UNLV Basketball

It's not easy for a visiting team to win in Provo, Utah. Going into last night's game with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, the BYU Cougars were 36-1 in conference play at the Marriott Center. Their only loss at home last year was to the Rebels who came from 13 down at halftime to score the stunning upset. Of course that was last year and without a player with the caliber of a Wink Adams, Lon Kruger knew he would have his hands full last night.

This is obviously a different team without Wink. Players in the game would often find themselves stopped and watching Wink make his next move. With the tandem of Tre'Von Willis and Oscar Bellfield, the Rebels almost pulled it off.

Halfway through the second half the Rebels led by eight with the ball, but an unforced turnover by Bellfield helped the Cougars not only get back in the game, but to their credit, they held the Rebels scoreless from the field for the remaining five minutes of the game.

Willis led all scorers with 24 points along with six rebounds and four assists. He was the only Rebel to reach double figures in scoring. Bellfield had nine assists and Chase Stanback led the team with eight rebounds.

Jonathan Tavernari who seems like he's been on this team for the past seven or eight years did his usual damage against the Rebels. He and Noah Hartsock led BYU in scoring with 17 each with many of their points coming in the last 10 minutes of the game.

This was the first game for both teams in Mountain West Conference play. From here the Rebels meet nationally ranked New Mexico in "The Pit" on Saturday afternoon before returning home to face their nemesis from last year, San Diego State who beat the Rebels three times including twice at the Thomas and Mack. They have also beat New Mexico at home in their conference opener.

The Rebels could easily find themselves 0-3 in Conference play and looking up in the standings for the rest of the season if they don't get a win in the next two games.

This team needs a "closer" like Wink Adams who can dominate a game and close it out at the end. Right now Tre'Von Willis could be that guy but he needs to take his game up a couple of notches to give the Rebels a chance in this very good and tough Mountain West Conference.

On a personal side note, for me, it doesn't get any better in sports than it will be this Saturday. First at 1:00 PST the Rebels will be on TV against New Mexico. At 1:30 PM the New York Jets will try to prove that last week's win over Cincinnati was not a fluke and they deserve to be in the playoffs. Finally at 5:00 PM my Philadelphia Eagles will show the world just how difficult it is in the NFL to beat the same team three times in one season as the battle the Dallas Cowboys for their playoff lives.

For what it's worth, my picks:

UNLV 68, New Mexico 64
NY Jets 17, Cincinnati Bengals 13
Philadelphia Eagles 31, Dallas Cowboys 27

The USC Trojans took a page right out of Lon Kruger's play book and put on a defensive clinic, as the UNLV's Runnin' Rebels lost the championship game at the Inaugural Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic 67-56.

As good as the Rebels looked in the first two games of the tourney, that's how bad they were as the Trojans with a two-time transfer, Mike Gerrity, led the way for the Trojans' fourth straight victory. In fact, the Trojans have not lost a game since Gerrity's arrival and now will definitely be a factor in the Pac-10 conference play.

Gerrity is no stranger to UNLV basketball. As a member of the 2005 Pepperdine squad, Gerrity came into the Thomas and Mack and like last night almost single-handedly destroyed the Rebels on their home court.

Although it was only the second loss of the season and with wins against Louisville and Arizona the Rebels will still find themselves either in the top 25 or just a few spots out of it.

UNLV has two glaring weaknesses this year and if a team has some size in the frontcourt and a point guard who is relentless and can play 38-40 minutes, the Rebels will find themselves in big trouble.

The Rebels also showed that they are not a very good half court team that likes to play a slow down game. In order for them to be effective they must be able to impose their stifling defense and score from turnovers.

Last night, that didn't happen as the Rebels turned the ball over 15 times as compared to seven by the Trojans.

Even with that said, the Rebels closed the gap to nine points late in the game but couldn't score on four straight possessions that could have put them back in contention.

Players including Tre'von Willis, who was named to the all tourney team, Derrick Jasper and Chase Stanbeck literally seemed not to show up for the championship game as they scored 12 points between them. Oscar Bellfield led the Rebels with 17 points along with three rebounds and three assists.

Lon Kruger had hoped this tourney would prepare the Rebels for the intensity of Mountain West Conference play which begins for the Rebels on the road at BYU and New Mexico, the two other co-favorites in the conference.

So now the Rebels come home and lick their wounds from their two losses against Kansas State and USC, both teams that will most probably be ranked by seasons end.

