Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
UNLV guards Anthony Marshall and Daquan Cook wave to Rebels fans after their 76-75 win over Cal on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 | 8:15 p.m.
UNLV looks to depth to replace injured star forward Mike Moser
Viewing video requires the latest version of Adobe's Flash Player
KSNV reports that UNLV men's basketball players will need to step up to make-up for Mike Moser's injury, Dec. 12.
Related Coverage
- UNLV-TV students will help broadcast La Verne game on VegasTV
- Moser expected to return from elbow injury in about a month
- UNLV Leftovers: Attempting to put Moser’s injury in its proper context
- UNLV basketball ranked No. 20 after dramatic win at Cal; Rebs’ Bennett league’s Player of the Week
- Moser’s injury creates uncertain future for both he and the Rebels
- Rebels win the game but lose a starter in thrilling victory at Cal
- All UNLV men's basketball coverage
No. 20 UNLV (7-1) has one eligible player who hasn’t played a minute this season. That will change Thursday night when the Rebels play La Verne.
One game ahead of sophomore Khem Birch's addition to the lineup, freshman point guard Daquan Cook will make his Rebels debut in Orleans Arena in the 7 p.m. game on VegasTV.
“He’ll definitely play in the game and I would expect him to play quality minutes,” UNLV coach Dave Rice said.
The original plan was for Cook to redshirt this season along with Bishop Gorman alum Demetris Morant. Rice announced early in the year that the team decided against that and would use Cook this year. However, he has yet to see the floor.
La Verne, a Division III school from the Los Angeles area, offers a good opportunity to get Cook some minutes and see how the undersized guard from Baltimore performs. Rice has often said how impressed he is with Cook, who just turned 18 on Dec. 1, in practice.
“We wouldn’t have made the decision to make him available if I didn’t have a plan to utilize him throughout the season,” Rice said. “Every game will be different. It will be a feel thing based on matchups and other factors.”
This is the first game UNLV will play without Moser because of his dislocated elbow injury, and it’s also the first of two debuts in back-to-back games. The first semester ends this week so on Monday when the Rebels travel to UTEP, Birch, the 6-foot-9 sophomore transfer, will join them. His home debut will be two days later when UNLV hosts Northern Iowa at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or taylor.bern@lasvegassun.com. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.
Let's see what this kid can do.
@Sinatra. Hey usually enjoy your posts even if don't agree. But, that's a comment? Lets see what the kid can do? Come strong, Sinatra!
I loved this kids moxie at the scrimmage, he was scrappy and played with a nice edge. I hope he doesn't resent the limited number of minutes this year and uses them to better himself.
Something tells me he's going to be a good player this year and average about 10 mpg.
What a weak schedule, La Verne?!?!?! Next thing you know they will be playing Shirley, Lenny & Suiggy too.
This is a great decision. Point guard is definitely a position we could improve on. This will allow Anthony to play off the ball on occasion and most likely Katin will not have to play point. If Daquan can give us 8-12 minutes a game, when needed, and run the team, this will help immensely. Not to mention the experience he will gain for next year. Because as of right now DC is the only pure point we have on next year's roster.
We definitely need a true point guard in there. I thought he might get in during the Cal game but I guess it was too close of a game to do any tinkering.
Can't wait to see what Khem brings to the table. We need a stopper inside so this oughta be a most excellent addition.
Out of 347 division 1 teams, UNLV's strength of schedual is 25th. Nothing to scoff at.
@ Im_too-old_for_this (Pat Zamora) - UNLV tried to find a Division I opponent for this game. They couldn't find one because this is finals week. If you look at the schedule for games this week across the country, there is hardly any games from Monday through Friday. Dave Rice wanted to keep the players fresh and in game shape for the upcoming game against UTEP.
Taylor, not sure if you were indicating there was only one eligible player who hadn't played a minute this season, or if you were just saying, there's one blah blah because Meech is also eligible. Just checking :) Lori
Ana2myapple,
Where did you get SOS of 25? Merry Poppins school of scheduling?
Most accurate source is Sagarin & dont give me any baloney about RPI because there have been numerous articles about canning this easily manipulated past its times formula.
30 UNLV = 85.06 7 1 71.33( 225) SOS is 225
The truth is UNLV has NOT been tested YET for the likes of @ Diego St, @ Los Lobos, @ Colorado St, @ Wyoming, @ Boise St (all though they do have 2 more quality road games)
Here is UNLVs schedule and corresponding Sagarin Rating:
Northern Arizona -264
Jax St - 250
Oregon - 51
Iowa St - 50
UCal-I - 168
Hawaii - 206
@ Portland - 268
@ Cal - 33
The problem is apparent:
A) too many HOME games prior to the road
B) 3 dawgs in N Arz, Jax St, @ Portland (allthough this game slides for Mosers return home game)
IMO - while UNLV might be ready by Conference play, they WONT be for @ Carolina and maybe so at UTEP. Rose knew he had players for this campaign & scheduled 2 complete DUDS instead of going on the road for another TEST and bagging a +250 squad for someone around 100. HEY, heres an IDEA - think BYU would have hosted the Rebels?
77 BYU
@Eastcoastrebelfan
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketba...