UNLV Basketball

UNLV freshman forward Derrick Jones was ruled ineligible by the NCAA on March 2 due to an apparent academic issue.  

According to Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News, citing attorney Don Jackson, one of Jones' test scores was canceled by the ACT following an investigation, which led to the NCAA's decision.

On Wednesday, Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported the NCAA has cleared Jones to practice and receive scholarship money, but he's still not eligible to play. Anderson adds UNLV is working on a full appeal.

According to Anderson, the NCAA's decision was based on the site at which Jones took the test:

Problem wasn't with Derrick Jones Jr. himself, but with the ACT testing site. NCAA has concerns about that site. #unlvmbb #RJnow

— Mark Anderson (@markanderson65) March 2, 2016

While Jones was ruled eligible prior to the season, the NCAA changed its decision based on its findings, but Jackson believes other factors are at work, per DeCourcy:

The NCAA Eligibility Center has attempted to shift responsibility for this investigation to the ACT. The reality of the matter is that a number of high-profile minority student-athletes were specifically targeted by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Their use of NCAA legislation in a manner that is specifically intended to adversely impact African-American and international student-athletes violates federal law‎.

Jackson also said the ACT Test Security division was given ample evidence in support of Jones' strong academic record at UNLV and in high school

Despite Jackson's claims, Jones currently cannot play for the Rebels, and it is unclear if or when he could potentially be reinstated.

The Chester, Pennsylvania, native is second on the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest.

UNLV would likely need to win the Mountain West Conference to play in the NCAA tournament as it currently sports a 17-13 record, but that becomes far more difficult without Jones' presence as bench forwards Ben Carter and Dwayne Morgan are both out through injury, making it harder for the Rebels to reach March Madness. 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

UNLV Rebels freshman center Stephen Zimmerman suffered a knee injury Saturday and could be out until the Mountain West Conference tournament.

Continue for updates.

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Zimmerman Out for 3-4 Weeks

Monday, Jan. 8

On Monday, an MRI revealed that Zimmerman suffered a left knee sprain, and he will be out for three to four weeks, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.

The Las Vegas native could be out of action until the Mountain West Conference tournament, which begins March 7.

Zimmerman suffered the knee injury midway through the first half of Saturday's 111-104 double-overtime loss to the Fresno State Bulldogs. He left the game at the eight-minute, 37-second mark after getting tangled up with Bulldogs forward Terrell Carter II.

“This is another tough injury for our team right now,” head coach Todd Simon said in a statement, per Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun. “We feel terrible for Stephen and know he will work extremely hard to get back on the floor.”

Zimmerman's injury is the latest bit of bad news to hit the Rebels in the last week-and-a-half. UNLV forward Ben Carter suffered a torn left ACL during the team's game against the San Diego State Aztecs on Jan. 30, per Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and the university announced the team had dismissed reserve point guard Daquan Cook on Feb. 5, per Ray Brewer of the Las Vegas Sun.

Former UNLV head coach Dave Rice, who resigned Jan. 10, sent out a tweet in support of Zimmerman:

Thinking about you @BIGG_ZIMM tonight with the injury news. Lots of confidence in you. #VegasGrit pic.twitter.com/MDECIVuXZP

— Dave Rice (@CoachDaveRice) February 9, 2016

With Zimmerman out of action, UNLV loses its third-leading scorer (10.6 points per game) and its leading rebounder (9.0 per contest). The Rebels may have to resort to a lot of small-ball lineups with 6'8" sophomore Dwayne Morgan playing center.

The Rebels would've had a security blanket in Goodluck Okonoboh, but he decided to transfer in November, according to Bern. He could have been of huge value to a UNLV team that may be down to six available scholarship players Wednesday against the San Jose State Spartans, per Kevin Bolinger of Fox 5 in Las Vegas.

Stephen Zimmerman will be entering the NBA in the perfect era for his skill set.

Back in the day, NBA teams were searching for back-to-the-basket post players who they could dump the ball down to and have that guy get them buckets. Some teams are still searching for that, but there's less of a premium on post-up scorers in today's NBA, which has become more of a guard's game.