I must admit I might have been biased while overly stating that this is the best Rebels team I've seen in 15 years. They are good and could still prove to be great if they've learned from these losses and can improve their half court game.

We will see.

UNLV's Runnin' Rebels defense led the way for it's second straight blowout in the first Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

This time the victim was the host team, the University of Hawaii on its home court. Just as UNLV did the previous night to SMU, the Rebels started fast and took the Rainbow Warriors, and their crowd, right out of the game.

By the end of the first half, the Rebels had built a 23-point lead at 44-31. Leading the way for Lon Kruger's Rebels was Derrick Jasper who in 29 minutes had 14 points, on 5-for-10 shooting, along with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. It was Jasper's best game by far in a Rebels uniform.

The back court tandem of Tre'Von Willis and Oscar Bellfield also reached double figures in scoring with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

For the second night in a row, Kruger used 11 players. This time each one of them were in on the scoring. Every Rebels player had at least 10 minutes on the floor. Kruger's plan was not to wear his team down. With their style of pressure defense playing three games in four nights might be too draining.

The biggest difference in the two games UNLV has played so far was the Rebels didn't let up in the second half as they coasted to a 77-53 win.

With these two 'road' victories, the Rebels will meet the red hot USC Trojans who disposed of the highly touted St. Mary's squad in the other semifinal match-up.

This Christmas day showdown pits a USC squad who, like the Rebels, have beaten a highly ranked team with a victory over Tennessee.

The USC Trojans will be hard pressed to generate a sustained offense against a team that has held their two previous opponents to 53 points each.

Once again this is the best total Rebels team I have seen since UNLV ruled the college basketball world 20 years ago. This is a very unselfish team, where on any given night, any one of the 11 players can lead the way.

In two weeksm Mountain West Conference play starts. I will preview the conference team-by-team and reveal my findings and picks by New Year's Day.

For all who read this, I wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday season and New Year.

Can the UNLV Runnin' Rebels repeat their National Championship of 20 years ago?

Perhaps.

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels are off to a terrific start. They have been consistently impressive, but are far from perfect. The season is relatively young, and the Rebels have work yet to do if they hope to achieve their full potential.

In honor of the holiday season, it seems appropriate and festive to submit a Christmas wish list for the next three-plus months of UNLV basketball.

I won’t.

My reasoning is simple: All fans want basically the same things.

They want victories, national respect, dominating performances, wins over rivals, conference titles, a trip to the big dance, and ultimately, success in the NCAA tournament.

All of these things are inseparably intertwined with a common ideal: winning.

A wish list would be pointless; a waste of time.

Therefore, rather than list a bunch of obvious milestones the team hopes to achieve, I’m taking a different approach. Rather than answering the hypothetical question, “What do we want?” I’ll tackle the much more difficult issue:

“How do they make it happen?”

For all their early accomplishments, this UNLV team still has its flaws. In order to continue to rack up wins and prolong a pattern of success well into March, they must get better.

In the merry spirit of Christmas and family get-togethers, let the nitpicking begin!

The first, and perhaps most frightening concern evident in the Rebels’ early play relates to the mercurial territory 21 feet from the basket and beyond. The three-point line is the great equalizer in basketball. Often the outcome of a contest can swing on the hinges of a few timely long-range bombs.

UNLV's struggles shooting the ball from long distance have been obvious. The Rebels are connecting on just 29.5 percent of their three-point attempts, good enough for 253rd nationally. As the road gets tougher in conference play, and postseason play, that percentage needs to increase.

There is reason for optimism. UNLV has seen the percentage bumped up recently. Over their last three games, the Rebels have hit 42 percent of their threes, most recently connecting on 7-of-14 against SMU in Hawaii.

Matt Shaw (6-of-9) and Chace Stanback (7-of-13) seem to have found their rhythm from outside, but must prove they can maintain such accuracy over the long haul.

Not only has UNLV been shaky shooting from deep, they’ve also had issues defending the three-point line. The Rebels are allowing opponents to connect on 34 percent of their three-point attempts, 172nd nationally. That number may be slightly inflated by the gut-busting, shooting clinic put on by Jacob Pullen and his Kansas State teammates (14-for-23), but is an eyebrow raiser nonetheless.

It is worth mentioning that BYU and New Mexico, the two teams most likely to give UNLV fits in conference play, both rank in the top 50 nationally, connecting on 39.9 percent of their three-point attempts.

