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twitterUNLV BASKETBALL:
After suspension, Wade coming on for surging Aztecs
Cheyenne grad playing with a clearer mind and a hot hand
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009 | 2:10 a.m.
San Diego State Aztecs (15-5, 5-2) at UNLV Rebels (17-4, 5-2)
- Where: Thomas & Mack Center
- When: 7:30 p.m.
- Coaches: Lon Kruger is 108-46 in five seasons at UNLV and 426-279 in 23 overall seasons; Steve Fisher is 162-135 in 10 seasons at SDSU and 346-217 in 18 overall seasons.
- Series: UNLV leads, 31-12
- Line: UNLV by 6
- Last time: UNLV won, 68-58, on Feb. 26, 2008, at the Thomas & Mack Center
- TV/Radio: The Mtn./ESPN Radio 1100-AM
THE AZTECS
- G D.J. Gay (6-0, 155) 7.9 ppg
- F Kyle Spain (6-5, 220) 14.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg
- F Lorrenzo Wade (6-6, 225) 14.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg
- F Billy White (6-8, 226) 8.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg
- F Mehdi Cheriet (6-8, 212) 5.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg
- Bench: F Tim Shelton (6-7, 241) 8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg; F Ryan Amoroso (6-8, 263) 7.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg; G Richie Williams (5-10, 162) 6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4 apg.
- What to watch: They’re tops in league games in 3-point defense, at 32.8%. The Rebels are No. 1 in the conference in 3-pointers, with 8.71 a game. SDSU is 26th in the country with a 3.7 turnover margin; UNLV is 19th at 3.9. Spain is an 84.8% free-throw shooter.
THE REBELS
- G Tre’Von Willis (6-4, 195) 11.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.4 apg
- G Wink Adams (6-0, 200) 13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg
- F René Rougeau (6-6, 210) 10.5 ppg, 7 rpg
- F Joe Darger (6-7, 225) 9.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg
- C Darris Santee (6-8, 225) 6.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg
- Bench: G Oscar Bellfield (6-2, 175) 6.3 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.2 rpg; G Kendall Wallace (6-4, 190) 5.3 ppg; F Mo Rutledge (6-3, 225) 3.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg; C Brice Massamba (6-10, 255) 2.6 ppg.
- What to watch: The Rebels are No. 2 in league games with 10.57 offensive boards a game; SDSU is first at 11.43. Look for some battles down low. Rougeau is coming off his first scoreless effort in 43 games. UNLV is only 65.1% at the line in MWC games.
Lorrenzo Wade had one goal upon returning to play with his San Diego State teammates nine games into the 2008-09 season.
"I didn't want to come back and ruffle too many feathers," said the Aztecs' 6-foot-6 senior forward. "I wanted them to remain comfortable and know that I'm here to help and not hurt."
Wade, a Cheyenne High grad whose college career began at Louisville in 2004, rejoined an 8-1 team on Dec. 10, following a suspension stemming from a burglary arrest on Sept. 21.
The Aztecs are 7-4 with Wade in the lineup, but have found a stride as of late, and the lineup that was expected to be one of the most solid in the Mountain West Conference is taking shape at last.
They enter tonight's 7:30 p.m. tip at the Thomas & Mack Center the winners of two straight and tied with UNLV and Utah atop the MWC standings at 5-2.
As if watching his team start the season while in street clothes wasn't tough enough, he learned even more valuable life lessons in the process.
"As far as what I've learned, it's kind of like a 'What have you done for me lately?'" Wade said. "You find out who your real friends and family are when things go sour. I learned a valuable lesson. These are things that were needed for me for the future."
Wade said the experience forced him to weed some certain people out of his life, and as tough as that might have been, he's playing with a clear head. Through 11 games, he's averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the Aztecs.
Everything is starting to look normal again for coach Steve Fisher, whose team carried lofty expectations into the season by returning all five starters from a team a year ago that went 20-13 overall and 9-7 in the Mountain West before ducking out of the NIT in the first round against defending national champion Florida.
Also in that corps of returners is Wade's close pal and fellow Las Vegas native Billy White. The sophomore forward and Green Valley High grad is third on the team this season with an 8.4 points per game average.
Leading the Aztecs into tonight's tilt is 6-foot-5 senior forward Kyle Spain, who is scoring 14.6 points per game and is one of the league's top 3-point threats (41.5 percent). He also leads the Aztecs in rebounding, hauling in 5.1 caroms per outing.
But Wade is Fisher's hottest offensive player coming into tonight's contest.
He sprained his right shoulder in a Jan. 10 home victory over Utah, and since sitting out a 4-point loss at Wyoming four nights later, he's averaged 20.5 points per game over the Aztecs' last four, with the only blemish being a 77-71 loss at BYU.
In that stretch, he's 29-of-57 from the floor and 6-of-11 from 3-point range. This came after not scoring more than 17 in any of his first seven games back.
Also in the last four games, he's averaging 33.8 minutes per game after playing only 24.6 before the minor shoulder woe.
"I think coach did a good job of working me in slowly to conference play," Wade said. "I don't have any complaints when I look back on this experience. Anything that did happen or is going to happen is going to be a result of what I've done."
He's finding his old touch again, and it's just in time. The Aztecs' final 9 games of the conference season include two with the Rebels, a home date with BYU and a trip to Salt Lake City to face Utah.
Then, not to mention, there's a return trip to face New Mexico, who San Diego State already defeated once, 81-76.
As the MWC regular season race begins to take a more concrete shape, Wade considers the Lobos the toughest opponent out there.
"New Mexico does such a great job defensively, and they make it really hard for everyone," Wade said of the Lobos, who are 13-9 overall and 4-3 in the league. "Defense wins basketball games, and I would have to say that I'm most impressed with New Mexico based on what they've done with the guys they have."
Then again, until tonight, he has yet to see this year's UNLV squad.
"I personally haven't paid any attention to what they've done," he said. "I know they're starting to come on strong, and they've bounced back from some adversity."
Wade knows the Rebels aren't the only ones who can claim that so far this season.
Discussion: 6 comments so far…
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I think the best way to defend Wade tonight is to distract him with those beautiful, brand-new LED wide-screen video boards.
I love it Jeff. Perhaps the students could all print out paper televisions and hold them up when he is shooting free throws. Or all strip down to a thong and jiggle around.
I think this is the problem, "Wade said the experience forced him to weed some certain people out of his life, and as tough as that might have been, he's playing with a clear head."
Maybe the lack of "weed" is allowing him to play with a "clear head".
Go Rebels.
How does Wade say that UNM is the toughest team in the conference, then say he doesnt pay attention to the TOP TEAM in the conference.
How does he not follow UNLV? Oh wait...he had to give that TV back.
If you donate a used TV to a shelter or something do you get a free pass to the Mack for this one?
What did Wade do, receive a TV he supposedly didn't know was stolen?
He's old enough and ugly enough to know if the people he's hanging around with are criminals. The "hanging with the wrong crowd" excuse works when you're 14, 16. Not when you're in your 20s, dumbass.
And does anybody know why he left Louisville? Where there's smoke, there's usually fire.