Age	19 (Born Sept. 9, 1996)
Team	UNLV
Height	7'0"
Weight	240

Zimmerman is a good fit in the league because he's at his best operating as a screener in the pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop, and he has a good enough jump shot to spread the floor. Defensively, he fits the prototype of what most teams are searching for out of their center.

"It's so en vogue, you have to have a rim protector and be able to guard in space and move around and guard three guys in every possession," an NBA scout told Bleacher Report. "Zimmerman can do all of that stuff."

So a big man who can shoot, kill it in the pick-and-roll, block shots and guard multiple positions—that sure sounds like a lottery pick, doesn't it? 

Zimmerman could end up going there, but as you'll see in this scouting report, Zimmerman's numbers as a freshman and a lack of strength could cause some hesitation for a lottery team to pull the trigger. 

Relevant Stats

PPG	RPG	APG	BPG	TPG	FG%	FT%
11.1	9.2	0.8	2.1	2.0	48.3	62.5

For a freshman, Zimmerman's scoring numbers are solid, and he's put up better numbers in conference play (12.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game), but that production doesn't exactly scream one-and-done lottery pick. The fact he's improved throughout the year is encouraging.

It's important to look beyond the stats when evaluating Zimmerman. Other than shot blocking and rebounding, the numbers don't paint the picture on why he's valuable. 

Strengths

"He's 7'0" tall and has a lot of talent," a second NBA scout said. "He's very coordinated for a player his size. High skill level. Shoots. He can pass. He can face up a little bit. He hasn't perfected any of these things, but you see the foundation for a highly skilled player."

This is why Zimmerman is viewed as a first-round prospect and potential lottery pick despite the fact that his numbers as a freshman aren't going to blow anyone away.

As the scout said, you see the foundation for a highly skilled player, and he could be someone who impresses in workouts because of his skill.

The ability to play out of the pick-and-roll is what Zimmerman does best right now. He has a good sense of when to slip early to the basket, hold his screen and then roll or pop out into open space. Put him with the right guard and he's dangerous. He can make catches in traffic and gather quickly to score.

What's most promising for his next-level projections is his ability to catch and shoot from 15-17 feet. That's where Zimmerman is most comfortable right now. He likes operating in space and is consistent at knocking down open looks from the mid-range. He's the best shooter out of the college center prospects, and while he hasn't shot the three often (5-of-14 this season), he should be able to expand his range over time. 

Zimmerman's passing ability is one aspect of his game that is easy to overlook at this point, likely because the assist numbers (0.8 per game) aren't there, but he has good vision, especially out of the mid-post area. 

Where he's comfortable on the offensive end is similar to his defensive abilities. He's solid guarding against ball screens and does a good job helping to contain the ball. As a shot-blocker at the rim, he has good timing and is willing to challenge drivers. 

Weaknesses

Almost every one of Zimmerman's weaknesses have to do with a lack of strength. 

On the defensive end, a stronger player can dictate where he wants to go and bury Zimmerman in the post. He's a good rebounder, but his lack of strength can be a problem on the boards as well. When he played against San Diego State, who has older big men that have developed their bodies, the Aztec bigs were able to knock Zimmerman out of the way when they wanted to get to a rebound in his area. 

This is also a problem for Zimmerman when he's trying to score from the blocks. He's never been comfortable operating with his back to the basket, although he's progressed this season. He has a nice running lefty hook in the lane, and he can score when he gets good position and gets to the move he wants to make. The issue is getting there. 

	FG% at rim
1. A.J. Hammons, Purdue	87.7
2. Kennedy Meeks, UNC	80.4
3. Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona	72.5
4.Diamond Stone, Maryland	72.2
5. Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga	71.6
6. Damian Jones, Vandy	71.4
7. Chinanu Onuaku, Louisville	69.6
8. Jakob Poeltl, Utah	68.2
9. Prince Ibeh, Texas	67.4
9. Skal Labissiere, UK	67.4
11. Stephen Zimmerman, UNLV	59.8

A physical defender can prevent Zimmerman from getting into his move. He's also left-hand and right-shoulder dominant. He's started to develop some counters in the post—he's shown off a nice up-and-under—but when a defender takes away his right shoulder, he might as well pass it back out.

His struggles in this area of the floor are illustrated by his shooting percentages around the rim. He has shot 59.8 percent at the rim, according to Hoop-Math.com, which is lower than any of top center prospects projected to go in the draft (see chart). 