There are 197 Division I basketball teams that have an average rebound margin of zero or better. UNLV (-0.4) is not one of them. They have failed to out-rebound the opponent in seven of their last nine games.

One possible solution: a little more playing time for Darris Santee. I generally try not to second-guess head coach Lon Kruger. He seems to know what he’s doing. The rebounding numbers are, however, a little alarming, and Santee is by far the best rebounder on the team.

Santee averages a solid 12.5 rebounds per 40 minutes. Chace Stanback is second on the team with a hair under nine boards per 40 minutes.

Santee plays just 14 minutes per game.

If rebounding continues to be an issue, Santee’s production won’t go unnoticed.

Games are frequently won or lost at the free throw line. The Rebels shoot a respectable, but underwhelming, 69.5 percent from the charity stripe. Fans would love see that number creep up over 70 percent.

The real distress is how often UNLV is sending the opposition to the line for freebies.

Only 10 teams in Division I commit more personal fouls per game than the Rebels (22.7). Lon Kruger has depth to use, and loves to employ an aggressive, attacking defense, but the foul totals are becoming staggering.

BYU played Nevada at the Orleans Arena this past Tuesday. The Cougars made a mind-boggling 27-of-28 free throws in the game. They shoot 78.6 percent from the stripe, fourth nationally.

Against the top competition in the MWC, the Rebels will need to do a better job of keeping them away from the line.

UNLV is off to an extraordinary start. They have played well and should only get better. The fact that there is clear room for improvement is deliciously encouraging food for thought.

A conference championship and NCAA tournament success are at the top of the wish list of every avid Rebel fan. With a little tweaking, a little discipline, and a little improvement in a few key areas, there’s no reason they can’t get there.

Not since 20 years ago has the UNLV men's basketball team drawn this much excitement as the decade comes to a screeching halt next Friday.

In his sixth year as the coach of the Runnin' Rebels, Lon Kruger and his 2009-2010 edition are certainly evoking memories of Greg Anthony, Larry Johnson, and Stacey Augmon.

Ranked 20th in this week's ESPN/USA Today poll, the Rebels are in Hawaii this week for the inaugural Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

Being the only ranked team there is not a guarantee to the championship for the 10-1 Rebels. In the other side of the bracket lie USC and Saint Mary's, both teams that have beaten ranked opponents this year.

However, if last night's drubbing of SMU is any indication of just how strong and how deep these Rebels are, it looks like it's going to be a year where UNLV and perhaps even three other Mountain West teams will be joining them in the big dance in March 2010.

Last night the Rebels used 11 men to roll to a one-sided 67-53 win over the Mustangs from SMU. The final score was no indication of the beating that took place on the floor.

The Rebels jumped out to a 42-19 halftime lead and never looked back. They increased the lead to 28 midway through the second half and allowed the SMU Mustangs to get as close as 12 points with about two minutes to play.

Coach Kruger, knowing there would be three games in four days, didn't want any of his starters going more than 30 minutes. They didn't—26 minutes to Chase Stanback, who put up 11 points, while Derrick Jasper's 26 minutes yielded nine points, and reserve freshman guard Anthony Marshall added 12 points in his 26 minutes.

Here's how balanced the Rebs were last night. Eleven players entered the game. Every one of them took at least one shot. Nine of them scored, and all of them had at least one rebound.

This was the best team effort in any one game that I have witnessed in the 15 years I've lived in Las Vegas and followed the Runnin' Rebels. Last year's team, which went 21-11 and lost to Kentucky in the NIT, graduated three senior starters, including their most explosive player in four-year starter Wink Adams.

Kruger has been an excellent recruiter from the junior colleges since he arrived on the scene six years ago, and this year's crop of Stanback and Jasper has already filled the void from last year's graduates.

Tre'Von Willis, the team's emotional leader, who's nursing a bad ankle, came off the bench last night and in 25 minutes had 12 points and four rebounds, while normally reserve freshman guard Anthony Marshall had his best game to date. Not thought of as a great shooter, he went 6-of-9 with two steals, two assists, and three rebounds along with his career-high 12 points.

Tonight in one semifinal the Rebels meet host Hawaii, who defeated the College of Charleston 84-71. The winner of tonight's game will meet the winner of the USC-Saint Mary's game for the championship on Friday night.

