UNLV basketball notebook: The first practice after the FirstLook

By Rob Miech

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 | 2:15 a.m.

At times, the Rebels might look like the Keystone Cops, nearly knocking each other over en route to lending a helping hand to a fallen teammate.

It happened a few times Saturday morning at practice inside the Thomas & Mack Center.

“It’s my fourth year and I’m still not really used to it,” said a smiling Wink Adams. “Everyone runs to pick up one player, but coach Kruger is all about teamwork.”

Brice Massamba, Mareceo “Mo” Rutledge and others hit the deck after getting knocked down by another Rebel or tripping in traffic.

In a flash, each had a couple dozen hands offering some leverage to get back up on their feet.

“It’s all about trying to help teammates as much as you can,” said senior shooter Joe Darger. “You hustle to help him out. It’s all about teammates. They care. To me, it’s a good thing.”

To fifth-year coach Lon Kruger, it’s a great thing, the foundation of his programs. He instilled that at Kansas State, Florida and Illinois.

“It’s at the core of our program,” he said. “We talk all the time about making plays for each other and making each other better, helping each other and picking each other up.

“It’s a team game. If you’re not pulling for each other … some teams out there are. We want to set the standard in that area.”

Kruger played for the demanding and stern Jack Hartman at Kansas State but said players rushing to pick up a teammate who had hit the deck wasn’t part of Hartman’s program.

“We feel like it’s an important part of it,” Kruger said. “Plus, a lot of times a guy goes down he’s taking a charge. You want to applaud that. It’s an extra good reason to pick him up.”

ESPN exposure

At 7:46 p.m. on Friday, Kruger got some national attention when ESPNU interviewed him for three minutes on its Midnight Madness show.

Kruger was asked about the blossoming program, season-ticket sales that are supposedly at the highest level since 1991, the summer tour of Australia and his Final Four season of 1993-94 at Florida.

“That team had great trust in each other and understood their roles,” he said. “Good teams will do that. This group has the potential to do that, in terms of experience, leadership and sharing that ownership.”

A good show

Putting a cap on Friday night’s FirstLook festivities at the Mack, Kruger said it was a terrific event and he was excited about the turnout.

About 4,000 fans turned out for the show that lasted a bit more than an hour. Those who mingled on the court afterward collected autographs from players and chatted with Kruger.

Ushers told the die-hard faithful that it was finally time to leave as Louis Armstrong sang “What a Wonderful World” over the sound system at about 11 p.m.

“It was good to get our players in front of people,” Kruger said. “That was great, especially for the new guys. It’s part of their experience and growth. For the most part, I thought everything went well.”

Two who shined

Rutledge and Oscar Bellfield were some of the Rebels who had solid outings Friday night.

Rutledge, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty from Sacramento, nailed a three-point shot and converted a three-point play. He has been very adept at the latter, taking contact and still making a layup or hook, in practice.

“It was a big crowd out there and it felt great,” he said. “This is my senior year, so I want to give everything I have out there.

“Whatever the coaches need me to do out there. Whether it’s playing one or two minutes, 10 or 30, I’m willing. I feel great about this team.”

Bellfield, a 6-2, 175-pound freshman from Los Angeles, hit a jumper from the left corner, a 3-pointer from the right side and a layup Friday night.

He also hit an unsuspecting 7-foot center in the right side of his head with a pass.

“I tried to have fun last night,” Bellfield said. “We wanted to give the fans some excitement. I tried not to make any mistakes. I will, but I’ll learn from them and play hard.”

Bellfield was a little wide-eyed, and winded, after Saturday morning’s long session.

“It was shocking,” he said. “Very shocking. I’d never practiced for three hours before, but it’s time to go hard and long, conditioning-wise, and get ready for games.”

Numbers game

Some might have been overwhelmed at Friday night’s numbers – 18 UNLV players were introduced to the crowd.

Just don’t get too carried away by that figure.

Forward Matt Shaw is sitting out the season after knee surgery.

Guards Derrick Jasper and walk-on Steve Jones, and swingman Chace Stanback are sitting out after transferring.

Rob Ketchum, Todd Hanni and Scott Hoffman are also walk-on players.

That leaves 11 players, and the likely starting lineup appears to be Tre’Von Willis at the point; Darger, Adams and Rene Rougeau as the senior foundation, and Darris Santee at center.

Of the six remaining scholarship Rebels, Hamga and fellow rookie Brice Massamba will spell Santee in the low post.

That leaves four, and Bellfield is in line to back up Willis.

Rutledge practices with the “bigs” when Kruger splits his players into guards and small forwards, and power forwards and centers. So he’ll operate close to the rim but is versatile to take his man outside.

Sophomore Kendall Wallace will be more of a shooter this season, and freshman sky-walker DeShawn Mitchell will excel at exciting finishes when UNLV zips out on the break after causing turnovers.

Don’t discount walk-ons, though, according to Kruger. Look how important former walk-on players Curtis Terry and Rougeau became at UNLV.

“We want every guy to have a great experience,” Kruger said. “That’s our objective. For the most part, they determine, with how hard they work, their roles.

“It’s based on what they do. We evaluate what they do, and try to be consistent and fair in those evaluations. We play as many people that we think can make us better.”

The 19th player

Finally, there actually was a 19th player, at times, on the court for the Rebels on Saturday morning.

He wore green shorts, a white Paseo Verde Little League baseball T-shirt and a red Rebels cap. He stood about 2 1/2 feet. Dribbling seemed to be his forte.

Joe Weisenburger, the 5-year-old son of UNLV associate athletic director Perk Weisenburger, was not shy.

He absolutely ogled Joe Darger, his hero. When Darger stood at a baseline during a drill, little Joe inched up to Darger to say hello and low-five his idol.

The rare time he sat in a front-row red seat, with his knees hiked up around his eyes and his arms around his legs, Adams stood about 10 feet away.

“Hey Wink Adams!” said little Joe.

Surprised, Adams turned to his right. “What’s up?” Adams low-fived little Joe.

By the end of the practice, little Joe was smack in the middle of the Rebels as they huddled at midcourt and yelled in unison, “1, 2, 3 … Rebels!”

“Little Joe!” said Kruger, smiling. “I looked around a couple times and he’s in the middle of huddles.”

Enjoying every second.