Zimmerman has tried to compensate for his lack of strength by getting the ball about 15 feet out from the basket and trying to use his quickness to get around defenders. This is where a lot of his turnovers originate, as he's losing the ball when he puts it on the floor. 

"He hasn't figured out just because you can dribble doesn't mean you should," the second scout said. "He's got to learn when to call on what skill and not make things more complicated than they have to be. A lot of this will be solved if he just gets stronger. Then he can get the ball, say, 'I'm going to do what I do and you'll have to stop it.' And then when guys stop it, he can start to go to his counter move and his other skills."

NBA Player Comparisons

The two names who came up with Zimmerman were Raef LaFrentz and Omer Asik. 

The LaFrentz comp makes a lot of sense. Both are lefties who can shoot, and LaFrentz is a good example of a guy who was a good mid-range shooter in college and developed his range in the NBA. 

LaFrentz made only 13 threes in four years at Kansas. In his second year in the NBA, he made 60 threes, and he has made more than 100 threes in a season twice. LaFrentz was also a good shot-blocker, especially early in his career before knee problems slowed him down. He averaged 2.5 blocks per game over his first four seasons and was actually a better shot-blocker in the NBA than he was at Kansas, where his best season he averaged 1.5 blocks per game. 

This gives some hope that Zimmerman could become a better shot-blocker than he is now. Athletically, he's similar to a young LaFrentz. 

The Asik comp comes with an asterisk. 

"He kind of reminds me of Asik with more offense," the first scout said. "It's going to take him a while and he's got to add bulk, but he can be a serviceable defensive presence and protect the basket, run in transition every time and build from that. He definitely has more potential and upside as an offensive player."

Best-Case Scenario

The ideal scenario for Zimmerman is that all of the skills he has now continue to improve and he becomes one of the best shooting centers in the league with the ability to score on the occasional post-up, but it's going to take time for him to get there. 

"He's a player you're drafting on potential because he doesn't do anything great yet, and it's going to take a while for his body to mature," the second scout said. "He's going to have to be committed to getting in the weight room and eating the right foods and you're going to have to wait on him to do that. It's not going to happen overnight." 

If Zimmerman does get stronger and learns how to hold his position, he has the measurables and skills to become a starter in the league. He could be a double-double threat, and if paired with a playmaking guard in the pick-and-roll, Zimmerman could be a very important piece in the right kind of offense. The good news is it's easier to develop a guy's body and add strength than it is to turn a nonshooter into a shooter, especially at the center position. 

Worst-Case Scenario

He doesn't develop his body enough to get on the floor. 

"He'll be able to post up, but you want him to continue to develop his post game," the second scout said. "You want him to continue to develop his right hand, but if he doesn't get stronger, who cares? He's not going to be able to get the ideal position to go to that tool box if he doesn't get stronger."

This is the determination NBA teams will have to make: Do they believe Zimmerman will put in the work to get strong enough to match up with NBA bigs? 

March Impact

While scouts put varying degrees of importance on a player's performance in the NCAA tournament, with the eyes of the nation on March Madness, playing well or poorly in the most important games of the season can certainly sway one's opinions. Some players like the UConn Huskies' Shabazz Napier have used the tournament as a springboard to rise up draft boards in recent years.

Unless the Runnin' Rebels win the Mountain West conference tournament, they're not making the NCAA tournament. 

They could end up playing in the NIT, and that would be good for Zimmerman. He seems to get better with every game, so the deeper he plays into March, the more he will likely show scouts.

Prediction

Last year, Myles Turner went 11th in draft despite not having great numbers in his one year at Texas—he averaged 10.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Indiana Pacers took a chance on Turner because he was a shot-blocker with a jump shot, and so far, that is looking like a smart pick. 

Zimmerman could sneak into the late lottery for similar reasons. He's not as good a shot-blocker as Turner and isn't as long either—Turner has a 7'4" wingspan and 9'3" standing reach, compared to 7'3" and 9'1" for Zimmerman, per DraftExpress.com—but Zimmerman has similar potential as a shooter. 