Hawaii is 6-4 but has won its last four straight. Two of their losses came at the hands of the other two powerhouses in the Mountain West, BYU and New Mexico. Those two teams and UNLV are the co-favorites in the Mountain West this season.

It should be a fun year as the Rebels try to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years.

After notching hardfought road victories over Arizona and Santa Clara last week, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels moved up to No. 17 in coaches poll and No. 18 in the AP poll. The Rebels are ranked in the top 20 in both polls for the first time since the final week of the 2007 season after being eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the Sweet 16.

UNLV’s 7-0 start is their best in nearly two decades. Their RPI is 11.

Washington, one spot above of the Rebels in both polls, is the only team west of Texas ranked ahead of UNLV.

Lon Kruger has built the Rebels into one of the best programs in the western United States.

Rebels fans who have followed the program closely are not surprised by the team's return to relevance. What has been surprising, however, is the timing.

UNLV returned just two starters. They were joined by just two reserves that logged significant minutes the previous year. The 11-man rotation being utilized by Kruger consists of one walk-on, two freshmen, three sophomores, four players coming off a redshirt, five players who had never logged a single minute for the Rebels before this year, seven guards, one forward, and one three-headed monster.

The roster turnover and lack of experience raised preseason concerns about cohesiveness and chemistry.

Those concerns are gone now, replaced by seven victories, no losses, and a well deserved national ranking.

Such gratifying early success would likely have been predicted entering the 2010-2011 season, but even the most feverishly die hard Rebel fans had to approach this season with some hesitance.

This figured to be a learning season, an up-and-down campaign. There were too many new players; too many unanswered questions; too many prevalent maybes and perhapses.

All of those obstacles would take time to overcome, and the 2009-2010 season would be a building block for future success.

Somewhere between last season and next season, this season took us all by surprise. Success snuck up behind the Rebels and plopped itself in their lap, 12 months ahead of schedule.

Game Notes:

Kansas State visits Las Vegas this weekend, and the Wildcats and the Rebels will face off on Saturday at 4 p.m. PDT in what promises to be an entertaining affair.

Both teams like to run. Both teams have great depth. Both teams have outstanding guard play. Both teams have shot poorly from long range. Both teams play aggressive, physical, man-to-man defense.

With a victory, UNLV would move to 8-0 and likely find themselves in the top 15 of next week’s polls.

Statistical Food for Thought:

The Rebels are averaging 17.9 assists (12th nationally), 10.7 turnovers (11th nationally), and have an assist/turnover ratio of 1.7-to-1 (third nationally). They are also allowing opponents just 3.1 steals per contest, which leads the nation.

Kendall Wallace has made 11 of 25 three-pointers (44 percent).

Oscar Bellfield and Tre’Von Willis have made a combined 13 of 51 three-pointers (25.5 percent).

Anthony Marshall and Steve Jones have made a combined one of 18 three-pointers (5.5%).

The Rebels’ three-headed monster at center (Brice Massamba, Darris Santee, and Matt Shaw) are still contributing terrific stats collectively. The trio is averaging 18.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 0.7 turnovers per game.

Not to be outdone, the three-headed point guard monster (Oscar Bellfield, Tre’Von Willis, and Derrick Jasper) are putting up 35.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 10.9 assists, and 3.6 steals. In fairness, they are playing twice as many total minutes.

Chace Stanback has had a slow start offensively (6.1 points, 33 percent FGs), but he is leading the Rebels in rebounds (5.7), blocks (0.9), and steals (2.3).

Lon Kruger has done it again, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels are the talk of Sin City.

They are off to a 6-0 start, with impressive wins at home against Nevada, Southern Illinois, and Louisville, and an impressive road win against Arizona—good enough for their best start in 17 years.

This team was expected to be good, but not this good, and not this soon.

There are a ton of new faces on this team, and all appear to be contributing much faster than almost anyone expected.

Just look at what Derrick Jasper did to Louisville (Please click on that link only if you are ready to see one of the best plays I've ever seen a college basketball team make).

Derrick Jasper missed a three; Steve Jones saved it from going out of bounds by diving into the Lousiville bench, Oscar Bellfield saved the ball from going out of the bounds again by (incredibly) bouncing it in-between a Louisville Cardinal's legs, then Trevon Willis found Derrick Jasper for an emphatic alley-oop dunk.

I watch a lot of basketball, and that was the best basketball play I've seen in a long time.

