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twitterUNLV BASKETBALL:
Willis’ progression hits new peak in victory over Utes
Sophomore guard in a ‘comfort zone,’ says coach
Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009 | 2:13 a.m.
Justin M. Bowen
Tre’von Willis of UNLV gets past Kim Tillie of Utah Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center as the Rebels took on the Utes. UNLV came out on top 75-65.
Attacking the Utes
Another second half rally keyed by Mo Rutledge, Wink Adams and Tre'Von Willis led UNLV to a 75 to 65 win over Utah on Saturday.
The Rebel Room
UTAH POSTGAME: Call 'em the comeback kids ... again
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Ryan Greene and Rob Miech talk about UNLV's second consecutive come-from-behind victory, as this time the Rebels took out Utah, 75-65, at the Thomas & Mack Center. The guys discuss UNLV's small-ball strategy which ultimately conquered Luke Nevill, the performances of Mo Rutledge, Tre'Von Willis and Wink Adams, plus where the Rebels go from here with a week off before facing Air Force.
It wasn't so long ago when, if Tre'Von Willis put the ball on the floor and drove to the hoop, a collective breath was held in the gym.
There was roughly a 50-50 shot at success.
But the process of Willis becoming a consistent, productive Lon Kruger disciple took another major step on Saturday afternoon, as the Rebels sophomore guard finished with a career-high 22 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in a 75-65 come-from-behind victory over Utah at the Thomas & Mack Center.
It’s no stretch to say it was his best game yet as a Rebel.
"Tre's in a real comfort zone right now," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "His pace is great. I like his mind set, his poise, attacking. Where three or four games ago it was very frantic, now it's very much under control. It's one thing to attack, but another thing to attack with options at the end of it. His options when he gets there: he's shooting it when he should, he's passing it when he should, he's not committing one way or the other, and it's made him very effective."
Willis, who proclaimed before the season a lofty notion of holding a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ration by season's end, more than likely will not see that come to fruition.
But with each performance like Saturday's, in which he had one turnover, he realizes how far he's come in a short period of time.
"I started off slow -- My shooting percentage was horrible, I wasn't making as many plays, my turnovers were horrendous," Willis said. "I'm kind of in the role of a floor general. The BYU game, we kind of needed some buckets in the first half, so I was providing buckets for us. But second half, Wink Adams went off, so I just needed to run the team and take care of the ball.
"I think BYU was my best game, because I stepped up when they needed me to score, but at the same time I just ran the team when it needed to be ran."
Saturday provided many similarities to Wednesday's 76-70 victory in Provo for Willis.
Just as he did against the Cougars, Willis kept his team afloat with his offensive prowess during an otherwise sluggish first half.
He hit back-to-back 3-pointers before the break to pull the Rebels within eight points of the Utes.
Then, as UNLV's bench provided some fire midway through the second stanza, Willis was in there to, as he puts it, run the show. He contributed a step-back baseline jumper to cap a 9-0 run that involved the Rebels taking the lead at 50-48. They would never trail again.
"Tre'Von, he kept us in the game today," said Wink Adams, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half. "We're just glad everybody else pitched in and did what they had to do."
Willis has been arguably UNLV's best all-around performer over the course of its current three-game winning streak.
He's averaged 16 points, 4.7 assists and 4 rebounds per game. His 14 assists are rivaled by only 2 turnovers.
Expanding on his efficiency, he's shot 45 percent from the floor and 55 percent from 3-point range during his hot streak.
The statistical progression is all coming with Willis playing more minutes. In 14 non-conference games, he averaged 23.9 minutes per game. That average is up to 31.5 through six Mountain West tilts.
Willis points back, oddly enough, to the warmup session before UNLV's 71-69 loss at Colorado State on Jan. 14 as the moment when it all turned around.
As he took off for some high-wire dunks before the game, he truly felt his legs back under him. In other words, he felt himself get in a rhythm athletically for the first time since arriving at UNLV before his redshirt season in 2007-08.
