lot, to make sure that everything is going well in practice.”
Taking ownership for a program doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it’s rare. It’s not just about winning. It’s about everything that goes into winning.
And it’s about being a young player who recognizes those traits and aims to learn and pass that knowledge to other young players. Hopefully, one or two get it.
“He’s showing them, giving them a blueprint,” said Rebels assistant coach Greg Grensing. “You don’t have to be the biggest, strongest, most athletic, most skilled player.
“But if you have a passion for it and are willing to not be afraid of failing … having one on your ballclub every year certainly would be an asset to your team.”
Rougeau came to Las Vegas without fanfare. He didn’t average double figures in points or rebounds his senior prep season.
He cracked the UNLV starting lineup early last season, when Kruger opted for a more mobile unit, and became a dependable and savvy part of the equation.
He was the only regular to make more than half of his shots. He led the team with 218 rebounds and 39 blocked shots. He stuck to his interior role; Rougeau only took five 3-pointers.
Kruger rewarded him with his last scholarship before a summer tour of Australia. A dream come true, Rougeau said.
“I’m making my family happy and representing the school,” he said. “I’m ready to get the season started, to show people how much of a leader I can be.”
Some moves pay off, Kruger said. Some don’t. He benched 6-foot-8 Matt Shaw to make the 6-7 Rougeau a starter. Kruger believes the move benefited both players.
“Rene has great instincts, great energy,” Kruger said. “His activity is always good. His motor is always running. He’s very unselfish, a very ‘team’ guy.”
However, the unselfish, team player has a sour memory of last season, which ended in a second-round NCAA tournament defeat to eventual national champion Kansas.
Rougeau had more fouls (five) than points (four).
“That drives me, seeing how I didn’t perform well,” he said. “They were bigger than us and had a lot more depth. They also countered us when they switched Brandon Rush to the ‘four.’
“I didn’t make smart decisions, but we learned a lot. We saw what it takes to win.”
Rougeau learned about leadership from Michael Umeh, Kevin Kruger, Joel Anthony and Wendell White. Rougeau always noted how those guys always knew where to be on the court.
Umeh, who endured surgery on both knees to contribute at the end of his career, took Rougeau under his wing. “I look up to him a lot,” Rougeau said.
Kevin Kruger, with his quiet confidence, set the foundation for the program’s return to prominence. White and Anthony showed Rougeau toughness.
At practice the other day, Oscar Bellfield bowled Rougeau over. Bodies scattered. It looked like a train wreck. Rougeau, with glassy eyes, was in obvious pain.
He returned after sitting out a few drills to regain his senses. “Just toughens me for the season,” Rougeau said.
Thank you, Wendell and Joel. Especially Anthony, whom Rougeau calls “Big J.”
Watching Anthony block a school-record 13 shots against TCU, on Feb. 7, 2007, inspired Rougeau to become a dynamo.
“That’s the reason I play hard today,” Rougeau said. “He’s the creator of all the madness I try to create, basically, running all around the court. Thirteen blocks! He was a monster.”
Anthony just started his second season with the Miami Heat.
“I’m proud of him,” Rougeau said. “He tells me to hit the weights and be prepared for anything. He’s also very grateful. A lot of people didn’t know who I was, either, the first few years I was here.
“I’ll try to make a name for myself now, just like he has.”
Discussion: 7 comments so far…
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Rougeau had a tremendous break out season last year. He needs to be careful that his desire to lead the team doesn't have a negative effect on his overall game.
I totally agree with you there Lenny, he was an incredibly scrappy role player last year. If he tries to hard to assert himself, it might take away from his self-less play.
The season really seems to hold a lot of promise. Some of the more negative posters (or posers) seem to think that the basketball season is like the football season and you have no chance of winning the national title unless you are undefeated. Hopefully the guys will learn from their losses this year and be ready for the postseason. Lon has showed he is capable of adapting his players to augment their strengths. Just look at our size issues last year.
Double R is an inspiration and I look forward to watching him this season. The season soon awaits..........
rene has been my favorite player since the last couple conference games of the sweet 16 season. I thought then that he would be special. (maybe because he wore 24, the same number I wore in hs). To see him develop over the last year was simply a treat. Hats off to rene. I can't imagine a let down year lenny, not with the tenacity this guy plays with.
Thanks rob.
You're welcome yd... he is a special player and I don't think anyone should be concerned about his leadership style interfering with his production. He's still going to be the sneaky guy. With Darger playing the four, Rene will be able to sneak around and get big rebounds and tip dunks.
Look for him to be a much stronger finisher this season. In practice over the past month, he has shown off an above-the-rim mentality. Tip dunks that Bailey got last season he wants this season. He had one move from the right wing that was nearly Clyde Drexler-ish. He is a very strong player and has a very strong (in a very good way) personality that won't be detrimental in any way.
One more frickin' day of waiting!!!
Ha ha ha... no doubt Fast! Should be exciting