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twitterREBELS BASKETBALL:
UNLV hoops notebook: Bellfield sees limited action in practice
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 | midnight
UNLV head coach Lon Kruger speaks with guard Oscar Bellfield during a break in the first half of their game against New Mexico at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Oscar Bellfield shot around with his teammates before practice Monday afternoon, and he participated in stretching and warm-up routines.
UNLV’s freshman point guard didn’t appear to favor the right hamstring he tweaked Saturday at TCU, but it looked like he ran a half gear slower than his fellow Rebels.
When it came time to run five-on-none drills, though, Bellfield stood to the side. Trainer Dave Tomchek briefly spoke with him, and he strolled beyond a baseline in the Cox Pavilion practice gym.
He wore his red No. 0 jersey. The rest of the first team – guards Tre’Von Willis and Wink Adams, forwards Rene Rougeau and Joe Darger, and center Darris Santee – also wore red.
When it huddled, Bellfield moved in to hear plays and schemes, then he slid back off the court.
He crossed his hands or rested them on his hips. He shot a ball at the back of a backboard. He hit the side of the backboard a few times. He leaned against a black wall mat.
Bellfield said it was “real tough” not partaking in any of the drills.
“We’ll see how he feels (Tuesday),” said coach Lon Kruger. “He’s expected to be improved. Today was a little more precaution than anything else. We expect him to be ready to go Wednesday.”
UNLV (13-3, 1-1 in the Mountain West Conference) plays at Colorado State (5-11, 0-2) in Fort Collins, Colo., on Wednesday night.
Tomcheck called Bellfield’s injury a minor strain. Alternating steam and ice has been his main treatment routine.
“We’ll play it day by day,” Tomchek said. “It depends how he heals, how he reacts to everything. We’ll see what he can do, push him, Tuesday. If it’s good to go Wednesday, he’s back in the game.”
Bellfield sustained the injury as TCU started a 15-0, game-turning run midway through the second half. He left the game and stretched his right leg at the end of UNLV’s bench.
He returned, but only for 19 seconds.
“I went for a steal at halfcourt,” Bellfield said. “I had a sudden stop, and there was a little pull in the back of the hamstring. It tightened up.
“It’s not that bad right now. I’m not able to move around that much. We’ll see tomorrow how I do in practice.”
It remains to be seen, but Kruger said he will consider starting the same quintet – Bellfield, Willis, Rougeau, Darger and Wink Adams – that started at TCU.
Five of a kind
For their birthdays, Bellfield, Willis and Kendall Wallace were allowed to miss practice Sunday.
Well … not really.
Typically, Sundays are off days for the Rebels. Bellfield (19), Willis (21) and Wallace (21) all just happen to share the same birthday.
“Had a little cake and ice cream,” Bellfield said, “and some good, home-cooked food.”
Wallace and his girlfriend shared a pepperoni pizza at a local establishment, then had cake and ice cream at the Summerlin home of his great uncle, former Hawaii coach Riley Wallace, and his wife.
“Didn’t really do a whole lot,” Kendall Wallace said. “Kept it on the low, you know?”
UNLV equipment manager Rocky Rutledge and assistant sports information director Bryan Haines also celebrated birthdays Sunday.
A little defensive?
The consensus Monday was that UNLV had one of its best defensive practices of the season.
“They played real well together, real nice,” Bellfield said.
“Yes, it was a great practice today,” said assistant coach Lew Hill. “Look at last season … we got that one tough practice, came out and started rolling from there.”
The Rebels started the conference slate last season 1-1, which included a three-point victory at Colorado State. Then they had what many called one of their best defensive practices.
And they pounded BYU, 70-41, at the Thomas & Mack Center.
But the Rebels also said they had a renewed emphasis on defense all last week, too, before falling against the Horned Frogs on Saturday in Texas.
Not taking care of business
TCU coach Jim Christian tweaked some of his team’s schemes for UNLV on Saturday, which helped the Horned Frogs beat the Rebels.
