Rebels begin NBA-like week with visiting Broncs

Sam Morris

UNLV coach Lon Kruger talks to guards Wink Adams, left, and Oscar Bellfield during the second half of their game against San Diego on Nov. 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV won 65-60.

By Rob Miech (contact)

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 | 2:15 a.m.

Stoked to be in an NBA-like 11-day stretch in which they play five times, UNLV basketball players see a slew of opportunities to improve their performances and maybe even break a couple of zone defenses.

All they have to do is take a quick glance south and check their feet.

“When we were watching film, we saw many of our shots were taken three or four feet behind the 3-point line,” said senior guard Wink Adams. “Many of those shots hit the front of the rim, every time.

“We were right on line, just short. Coach said we’ll shoot better if everyone takes that in. Next time, we’ll be shooting 3s right on line.”

UNLV hit only two of its first 14 3-pointers in a tune-up against Washburn last week, and it shot 28 percent (8-of-29) from long range in its season opener Saturday against San Diego.

Next up tonight is Texas-Pan American, the first program that fifth-year Rebels coach Lon Kruger directed.

Monday afternoon, after practice at the Thomas & Mack Center, players were on point talking about treating Pan Am, and Northern Arizona and North Carolina A&T later in the week, like national contenders.

“That opener against San Diego was probably the toughest we’ve had since I’ve been here,” senior forward Rene Rougeau said of UNLV’s 65-60 victory over the Toreros on Saturday.

“Although these teams aren’t as good as San Diego, we have to treat them as the best teams in the nation. We can’t take it easy.”

Adams got that memo.

“We have to play every team like a ranked team,” he said. “We can’t take any team for granted. We have to play everyone like they’re the best team in the country.

“We want to establish our identity and play defense. If we can do that, we’ll come together.”

Oscar Bellfield, the Rebels’ rookie floor general, showed marked improvement from the Washburn exhibition to the opener.

He is the only one who has looked comfortable from beyond the 3-point arc, too. Against San Diego, Bellfield drilled three of his six bombs.

Bellfield also executed a coast-to-coast dash that he finished with a slam to give UNLV a six-point cushion.

“Aw man, he’s a gamer,” senior forward Rene Rougeau said of Bellfield. “He goes hard. He’s very athletic. I like how he threw it down, too, giving us an advantage, a boost of energy.

“Plus, he’s willing to learn. I talk to him a lot. He takes criticism very well. He’s been working hard in practice. He deserves it. Good things come to those who work hard.”

Adams and Joe Darger, the other two veteran starters for the Rebels, have been equally impressed with how UNLV’s new 6-foot-2 point man improved between the Washburn and San Diego games.

Adams told Bellfield that he had six turnovers in his first collegiate game, against Long Beach State.

“I was really nervous that game,” Adams said. “After Washburn, he watched film and listened to everyone. Oscar, he’ll be a great player here. That last game was him coming out of his shell.

“He’s feeling more comfortable, shooting more and getting to the basket. When he can do that, he’ll create for other players.”

Darger also predicted a bright collegiate future for Bellfield because of his quickness and crisp passes.

Kruger even threw a twist on his own team Saturday when he had Bellfield and reserve point guard Tre’Von Willis on the court at the same time.

That was a quick and agile unit that disrupted San Diego’s offense.

“We hadn’t worked on that much,” Darger said.

They worked on other twists Monday. Darger played center. Usual center Darris Santee shifted to power forward, as did normal small forward Rougeau. Willis played shooting guard.

“We worked on putting people at all positions,” Darger said. “That way, everyone knows every position. That way, with different matchups, we can take advantage of it.”

The Rebels welcome the test of playing their next three games at home over five days, then jetting to El Paso for another one Monday night.

“I love it,” Rougeau said. “This is what it’s all about. It’s just like the NBA, with a game one night, a day off, then another game … I’ve been looking forward to my senior year and getting the ball rolling.

“Finally.”