UNLV hopes to attack inside at Utah, not focus on outside concerns

By Ryan Greene

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 | 2:10 a.m.

While many on the outside might be in panic mode, the UNLV men's basketball team is taking the opposite approach to its mid-week trip to Utah.

"I feel like everything's the same," junior guard Tre'Von Willis said. "Sometimes, things just don't go the way your want them to. It's going to show our character how we bounce back from last week."

Last week, of course, included back-to-back 10-point losses for the Rebels (19-6 overall, 7-4 Mountain West) at the hands of New Mexico and San Diego State. The Rebels were outrebounded by a combined margin of 84-53 in the two games, executed poorly on offense for the most part and just — plain and simple — didn't look like themselves.

The wheels have not even come close to falling off the bus, but Lon Kruger's club has to play like itself again in a hurry, as it begins a five-game stretch to close the regular season Wednesday with a 7 p.m. contest at Utah (11-13, 4-6).

At this point in the season, very few are patient and want to look forward to the NCAA tournament. And while UNLV is still widely considered to have, at the very least, an at-large spot reserved in the field of 65, that perception could change if the Rebels suffer a third consecutive defeat.

"Concerned or not, we're going to play each one like it's the most important one," Kruger said. "Of course we're concerned. Most teams in the country are right now. Probably not many teams in the country right now can say, 'We're a lock to be in.' I think it's only healthy to play like you have to win one more each time we line up in these next five."

Of the remaining five, though, the biggest challenge will be Utah, because the Utes handed the Rebels maybe their most unexpected loss of the season Jan. 16 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

That night, as Utah pulled off a 73-69 upset, the Rebels were done in both by an inability to attack the Utes' size on the interior and by timely 3-pointers from freshman guard Marshall Henderson.

Henderson was 5-of-9 from 3-point range against UNLV the first time around. He's hit 17 long balls in six games since then, missing one because of suspension after whacking BYU's Jackson Emery in the face in the closing minutes of a Jan. 30 loss in Provo.

In practice this week since a somber return from San Diego, UNLV has practiced defending against the high ball-screen Jim Boylen's team likes to use, which plenty of times results in open looks for Henderson.

However, one thing that's tougher to simulate in practice is attacking Utah's lengthy front-court.

This time around, the Rebels will see 6-foot-7 junior forward Jay Watkins, who missed the first meeting for personal reasons. Since his return, he's averaging 9.9 points and four rebounds per game.

But the guy who did much of the damage in the first meeting was 7-foot-3 sophomore David Foster, who had a career night against the Rebels with 13 points and, more importantly, six blocked shots. The points were a career-high and aren't the norm, but he's averaging 4.5 blocks per game, which leads the Mountain West by a wide margin. For some perspective, San Diego State's Malcolm Thomas, who averages 1.5 swats, is second in the league.

UNLV was reluctant to take it at Foster with force. He altered several shots and the Rebels ultimately resorted to hoisting low-percentage shots, going just 1-of-12 from 3-point range that night. UNLV actually won the rebounding battle that night, 37-34, but allowed 13 second-chance points to the visitors.

After failing to consistently combat San Diego State's height up front, that will be an area of focus heading in.

"We've got to be selective in attacking the rim," Kruger said. "We want to attack, but we don't want to give away possessions by not being strong up there. Because it's one thing to attack, but you've got to finish, draw fouls or make something positive happen."

Kruger said another way to attack the size is by producing away from it, and that's where Willis and sophomore forward Chace Stanback will be needed.

Both struggled from the floor during the rough week, with Willis going just 9-of-29 from the field and 2-of-10 from deep.

He still managed to score 30 total points in the two games, but Stanback was less productive. UNLV's second-leading scorer on the season was 2-of-15 from the floor and scored just eight points in the last week.

Still, Stanback, who has been an equalizer on the offensive end with his strong mid-range game and ability to work both inside and out, said he hasn't lost any confidence.

"You've just got to push through it. You're not gonna miss every shot — I mean, unfortunately, I did," he said jokingly. "But it's not gonna be like that all the time and I know that. I've just got to stay positive."

Facing a challenge that is as close to a must-win as the Rebels have had this season, staying positive is the general mindset across the board.

"It's gonna be fun," Willis said. "We can't worry about what everyone else is focused on."