Next week, the black and white practice uniforms finally give way to the real ones. However, when the Runnin' Rebels take on Washburn in an exhibition contest at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday evening, their newly designed home uniforms won't be alone in making their T&M debut. No fewer than nine new players will be runnin' across the traditional red carpet onto Tarkanian Court for the first time before an actual game. Despite the bevy of new faces, however, UNLV enters the 2009-10 season with high expectations. Perhaps the biggest reason for the Rebels confidence lies in their quality and depth at guard.
Going into the season, as many as six guards are expected to compete for minutes in the Rebels lineup. So deep, in fact, are the Rebels in terms of quality backcourt players, head coach Lon Kruger, who has developed a reputation over the years as a coach who will gladly play more than two guards at a time, anticipates his first starting lineup of the season to include...you guessed it...three backcourt players. "If we were to play tonight," said Kruger this past Tuesday, "we would start Derrick, Oscar, and Tre on the perimeter." The trio of Jasper, Bellfield, and Tre'Von Willis, however, aren't the only guards who have caught Kruger's eye. Junior sharpshooter Kendall Wallace and freshmen Anthony Marshall and Justin Hawkins have also impressed the head coach. "Kendall, Justin, and Anthony...all playing extremely well," said Kruger.
With UNLV's quality and depth at guard, Kruger will essentially be forced, very often, to play a 3-guard lineup. It helps then that two of his better rebounders are, in fact, guards. Tre'Von Willis, the Rebels second leading rebounder a season ago, averaged 5.1 rebounds per game during Mountain West Conference play. Derrick Jasper, as a sophomore for Kentucky in 2008, averaged 5.5 boards per contest, good for second on the team.
Kruger, entering his sixth season as UNLV's head coach, believes the depth, as well as the defensive prowess, that the Rebels possess at guard will allow him to always keep an active, well rested lineup on the court. "Several guys on the perimeter are very good on-the-ball defenders," said Kruger, "and we should be able to keep fresh people on the court at all times."
Runnin' Rebel Notes: Tuesday night's exhibition game against the Washburn Icabods, a division II school from Topeka, Kansas, tips off at 7:00 PM.
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