It's going to take a team willing to make that leap of faith with him, and I'm not sure he's quite as intriguing as Turner was last year. I also get the sense from scouts that there are more skeptics with Zimmerman than there were with Turner. That said, this is a weaker draft class, and it wouldn't be hard for a team to talk itself into reaching for Zimmerman. 

He'll likely end up going in the 15-20 range if he declares this year. It could take until his third year in the league before the payoff comes, but if he gets stronger, there's a lot to like about what Zimmerman can bring to the table. 

C.J. Moore covers college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @CJMooreBR.

The UNLV Rebels (12-8) will look to even their Mountain West record and remain in contention for the conference title when they host the Boise State Broncos (15-5) on Wednesday.

The Rebels are listed as four-point home favorites and will also try to improve to 4-1 under interim head coach Todd Simon, who replaced Dave Rice following a 59-57 loss to the Wyoming Cowboys as five-point road chalk on January 9.

Simon has led UNLV to all three of its wins in the Mountain West after the team started 0-3 under Rice, which prompted his dismissal. The Rebels had also covered the spread in three straight games with Simon at the helm—winning each of them by double digits—before falling 65-63 to the Nevada Wolf Pack as 5.5-point road favorites on Saturday.

UNLV held the Wolf Pack without a three-pointer on nine tries from beyond the arc but saw them sink 27 free throws, one fewer than the visitors attempted from the charity stripe.

Meanwhile, Boise State has just one loss in conference play and has beaten UNLV in the past three meetings, covering the last two along with four of six, according to the Odds Shark College Basketball Database.

The Broncos have won two in a row overall and 12 of 13 straight up following consecutive road losses to the Michigan State Spartans and Arizona Wildcats. They have also covered five of their past six after going 0-4-1 against the spread in their previous five.

Boise’s lone loss during that stretch (56-53) came at home as four-point home chalk against the San Diego State Aztecs, who stayed unbeaten in the MWC with a win Tuesday at Nevada.

Since that loss to San Diego State, the Broncos have averaged 87.5 points, defeating Wyoming and the San Jose State Spartans in a pair of games that finished over the total. The over is also 3-1 for totals bettors in the last four for the Rebels and 3-1 in the past four meetings between the teams.

UNLV has averaged a little more than 82 points in four games since Rice was fired, returning to the running style for which the team has been known.

The UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team announced head coach Dave Rice resigned on Sunday, according to Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Youmans reported that Rice had been fired, but the university later announced that Rice had resigned. ESPN Las Vegas radio personality Dave Cokin said assistant coach Todd Simon will be the interim head coach.

One person who is not excited to see Simon be named the interim coach is Leslye Augmon, the wife of former Runnin' Rebel legend and current UNLV assistant coach Stacey Augmon, per MWC Connection:

Saying Stacey Augmon's wife is upset is an understatement. pic.twitter.com/TB7UAqPaRU

— MWCConnection.com (@MWCConnection) January 11, 2016

Leslye Augmon later deleted the tweet and offered this explanation:

Yes I had to delete the tweet. I am ride or die for my husband like he was for this University. Nuff Said.

— Leslye Harris-Augmon (@rebelpride32) January 11, 2016

The Runnin' Rebels dropped to 0-3 in Mountain West play after a 59-57 loss to the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday. UNLV led by as many as 17 points in the first half but lost for the fifth time in its last six games.

This is an excerpt of the release from UNLV, per Willie Ramirez of the Associated Press:

And here is your official press release on Dave Rice. #UNLVMBB pic.twitter.com/IREUaPCWIU

— WillieGRamireZ (@WillieGRamirez) January 11, 2016

“I am particularly proud of our accomplishments, not only on the court, but also academically and in recruiting,” Rice said in a statement, per Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun. “It has been a great honor to coach at my alma mater, and I wish the players, the coaches, the university, the program and the fans the very best as they move forward.”

Steve Guiremand of MyLVSports.com provided a video of Rice meeting with the media Sunday night to discuss his resignation:

Rice's job security had been in question over the last two seasons. After leading UNLV to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in his first two seasons in 2012 and 2013, the Rebels missed the tournament the following two years.