Jerry Tarkanian, the legendary UNLV coach, even said that this team is deeper than any of the teams he has ever coached; this depth will continue to pay more and more dividends as the season continues.

With many of its toughest non-conference tests behind them, could UNLV be 14-0 heading into its conference opener at BYU?

Here is a quick look at the remainder of UNLV's non-conference schedule:

12/5 at Santa Clara (4-3)

12/12 Kansas State (6-1)

12/15 at Southern Utah (3-5)

12/17 Weber State (2-4)

12/19 USC Upstate (1-5)

Kansas State is by far UNLV's toughest remaining non-conference test—the Wildcats are fresh of the heels of a victory over a ranked opponent at a neutral site (Dayton) and their only loss is by 12 to Ole Miss. But Kansas State's first true road game will be at UNLV. There should be an awesome crowd for that one, and I think UNLV will prevail.

Diamond Head Classic: Honolulu, Hawaii

12/22 vs. Southern Methodist (2-3)

12/24 vs. Hawaii (2-4) (Projected Opponent)

12/25 vs. St. Mary's (5-1) (Projected Opponent)

St. Mary's could be tough, but I like the Rebel's chances to take home the Diamond Head Classic.

After that, though, is when things will get really interesting.

They could easily be 14-0; in the Top 10, and highly ranked heading into their conference opener.

UNLV opens their conference slate with (perhaps) their two toughest games of the year:

1/6 at BYU (5-1)

1/9 at New Mexico (7-0)

If UNLV can win just one of those games, it would be huge for the program. Last year they beat BYU at the Marriot Center, the first Mountain West conference team to do so since Dave Rose took over as head coach at BYU four years ago. And New Mexico rarely loses at the Pitt in Albequerque.

But they ended up fizzling out down the stretch.

Even if this teams starts out 0-2 in the conference, they just might run the table the rest of the way, or maybe win 13 of their last 14 games.

They could be 27-3, heading into their conference tournament; which is played on their home court.

If UNLV won the conference tourney, they'd be 30-3, and have a regular season conference championship as well. They'd be well set up for a good tourney run to the Sweet Sixteen or Elite Eight.

If they could do that, UNLV would likely be looking at a Top 10 ranking, and a two or three seed in the NCAA tournament.

Know what the scary thing is (at least for fans of other college basketball teams)?

Next year, UNLV returns all five starters, and five of its six key contributors off of the bench; only losing Senior big man; Darris Santee (5 PPG and 5 RPG). And the Rebels add Kansas transfer and big man Quintrell Thomas. Who if as good as advertised, will make losing Santee a distant memory

For all that Lon Kruger has done for UNLV basketball, it has yet to take home a (regular season) conference championship.

This looks like it just might be the year to do so. And next year might just be the year to surpass whatever UNLV ends up accomplishing this year; making a deep tourney run. The sky really is the limit for this program.

The Thomas and Mack is an excellent facility, and attendance has been excellent so far this season.

Lon Kruger has already brought this program to heights unseen since the Jerry Tarkanian era (a Sweet Sixteen run in 2007). And it looks like UNLV has the opportunity to match, or even surpass that accomplishment.

Two years ago, UNLV men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger was voted the MWC Coach of the Year, as well as the United States Basketball Writer’s Association District VIII Coach of the Year, after leading an undermanned and undersized squad to a conference championship and a first round win in the NCAA tournament.

If the Rebels can maintain their current pace and level of play, Kruger will make that season seem underwhelming by comparison.

UNLV tipped off the season amidst rampant uncertainty. The Rebels lost three of their top four scorers from a senior-laden team that struggled with inconsistency last year.  A bevy of talented newcomers stepped in, eager to prove themselves.

Words like "potential" and "upside" were thrown around liberally in the preseason. More cautious prognosticators assumed the team would be a work in progress, taking time to pull it all together and then posing a "potential" threat to strong competition.

Many esteemed journalists and analysts overlooked the unproven Rebels, likely with last season’s disappointing finish still etched into their memories.

Despite little preseason fanfare outside of Clark County, the Rebels have shot out of the gate and onto the national scene.

Unheralded and ignored just a few weeks ago, UNLV dispatched Rick Pitino and his Louisville Cardinals for the second consecutive year. The Rebels led the entire game, even holding a 19 point lead in the second half.  It was the third quality victory of the young season for UNLV. Nevada and Southern Illinois fell to the Rebels at the Thomas and Mack Center the week before.

