UNLV hoops notebook: Willis calls shoulder injury minor

By Rob Miech (contact)

Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 | 2:10 a.m.

Sam Morris

UNLV guard Tre'Von Willis takes a breather with a towel on his head during the second half of the game against Texas-Pan American Tuesday. Willis finished with six points, two rebounds and a steal in UNLV's 73-48 win.

UNLV sophomore point guard Tre’Von Willis usually doesn’t hesitate with his thoughts or opinions.

After practice Friday morning at the Thomas & Mack Center, Willis did pause near the Gatorade cooler.

He confirmed that he has a slightly separated right shoulder, which happened when he jammed it coming off a screen.

He said it happened either Saturday afternoon against San Diego or Tuesday night against Texas-Pan American. After Tuesday’s game, he wore a large ice bag on the shoulder.

Willis said it was minor, that it wasn’t the first time he had sustained such an injury.

Friday, his facial reaction appeared to reveal it wasn’t exactly minor. But he said surgery will not be required.

“I’ll just get treatment every day,” Willis said. “Hopefully, it will stop hurting. I consider myself tough, so I’ll tough it out.”

He shook someone’s right hand with his left hand.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger said the injury is like a jammed finger. Every time there’s contact, pain seems to manifest in the sore area. He said that type of injury could take a while to heal.

But Kruger doesn’t plan to spell Willis tonight, which would give Bellfield most of the time at the point.

“I don’t think we’re at that point,” Kruger said. “I haven’t heard him complain to that extent. He has not complained at all. There’s been no talk with (trainer) Dave Tomchek about that measure at all.”

Mo’s nose

With 97 seconds remaining Thursday night, UNLV senior power forward Mareceo “Mo” Rutledge took a shot to his nose from a Northern Arizona player.

Twenty seconds later, an official noticed and whistled for play to stop, sending Rutledge to the sideline for medical attention.

Kruger subbed Joe Darger in for Rutledge, who didn’t return.

Friday, Rutledge said he caught his nose on the back of an opponent as both soared for a rebound.

He has no history of nosebleeds, so it didn’t concern him. However, Rutledge also tweaked his right wrist on the play and it has swelled.

Good thing he’s a lefty.

Welcome

A few visitors watched UNLV’s practice Friday morning.

Actually, a few hundred filed into the Mack to screech and holler, and counted down (“Five! Four! Three! …”) as the clock expired during some drills.

Three busloads of kids filed into the arena, single-file, and some even brought hand-written signs. One was for senior guard Wink Adams.

Players on the side of the court and near an orange Gatorade cooler high-fived many of their new fawning fans.

Massamba, to nobody’s surprise, reveled in meeting many of them. Rob Ketchum, Todd Hanni and Rene Rougeau were among the Rebels who went out of their way to greet the tykes.

When the Munchkins left, before the end of the session, each was handed a UNLV basketball poster with the team’s schedule by two team managers and senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie.

No casual observers

Freshman swingman DeShawn Mitchell’s father, Frederick Mitchell, and stepfather, Terrance Dixon, flew in from New Jersey to watch Thursday’s game.

They also attended Friday’s practice and had one main goal atop their itinerary for DeShawn after practice.

“A haircut,” said Frederick Mitchell.

They will attend tonight’s game, too.

Growing stronger

Beas Hamga, the freshman 7-foot center from Cameroon, ended the week as he started it – strong.

It was arguably his most aggressive week in practice. He’s taking the ball up strong, with both hands, to the rim. He often finished with dunks.

That hadn’t been happening previously.

Hamga did not play in the opener Saturday against San Diego. He had three points, including his first basket on a backboard-bruising shot, and three boards in 12 minutes Tuesday.

Thursday, he missed a shot but collected his first collegiate block in seven minutes of action.

Kruger has repeatedly stressed patience to Hamga, telling him not to concern himself with anybody else’s expectations of him.

Game over

After practice, walk-on guard Scott Hoffman won a shooting contest against Kendall Wallace and DeShawn Mitchell.

“Champion!” Hoffman barked as he walked off the court.

“Let’s have a dunk contest,” said Mitchell.

Hoffman just kept walking.