Despite fielding one of the best recruiting classes in the country in 2014, which included Milwaukee Bucks first-round pick Rashad Vaughn, UNLV went 18-15. Rice and UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy met on March 16 after UNLV was eliminated from the Mountain West tournament and mutually agreed that Rice was the right coach going forward:

I met with Coach Rice earlier today and we had a productive and candid discussion. He shared his vision for the Runnin’ Rebel program and how he, as its leader, will move it forward. I also had a chance to share with him our expectations as we go from this season into next.

Included in those expectations are to reaffirm our status as a leader in the Mountain West and our position as a national program.

Rice signed a two-year extension in April after it seemed as though UNLV would lose him to South Florida. He had three years remaining on his original deal at $700,000 per year.

Albeit an intriguing name per ESPN's Jeff Goodman, one coach that could be in the mix is former Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown:

One name already in the mix to replace Dave Rice at UNLV is former NBA head coach Mike Brown, sources told ESPN. He has support among a segment of UNLV boosters. Another question is whether UNLV will pay to attract a big-name guy.

The end of the Rice era is another mishap for the UNLV athletic department. Former football head coach Bobby Hauck resigned in 2014, one year after signing a three-year deal and leading UNLV to its first bowl game since 2000.

Rice had many chances to succeed and recruited at a high level. His firing comes at a cost, and UNLV has to pay.

When growing up in the South Island of New Zealand, a city like Las Vegas can seem a world away. In the coming weeks it will seem a whole lot closer for a group of talented basketball players, though. Two teams, both representing the recently established Mainland Eagles Basketball Academy, will travel to the USA to further their basketball development and stake their claims for college scholarships. 

The Mainland Eagles will be led by former UNLV point guard Mark Dickel, while former NCAA coach Caleb Harrison and up-and-coming coach Greg Brockbank will act as his assistants.

Dickel had a distinguished career with the Runnin’ Rebels, notably leading the nation with nine assists per game as a senior and being named an AP All-American. He remains in third-place all-time for most assists for the Rebels. In 2012 he returned home to Dunedin, New Zealand, after an illustrious career in Europe. Now based out of Christchurch, he returns to Las Vegas with a very good selection of the next generation of talent from the South Island of New Zealand.

Harrison on the other hand has returned to New Zealand to fill the role of Canterbury Rams Development Coach after a decade studying and coaching in the United States, as per his Rams coaching profile. Prior to this he was the women’s basketball head coach at Dickinson State University. Notably, he also acted as an assistant coach on the 2007 Lambuth University National Championship-winning team.

He obtained a master’s degree in sports coaching from Indiana State University and says he is "very passionate about assisting young South Island players to achieve their dream of receiving a scholarship to play U.S. college basketball."

The men’s team will fly out of New Zealand on December 5, remaining in the USA until December 24, while the women’s tour will run from December 29 until January 13.

In this time they will look to give their players as much exposure as possible, having scheduled games nearly every day. Along with that they will train at the Impact Academy, attend UNLV training sessions and games, as well as go to an NBA game in Los Angeles.

The men’s team will play in the famed Tarkanian Classic, while the women will play scheduled pickup games against various high schools in the Las Vegas area.

Brockbank stated that the key purpose was to allow the kids to get a feel for the American system, while also providing them with the chance to be seen by scouts. He feels that the team is talented, although a little undersized. That is probably a fair assessment too. The boys in particular boast a roster of outstanding guards, all quick, skilful and intense, but may struggle for size.

The Canterbury Regional Basketball Foundation established the Mainland Eagles Academy earlier in 2014. Its goal is to help as many young South Island basketball players get to college as possible. Dickel, along with Harrison and Brockbank, has been instrumental in the Academy being up and operating successfully in a short period of time.

Dickel says he "personally understands how basketball offers these kids a unique opportunity." By getting a college scholarship, they are able to get an education while also playing the game they love and "receiving a unique life experience."

He believes that the Mainland Eagles Academy can assist them to achieve their aspirations. To do this he explains they will provide "regular camps throughout the year, continual monitoring of the player’s basketball and academic progress and then take up to four teams on an annual Las Vegas tour."

While this year’s tour will see just two teams travel, it is hoped that in the future an Under-16 team will travel, along with an Under-18 one for each of the boys and girls.

The focus of the academy is on high school players, identifying the talent early and putting them on a long-term development programme to enable them to achieve their goals.