The strong start has earned UNLV a well deserved spot in this week’s top 25 polls, released this morning. The Rebels come in at No. 21 in the coaches poll and No. 24 in the AP poll.   

In just a few short weeks, Lon Kruger has churned a mishmash of recruits, transfers, and returnees into a deep, entertaining, and explosive team.

UNLV has overwhelmed their opposition, utilizing an unconventional 11-man rotation to wear down visitors and eventually pull away.

Kruger has been a master chef.  He’s mixed and matched ingredients, rotating lineups and combinations into a deliciously confusing yet always satisfying concoction.

The early results are surprisingly tasty.

If the season is a meal, November games are just an appetizer. The main course is yet to come, then hopefully a hearty dessert.

The Rebels must not forget last year’s collapse too soon. After a victory over Louisville at Freedom Hall last December, UNLV was 12-2 and on the verge of breaking into the top 25. Shortly thereafter, the season slowly began to crumble.

The Rebels head out on the road for the first time this week. They’ll visit Arizona on Wednesday night in what is sure to be a challenge. Saturday night they’ll take on Santa Clara.

Kruger will do his best to remind his team of the bitter flavor they endured post-Louisville in 2008.

Five games in, UNLV cannot allow feelings of satisfaction to linger.

The appetizer was delicious, but if anything, the Rebels should be even hungrier.

UNLV beat a very talented and young Louisville team to make a case for inclusion into the top 25.  UNLV dominated the first 3/5 of the game but Louisville almost pulled off an epic comeback from 19 points down and tied the game but ran out of gas in the last few minutes.  UNLV continues to wear teams out with its 11 man rotation and tonight was no different. 

Trevon Willis and Oscar Bellfield were the dynamic duo for UNLV and the two biggest reasons UNLV won this game.  Trevon Willis had 16 pts, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.  However he did have 4 turnovers, so that will give him something to work on in the future.  Oscar Bellfield had 17 pts, 4 assists, and most importantly he broke the Louisville press with ease.

Derrick Jasper also played really well.  He had two wicked awesome backdoor alley oops that brought the crowd to their feet and if anyone runs that play better than Jasper and Willis I would certainly like to know.  Jasper does so many little things well and he is really a match-up nightmare for other teams because of his size at the guard position. 

The 3 headed monster put in another very solid performance.  Massamba played extremely physical and had a few nice finishes around the rim but needs to grab more rebounds.  Matt Shaw was solid and made Louisville pay when they left him open from 3.  Darris Santee was simply very good tonight, 13 pts and 5 rebounds and if he continues playing like that he may be starting in the near future.

Justin Hawkins and Anthony Marshall both played solid defense.  Marshall had 3 steals and 2 assists.  Justin Hawkins got called for some ticky tack fouls but made his one shot he took all game which was a 3 pointer.

Chace Stanback deserves a paragraph all to himself.  He was UNLV's leading rebounder with 9 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists despite only playing 19 minutes.  Chace may still be hampered a little bit with a lingering injury from the preseason but when he fully recovers he will score in ways that other UNLV players simply cannot.

After many long and grueling months, the UNLV Running Rebels finally take the court this week. With an exhibition contest against Washburn tonight and the first official game against Pittsburgh State on Saturday, Lon Kruger’s squad has its first opportunity to make an impression.

With considerable roster turnover and a disappointing finish last season, questions and concerns abound.

The time has arrived for answers; for concrete evidence to supplant speculation.

Beginning tonight, the Rebels will establish their identity through performance and results.

The 10 biggest questions, concerns, and intriguing storylines heading into the 2009-2010 UNLV basketball season:

How much will Wink Adams and Rene Rougeau be missed?

Despite senior-year struggles, Wink Adams and Rene Rougeau were the heart and soul of the team. When healthy, Adams was their best offensive weapon. On the defensive end, Rougeau’s impact was huge.

The efforts of Tre’Von Willis and Oscar Bellfield should ease the Rebels’ transition. Both should increase their offensive production and their on-the-ball defense will have a contagious effect.

Just how good are Derrick Jasper and Chace Stanback?

UNLV fans have been buzzing about the dynamic duo for over a year and will finally be rewarded for their patience. Both were highly touted high school recruits. Both chose to attend powerhouse programs. Both decided to transfer to UNLV. Both are now poised to insert themselves into the nightmares of MWC rivals.

