UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Mountain West (26-8, 9-5)
UNLV has had yet another great season, this time under first year head coach Dave Rice. However, the wins and losses do not tell the entire story. The Runnin’ Rebels have been very fortunate at times to win some games on the road and they did lose some games, like to Wyoming. The good news is that the Rebels have done just fine at neutral sites, but there are still concerns about playing away from the friendly confines of the Thomas and Mack Center.
Big Wins: 11/26 vs North Carolina (90-80), 12/17 at Illinois (64-48), 2/11 San Diego State (65-63)
Bad Losses: 2/4 at Wyoming (66-68), 2/14 at TCU (97-102), 2/29 at Colorado State (59-66)
Coach: Dave Rice (1 season at UNLV)
Why They Can Surprise:
UNLV does an amazing job sharing the ball. Point guard Oscar Bellfield overcame a mid-season slump to finish strong. But even if he is not scoring, Bellfield will be creating opportunities for his teammates. However, Bellfield is a much, much more dangerous point guard when his shot is falling. He is a decent long range shooter and the defense has to make a choice when he is knocking down shots. Anthony Marshall is practically a point guard as well. Between Bellfield and Marshall they dish out about ten assists per game. Marshall is not much of a shooter, but he is a scorer. Marshall is only 6-3, but he can play like a 6-8 wing. He will hit the glass hard and finish above the rim. That is a tough matchup for most opposing shooting guards. And the size and versatility does not end with Marshall. Chace Stanback, at 6-8, and Mike Moser, also at 6-8, man the two forward spots. Those two are difficult to defend.
Why They Can Disappoint:
However, Stanback has been extremely inconsistent this season and UNLV needs him to produce if they plan on making a run in the tournament. Stanback is a great outside shooter, but when he disappears, he disappears for long stretches at a time. Without Stanback stretching out the defense, the Runnin’ Rebels can slow to a crawl. Moser can help pick up some of that slack. Moser is a good athlete with a huge wingspan. That has turned him into one of the best rebounders in the Mountain West Conference. Moser is much like Stanback in the fact that he scores inside and out, but Moser does not rely on his outside shooting as much as Stanback and he can score even if his shot is not falling. Brice Massamba, a 6-10 senior, will start at the center spot. He is not a scorer and the lack of a true post player who can score is an issue. Quintrell Thomas was supposed to fill that role, but he has taken a step back in production and minutes. Carlos Lopez is another option for Coach Rice, but the big guys need to produce if UNLV has dreams of the second weekend.
Probable Starters:
Oscar Bellfield, Senior, Guard, 9.8 ppg, 5.3 apg
Anthony Marshall, Junior, Guard, 12.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, 5.1 rpg
Chace Stanback, Senior, Guard, 12.7 ppg, 1.3 apg, 4.5 rpg
Mike Moser, Sophomore, Forward, 14.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.3 apg
Brice Massamba, Senior, Center, 6.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Justin Hawkins, Junior, Guard, 7.8 ppg, 1.6 apg
Carlos Lopez, Sophomore, Forward, 5.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Quintrell Thomas, Junior, Forward, 4.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Kendall Wallace, Senior, Guard, 3.3 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 77.6 (20th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.2 (152, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.7 (48, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.0 (72, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.4 (18, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.2 (51, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 67.8 (217, 7)
Rebound Margin: 3.9 (58, 3)
Assists Per Game: 18.2 (2, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.8 (200, 8)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
UNLV 2011 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Illinois
UNLV 2010 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Northern Iowa
UNLV 2009 NIT First Round loss to Kentucky
UNLV 2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Kent State
UNLV 2008 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Kansas
UNLV 2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Georgia Tech
UNLV 2007 NCAA Round of 32 win over Wisconsin
UNLV 2007 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Kansas
*all team stats through 3/4
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