Harrison believes there is "significant talent in the South Island and with the right development programme in place, the selection of the teams going forward will create significant headaches for Dickel and himself."

The end goal will be a "steady stream of Mainland Eagle Alumni heading off to successful U.S college careers."

With basketball in New Zealand enjoying a boom in popularity, this endeavour should only add to the recent success seen by the likes of Steven Adams, Isaac Fotu, Rob Loe and Tai Webster.

There is some real talent on the 2014 roster, and the experience this tour will be of tremendous significance to making the transition should they look to play in the USA. They will be the first of many Eagles to follow for years to come.

Men’s Roster: Joe Cook-Green, Richard Rodger, Taylor Britt, Josh Petermann, Shou Nisbet, Benoit Hayman, Matt Dukes, Jordan Hibbard, Nigel Goulstone, Jamie Macdonald, Hamish Robertson, Jackson Stent.

Women’s Roster: Aleisha Ruske, Tessa Morrison, Nicole Ruske, Claudia Flaws, Zoe Richards, Brittany Richards, Georgia Te Au, Tayla Macdonald, Laura Taylor, Jane Hendry.

Follow the above link for individual player profiles for the men's Tarkanian Classic team. 

All quotes and information obtained from Dickel, Harrison and Brockbank on a first-hand basis unless otherwise stated.

Alright, let's just get the pun everyone has on their mind out of the way now: Good luck beating UNLV in 2014. 

According to ESPN's Christian Bradley, the Runnin' Rebels secured the commitment of 5-Star center Goodluck Okonoboh, one of the most talented players in the 2014 class:

Head coach Dave Rice was able to beat out Ohio State and Indiana for the highly touted prospect from Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Mass. 

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Okonoboh ranks 24th overall in the 2014 class—fourth among centers and No. 1 out of his state. 

It's not exactly difficult to see why, either. 

At 6'9" and 213 pounds, Okonoboh is an explosive athlete. While he is still relatively raw on the offensive end—contributing mostly via pick-and-rolls, offensive rebounds and dunks—he a true difference maker defensively. 

Not only is he an electric shot-blocker who can control the paint and defend the rim arguably better than anyone else in this class, but his quickness, athleticism and agility all make him quite the impressive on-ball defender for a player his size. 

Much like Nerlens Noel with Kentucky last year, Okonoboh's defensive prowess will help him on the court right away for the Rebels in 2014.

In 2012, Rice, who has led UNLV to two 25-win seasons and two NCAA tournament appearances in two seasons as head coach, brought in a recruiting class that featured Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 pick in last June's draft. This year, three 4-stars will make their way to Las Vegas.

But with two 5-stars—Okonoboh and small forward Dwayne Morgan—committed for next season, 2014's class looks like Rice's best yet. 

You can go ahead and get used to seeing UNLV in the Top 25. 

UNLV secured its first commit for the 2014 class, and it was a big one.

Dwayne Morgan, a 6'7" forward from Baltimore's St. Frances high school, chose the Running Rebels over Georgetown and Maryland during a press conference held at his school Wednesday, according to Zags Blog.

Morgan went for 17.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and four blocks per game this past season. According to 247Sports' composite rankings, he is the 22nd-best overall recruit and the seventh-best small forward in his class. 

With a long wingspan, Morgan plays even taller than his 6'7" frame. He is lean at 180 pounds and will have to add bulk to be truly elite, but that should come with time. 

Morgan is very athletic. He can finish with authority around the rim and is also capable of blocking shots. His handles are decent as well, and because of his quick first step, he is able to get to the rim with consistency. This is a nice complement to his excellent jump shot. 

Defenders can't play off of Morgan for the drive, as he has legitimate three-point range. With a high, smooth release, his shot is difficult to disrupt.  

Morgan's lack of strength will initially hurt him on defense, and he will have to work more on his ball-handling to prevent smaller small forwards from stripping him as he drives to the rack. 

ESPN's Dave Telep reports there are some injury concerns about Morgan, as he missed some time early this past season with tendinitis.

Still, that is about it for concerns, and his ceiling is through the roof.