Hill, who scouted TCU, said that was the case, to some degree.
“A little bit,” Hill said. “They did more backdoors than normal. And instead of going all the way through (on cuts), they flared … but that’s not what beat us.
“We didn’t do what we’re supposed to do. It’s us taking care of our own business. You’re up nine, then you have two straight turnovers and take a bad shot.”
Missed shots, an air ball on a 3-pointer, two missed free throws, a dribble bounces off a Rebel’s foot and out of bounds. Another 3-point air ball.
UNLV’s 57-48 lead evaporated as TCU ran off 15 consecutive points to take control of the game.
“That’s what wins and loses games,” Hill said. “But (Christian) did an excellent job of preparing for us and coaching. He did a wonderful job, as far as that goes.”
Nothing personal
For the first time, freshman center Brice Massamba did not play in a game. He kept his warm-ups on all afternoon in Fort Worth on Saturday.
“I wasn’t disappointed at all,” Massamba said. “I just have to keep working so I’m ready when coach wants me.”
He said he didn’t take it personal or as punishment.
“It just happened,” Massamba said. “I was just disappointed we lost. That’s the only thing.”
It wasn’t just a random series of events that kept Massamba on the bench, however.
When UNLV was returning from a victory at UNR, Massamba joked with assistant coach Steve Henson in the Reno airport to save him a choice seat on the plane.
Sure, Henson quickly snapped, as soon as you grab a rebound. Teammates howled at Massamba.
In 15 games this season, he has averaged a bit more than 11 minutes. Of his 22 rebounds, nine have come at the defensive end.
“Brice’s minutes will be determined by Brice’s practice effort,” said assistant coach Greg Grensing. “He’s played too many minutes and gotten too few defensive rebounds.
“He has to show us that’s important to him and earn the time on the floor. You earn your opportunities.”
Discussion: 7 comments so far…
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I love the attitude they are taking with Massamba
Yeah Jerry, those are pretty hardcore numbers. Nine defensive rebounds? Jeez. Brice is taking it the right way, too. He has a fire in him, which we saw vs John Bryant against Santa Clara. Bryant pushed and pressed him, might have even punked him, and Massamba nearly fought back. Of course, you don't want to do anything on the court. But he did stand up to Bryant. He's a pretty gregarious and outgoing kid. When pressed, though ... he is a freshman, so he's learning A LOT this season.
Hey Rob, while I was there it seemed like Jasper was going to get in on some drills but then he got stuck watching from the sidelines. He looked a little bored to me. It has got to be tough to sit there and watch. Every practice I go to I am more and more impressed by Chace. That kid is going to be huge for us.
Good approach taken towards Massamba. Something needs to be done to get him to recognize the importance of what he needs to be doing out their on the floor for this team. Can't just let him stay in his comfort zone out their on the court. Cause he won't be on the court if that's the case...
Chace it the X-factor, Ry. No doubt. If this squad gets to a Final Four in the next few years, it'll be because of him. About Jasper, he's on a very tight leash. Which is VERY understandable. He had a very tough injury and very delicate surgery, and he's not about to get out there and go 100 percent, full-bore, at this point. You might not see that this season. Very likely you won't. After some practices, he has taken 100s of shots and has dunked with the best of the Rebels. But he's not 100 percent. They have to keep a very close eye on him. Because he's not completely healthy and because he's redshirting -- it's a free year for him to return to his old self. It has been a very long time since that's happened. There is no reason to rush him back to anything, because he is redshirting. FYI, we have a huge piece coming out on Jasper in a few days. Keep your peepers posted here, because it will be very enlightening.
SMB, Massamba is starting to figure out the ways of D-I college hoops. Remember, he wasn't really 100 percent all of last season at Findlay, so he's got plenty to learn. He's learning.
are all practices open to the public?
Jerry, I can't comment much on that. Kruger mostly has an open-practice policy, but I am never at liberty -- through the program's rules -- to reveal times, etc. Sorry.