While opinions on the scope and force of their impact vary, two things are clear. Their impact will be large and it will be felt immediately.

What is to be expected from the incoming freshmen?

Head coach Lon Kruger brought in a very solid recruiting class. All three freshmen will have the opportunity to make their mark on the team. Anthony Marshall and Justin Hawkins are both versatile backcourt players capable of contributing right away. But with the guard depth the Rebels have, they’ll have to fight their way onto the court.

Carlos Lopez is a bit of a wild card. The lanky Puerto Rican is skilled and quick. Unfortunately, the thin-framed big man lost 30 pounds due to a summer illness. Once he bulks back up to playing shape, minutes will be there for the taking.

Can the big men get the job done?

At one point last season, foul issues led to 6-foot-3 Mo Rutledge guarding 7-foot-2 Luke Neville of Utah. Though Rutledge battled admirably, that should never have to happen.

The addition of Carlos Lopez and Matt Shaw’s return from a medical redshirt are reason for optimism.  In addition, Brice Massamba dropped 40 pounds of unneeded girth and has demonstrated explosiveness.

Darris Santee, who struggled last year and was eventually benched, has outplayed all three in early practices and scrimmages.

The Rebels are much better equipped to battle in the paint.

Have rebounding issues been resolved?

UNLV finished dead-last in the MWC in rebounding last season.

That can’t happen again. The roster overhaul has led to a dramatically taller lineup. The increase in size will certainly help.

The aforementioned Jasper/Stanback combination will help alleviate the Rebels rebound woes, as well. Both are outstanding rebounders for their position.

Ultimately, rebounding is an effort stat. If they play hungry, they’ll win the battle. Size is no longer an excuse.

Will the Rebels run?

Last year, UNLV scored less than 50 points more times (two) than they scored over 90 (zero). The transition game was nonexistent.

This is the most athletic team Lon Kruger has had during his tenure in Las Vegas.  They’ll enjoy impressive backcourt depth. This team is built to run.

Kruger’s calling card has been aggressive, turnover-inducing, pressure defense. That style, combined with a slew of terrific ball-handlers, athletes and shooters, will lead to an exciting brand of basketball.

Live by the three, or die by the three?

The Rebels made just 34.5 percent of their three-point attempts during the '08-'09 season, good enough for second-worst in the MWC.

Kendall Wallace is one of the best shooters in the conference. He will have more clean looks this year thanks to the efforts of multiple teammates who will excel at creating offense through penetration. When the defense collapses, Wallace will reap the benefits.

Oscar Bellfield and Tre’Von Willis should see an increase in their long-distance efficiency as Derrick Jasper assumes the role of floor general, allowing them to play off the ball and spot up.

Matt Shaw's return should boost the percentage as well. He has as soft a touch from long range as any Rebel.

Can the Rebels protect their home court?

Last year, UNLV lost four games at the Thomas and Mack Center. The previous two years, they lost three home games total.

This year, the Rebels will host a collection of quality opponents. UNR, Southern Illinois, Louisville and Kansas State will all head to Las Vegas to challenge the Rebels before conference play begins.

Home court advantage is incredibly important in the MWC. It is extremely difficult to win on the road and a perfect (or near-perfect) home record is the key to finishing atop the conference standings.  Dropping games at homes kills conference title aspirations.

Who takes the last shot?

The Rebels are looking to bounce back after suffering a number of painfully close losses last season.

Oscar Bellfield provided the most memorable moment of the year with his late-game winner on the road at Louisville. Wallace has knocked down some cold-blooded daggers in his UNLV career.

Derrick Jasper, however, is the leader of this team. With the game on the line, the ball will be in his hands. The decision to drive, dish, defer, shoot or screen will be his to make.

How far will they go?

UNLV has a great shot at playing in the NCAA tournament this year. Their early schedule provides several opportunities for marquee wins. Even at home, a victory over Louisville, Kansas State or both will seriously bolster the postseason resume.

A road game at Arizona and a holiday trip to Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic could strengthen their case as well.

The Rebels' ace-in-the-hole is the conference tournament, which will once again be played in the Thomas and Mack Center. Even if they struggle this year, the Rebels are always dangerous in the quasi-home setting the tourney provides.

At this point, nothing is certain. Finally, this week, the picture begins to materialize. The fun starts now.