 

Who: UNLV vs. California
What: NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, East Regional second round
Where: HP Pavilion at San Jose, California
When: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Time: 7:27 p.m. ET/4:27 p.m. PT
Television: truTV (Las Vegas Cox 54, 1054)
Local Radio: ESPN 1100 (Las Vegas) Live Stream
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM channel 92
UNLV: Roster  | Schedule ~ California: Roster | Schedule

Odds: UNLV -2½
Total: 131
Money Line Odds: UNLV -145, California +125
Odds To Win NCAA Championship:
UNLV 100/1, California 300/1 (ViewFromVegas.com Futures Link)
Source: LVH SuperBook (Las Vegas, Nevada)

When these two schools met in the regular season, UNLV edged California 76-75 at the Haas Pavilion on a last-second shot by Quintrell Thomas. This Eastern Regional showdown in San Jose on Thursday should be just as thrilling and competitive.

California (No. 12, 20-11) should benefit a bit from the site here, as it will be playing its first tourney in the Pacific time zone since 1950, just a little more than an hour away from the Golden Bears' campus in Berkeley.

Pac-12 Player of the Year Allen Crabbe (18.7 ppg) leads the way for Cal and has a dynamite running-mate in the backcourt in Justin Cobbs (15.5 ppg). The two juniors combined to be the highest scoring duo in the conference with an average of 34.2 points per game.

But as potent a scoring threat as Crabbe (44th in the nation) and Cobbs will pose to the No. 5-seed UNLV (25-9), it’s the Golden Bears' defense that the boys from Sin City will have to worry about.

Cal is holding opponents to a Pac-12-low 39.6 shooting percentage from the field and is allowing just 64.4 points per game—the Bears' lowest average point total in the last 28 years—so if UNLV is to find a way to win and advance, it will have to be fairly accurate from the field.

In the paint, Cal’s Richard Solomon (8.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and David Kravish (6.9 rpg, 1.7 bpg) provide a pretty big presence, but with freshman sensation Anthony Bennett (16.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), junior Mike Moser (7.2 ppg) and the dynamic shot-blocker and rebounder Khem Birch, UNLV should be able to dominate underneath if it can just concentrate on doing so.

Bennett, who just celebrated his 20th birthday a week ago and is being tabbed by many basketball experts as a top-five NBA lottery pick, is a huge reason the Runnin’ Rebels rank sixth in the nation in rebounding and have the kind of expectations that haven’t been had around Sin City in over 20 years.

At guard for UNLV, the electric combination of Anthony Marshall (10.5 ppg), Katin Reinhardt (10.1 ppg) and Bryce Dejean-Jones (9.9 ppg) provide a balanced scoring attack, but much of their energy should be used in trying to keep the Golden Bears’ Crabbe (34.9 percent from three-point range) and Cobbs in check.

Should Cal’s guards be scoring a bit too easily for the Runnin’ Rebels' tastes, UNLV head coach Dave Rice can always bring in senior Justin Hawkins to provide an experienced and calming effect on his younger teammates.

Despite the excitement of this being the first game of the tournament and so many talented scorers on the floor, expect defense to rule the day in a game that might bear a striking resemblance to the December meeting, with each possession being worth its weight in gold.

Cal has allowed less than 60 points in its last four games—all wins—and if UNLV is to represent the now high-profile Mountain West Conference properly, it will have to dominate the boards and stymie the Golden Bears' prolific backcourt.

Expect Cal head coach Mike Montgomery to employ a zone defense in this rematch against UNLV, which has had trouble advancing in this tournament in recent years.

But should the young Canadian and Findlay Prep product Bennett be in “beast mode,” the rims at the HP Pavilion had better be screwed on real tight as very few opponents have found a way to stymie Bennett when he is in a groove.

The play of UNLV’s Marshall—who turns 22 today—and Cal’s Crabbe will also be worth watching, but if the Runnin’ Rebels' first-year guys Bennett, Birch, Reinhardt and Dejean-Jones are on, it could be a very long afternoon for the Golden Bears.

But like most important UNLV games, this one should go down to the wire with a late clutch shot determining who moves on and who goes home.

The winner will play the Syracuse vs. Montana (truTV, 9:57 p.m. ET/6:57 p.m. PT) winner in San Jose on Saturday, with the winner of that game advancing to the Sweet 16 (regional semifinals) at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on March 28.

PREDICTION: UNLV 59 California 57

BETS: UNLV -145 (money line), Under 131

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