UNLV hoops notebook: The day after Washburn

Justin M. Bowen

Beas Hamga makes a strong move to the hoop during Tuesday night’s exhibition against Washburn at the Thomas & Mack.

By Rob Miech (contact)

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 | 2 a.m.

The day after a challenging exhibition game victory over Division-II Washburn, UNLV’s basketball team went back to the drawing board.

Actually, the Rebels sat before a large flat screen to watch videotape, A LOT of tape, with coach Lon Kruger at the controls.

The starters and reserves did not walk onto the Thomas & Mack Center court until 3 p.m. Wednesday, more than an hour after they usually start to practice.

They saw all their foibles from a 74-56 victory over Washburn. The Rebels pulled away in the final six minutes.

Senior guard Wink Adams shook his head.

“We watched a lot of film,” he said. “Man, you never know how bad you looked, or played, until you see it on tape. We have to set up our plays better and play better defense.”

Adams pointed to the 22 turnovers UNLV committed against Washburn as a top problem to fix.

UNLV has gone 57-15 over the past two seasons and never turned it over that many times in a game during that stretch.

“Film is a great teaching aid,” Kruger said. “It’s great for the players, because what they picture as happening they see on tape … it’s totally different sometimes.”

UNLV plays its season opener against San Diego on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Rebels spent more time than usual Wednesday on two-on-two drills, with an emphasis on communication between the two defenders on switches, by the guards and boxing out on rebounds.

Great expectations

Kruger didn’t see too much in Wednesday’s tape reviews that he didn’t see live Tuesday night.

“We had several good possessions, but too many that weren’t good enough,” Kruger said. “I think that focus on consistency with each possession establishes a bar.”

He didn’t think it was so different from any other exhibition game, except that the Rebels are coming off consecutive NCAA tournaments in which they’ve won games.

That hasn’t happened since 1991.

“When expectations are a little higher, they’re judged a little differently,” Kruger said. “That doesn’t change what we have to do. We have to get better. I think our guys understand that, for sure.”

In no uncertain terms, he said Tuesday night’s game was a success.

“It doesn’t affect us one way or another, in terms of what we do,” Kruger said. “It affects others, in terms of perception. But (Tuesday) night couldn’t have worked out much better.

“That was much better than a 30-point blowout in which you don’t have anything significant on possessions. Our guys will learn a lot more from that.”

Lozenges, anyone?

Kruger, trying to ward off a cold, was hoarse Wednesday.

His raspy voice was sort of a loud whisper as he tried correcting players on positioning and refining other strategy.

He wasn’t the only Rebel at less than full strength.

Adams, who took a knee in his right calf Tuesday night, sat out many of the drills. It’s a new injury to him, but he wasn’t concerned.

“There’s some swelling,” he said. “But even if I’m not 100 percent on Saturday, I’m playing.”

Willis a pro

If he’s bummed in the least bit about not starting at the point Tuesday night, and likely in the foreseeable future, Tre’Von Willis didn’t show it after the Washburn game or Wednesday.

The sophomore transfer from Memphis ran the second team at practice. Oscar Bellfield, the freshman who started against Washburn, directed the first team Wednesday.

Willis played hard, as usual. On a power move on the left post, he turned on Bellfield, knocking him hard on his back and tailbone, and converted a close bank shot.

He didn’t pause to offer Bellfield a hand up, but both having been going hard at each other for a month.

Before leading his white-clad squad back on the court for a five-on-five run, Willis, one of the more outgoing Rebels, barked at the four players on his side while getting some water.

“Keep going hard, baby! Keep going hard!”

He took a few steps and looked back at DeShawn Mitchell.

“You ready to go hard?!” Mitchell nodded.

Willis looked at Beas Hamga.

“How ‘bout you, B?! You ready?!” Hamga finally said, yeah, and laughed.

Willis looked at Mo Rutledge.

“Mo,” he said, “I KNOW you’re ready!”

Centers of attention

Tuesday offered the public the first chance to see UNLV’s new centers in a competitive situation.

Nobody, probably, was happier to see those new post players than Joe Darger, the 6-foot-7 3-point ace who was forced to play center last season.

Darris Santee, a 6-8 junior who won an NJCAA title at Midland College in Texas two seasons ago, shot 1-for-5, with four points and six boards.

Hamga, a 7-foot center, missed his only attempt, and had a rebound and blocked a shot. Freshman Brice Massamba had six points and a rebound.

“Darris has been doing a good job,” Kruger said. “He didn’t finish some opportunities that he will, but his effort is great. Brice came in and played better, gave us some productive minutes.

“Beas did OK. He didn’t finish one opportunity he had inside. That’s a position where we’ll see significant progress throughout the season.”

At 6-10 and 260, Massamba looked especially nimble.

“He has good instincts,” Kruger said. “He moves well because he anticipates well. Because of his instincts, he knows how to play.”

Massamba set at least two major-league screens.

“He likes doing that,” said Kruger, smiling.