2010-11 College Basketball Season Preview: UNLV

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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UNLV Rebels (Last Year: 25-9, 11-5 in MWC)



2010-11 Projected Depth Chart:


F/C: Brice Massamba (Jr)/Carlos Lopez (Fr)

F: Chace Stanback (Jr)/Quintrell Thomas (So)

G: Tre’Von Willis (Sr)/Karam Mashour (Fr)

G: Derrick Jasper (Sr)/Anthony Marshall (So)

PG: Oscar Bellfield (Jr)/Justin Hawkins (So)/Kendall Wallace (Sr-out for season torn ACL)

Gone: PG-Steve Jones, F-Darris Santee, F/C-Matt Shaw (tested positive for banned substance)



2010-11 Outlook:
When the 2009-10 season ended, UNLV looked poised to be a stacked team as their top eight scorers were all supposed to return. A season-ending injury to the team’s top three-point shooter, Kendall Wallace, and forward Matt Shaw was ruled ineligible for his senior season after testing positive for a banned NCAA substance.

Still, the Runnin’ Rebels bring back a lot of talent including leading scorer Tre’Von Willis who will sit the first three games of the season after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor stemming from a women’s claim that he attacked her. Willis will form a backcourt trio with the versatile Derrick Jasper and returning point guard Oscar Bellfield. Even with the loss of Wallace, UNLV has two quality backup guards in Anthony Marshall and Justin Hawkins who both saw decent bench minutes as freshman.

Former UCLA transfer Chace Stanback was extremely productive in his first season in Sin City and will anchor the frontcourt. Six-foot-10 Brice Massamba started 16 games at center and should return to that role. Kansas transfer Quintrell Thomas becomes eligible after sitting out last year and should provide some muscle inside. Six-foot-11 freshman Carlos Lopez probably needs a year or two before he can contribute, but frosh wing Karam Mashour should find his way into Lon Krueger’s rotation.

The Rebels figure to be in a four-team battle in the Mountain West with BYU, New Mexico and San Diego State. All four teams could easily make the tourney for a second straight year which would only help the image of the MWC.





Player to Watch: Tre’Von Willis, G
The former Memphis transfer is a talented all-around scorer, and was second to only BYU’s Jimmer Fredette in points per game last season in the Mountain West. He is also an effective defender on the perimeter. Missing the first three games of the season will not be a major issue since two them are exhibition games and the other is against UC-Riverside.



Key Non-Conference Games:
  • 11/20 vs. Wisconsin
  • 11/25 vs. Tulsa (76 Classic)
  • 11/26 vs. Murray State/Stanford (76 Classic)
  • 11/28 vs. Virginia Tech/CS-Northridge/Oklahoma State/DePaul (76 Classic)
  • 12/11 at Louisville
  • 12/21 at Kansas State



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