"I could feel it building up," he said. "I don't know what it was, but my legs were kind of dead. I don't know if it was the year off last year, because you can't simulate game situations. At the same time, I was a little beat up, I was a little slower, not as explosive. To tell you the truth, I was very athletic in high school. I can feel when my legs are under me, and lately they've been feeling strong and I've been making plays."
Willis was banged up following Saturday's win, too. After getting his right arm wrenched backwards, his separated right shoulder was re-aggravated. He showed up to the postgame interview session with an ice pack saddled on top of it.
But he brushed it off when it was brought up after the game. He fielded questions for several minutes with a wide smile on his face.
Willis, of late, has visibly been in an incredible mood.
Funny what comfort -- plus production and wins -- can do.
"My minutes have been up the last couple of weeks, I've been staying out of foul trouble, and just playing smart basketball," Willis said. "I'm very proud of myself for that."
Discussion: 8 comments so far…
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We're proud of you too. Sign of a great player and person is to learn to help those around you get better while progressing yourself. Love the progress you've made. It shows that the team is progressing too. Go Rebs.
I really like the way he has progressed over the year, but if you look back, it was because of his selfishness (being late to practice, etc.) that got him on the bench in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I think he has talent, but this entire article seem like unidirectional with the destination ending at his own achievements. The whole team worked hard to beat Utah. He was a piece of that but not all of it. I've played with guys like that in the past and i just hope he doesn't turn out to be like some "Willie Beamen" from "Any Given Sunday"..If you're familiar with this reference, then you will understand my concern. But speculation aside, he does deserve some recognition for his efforts on Saturday. With that said, GO REBELS. Lets keep it up.
Where are all the people that were taking cheap shots at Willis not too long ago?
Silence. That's what I thought.
What the hell are you talking about LARebel!....getting a little carried away there, "Willie Beamen"?, its not that serious dude.
Willis is going to be fine, only criticism I've had in the past was for him to start putting what he's always talking about into action out on the court. (Low assist to turnover ratio, attacking the basket, getting teammates involved, less Offensive fouls etc) He is a vocal dude, but needs to be backing it up more on this team in order to get that pass to be vocal (i.e. Terry, K. Kruger. Otherwise shut up.
But he's a baller and I see him more and more accepting his role as a 2 Guard / Combo Guard eventually being a go to weapon on offense like Wink. Especially after Wink is gone this season.
Ddio to the ones whose now silence. (They need to be). LARebel you seem somewhat bitter. Let me guess you didn't make it to the next level as say one of your teamates? Give credit where credit is due. He was sick, heavily medicated and dealing with the aggravating shoulder injury. Let's put the past in the past and if you cheer for the Rebels...cheer for them all and let's move from the past into the future. Keep it up Tre..and GO REBELS!
LARebel, this is an article about Willis. So one could assume that it would be about how he his doing and what he is doing. If this was an article about the TEAM then it would be disheartening to have him talking about me, me, me. Since Ryan asked coach about Willis, Kruger talked about him. Then Ryan went to Willis and asked him questions that pertained to the direction his article was geared toward. DUH!
I think Willis earned the criticism he received earlier in the year. He was very inconsistent, didn't have his legs under him (as he said) and it showed in almost all aspects of his game. Now...he rightfull has earned the praise he is getting because his game has developed to what Kruger and the team needs.
Cheap shots aren't cool, constructive criticism is fine. How else do you think Tre' has improved?
Great job Tre', it's good to see that you have responded like a lion and not let a slow beginning and skepticism tarnish your career here. Let's keep it going! GO REBS!!!
Fast, Willis DEFINITELY earned the criticism early, but now you're beginning to see him become a Kruger-type of player. It sounds awfully cliche, but now the key is consistency. If he falls back into his own ways, fans could get restless now that they've seen him play the way he can play. Plus, don't underestimate the fact that he could be potentially getting groomed into THE vocal for this team next season. Once Wink and Rene are gone, they're gonna need someone to step up. I'd say, of the guys here, the likely candidates are either Tre'Von or Oscar Bellfield.