CatsPause.com - Scouting Report: UNLV at Kentucky

March 17, 2009

Matt May
CatsPause.com Senior Writer

UNLV at KENTUCKY
When: 9:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Mar. 17
Where: Memorial Coliseum; Lexington, Ky.
TV: ESPN
Radio: Big Blue Radio Network
Records: UNLV (21-10, 9-7); Kentucky (20-13, 8-8)

Notes: Kentucky leads the all-time series 3-0...The Cats won those games in 1978, 1980 and in the 1985 NCAA Tournament...UK is 20-2 all-time against teams from the Mountain West Conference...In an odd twist of fate, UNLV's trip to Lexington may bring former UK guard Derrick Jasper back to the Bluegrass (although he may not travel with the team)...Jasper left UK after last season and is sitting out this season as a transfer...The Rebels have two All-MWC performers in Wink Adams and Ren?ougeau...UNLV defeated Louisville 56-55 earlier this season, the lone common opponent between the two schools...UNLV Lon Kruger has had a long and successful career at places like UNLV, Florida and Illinois.

UNLV 2008-09 Results
Nov. 15 ? SAN DIEGO (W, 65-60)
Nov. 18 ? TEXAS-PAN AMER. (W, 73-48)
Nov. 20 ? NORTHERN ARIZONA (W, 87-71)
Nov. 22 ? N. CAROLINA A&T (W, 71-58)
Nov. 24 ? at UTEP (W, 80-67)
Nov. 28 ? CALIFORNIA (L, 55-73)
Nov. 29 ? CINCINNATI (L, 65-67)
Dec. 3 ? at Fresno State (W, 82-76)
Dec. 6 ? at Nevada (W, 64-57)
Dec. 14 ? at Western Michigan (W, 70-61)
Dec. 17 ? SANTA CLARA (W, 78-66)
Dec. 20 ? ARIZONA (W, 79-64)
Dec. 23 ? SOUTHERN UTAH (W, 73-60)
Dec. 31 ? at Louisville (W, 56-55)
Jan. 3 ? NEW MEXICO (W, 60-58)
Jan. 10 ? at TCU (L, 73-80)
Jan. 14 ? at Colorado State (L, 69-71)
Jan. 17 ? WYOMING (W, 83-66)
Jan. 21 ? at BYU (W, 76-70)
Jan. 24 ? UTAH (W, 75-65)
Jan. 31 ? at Air Force (W, 59-38)
Feb. 3 ? SAN DIEGO ST. (L, 66-68)*
Feb. 7 ? at New Mexico (L, 69-73)*
Feb. 10 ? TCU (W, 71-57)
Feb. 14 ? COLORADO STATE (W, 89-70)
Feb. 18 ? at Wyoming (L, 68-77)
Feb. 21 ? BYU (W, 75-74)
Feb. 25 ? at Utah (L, 60-70)
Mar. 4 ? AIR FORCE (W, 46-43)
Mar. 7 ? at San Diego St. (L, 46-57)
Mar. 12 ? vs. San Diego St. (L, 57-71)
*overtime

WHAT TO WATCH
If nothing else, the first round match up between Kentucky and UNLV will be a study in similarities. It would be hard to argue any two non-NCAA Tournament teams' seasons mirrored each other as much as the Cats and Rebels.

Coming off back-to-back NCAA appearances UNLV was picked to win the Mountain West Conference during a preseason vote, then rushed out to a 16-4 start and appeared all set to cruise into the postseason. Before the Rebels could say 'hit me' they were slipping and sliding to a 5-6 finish that gave them little chance of receiving an at-large berth.

Like Kentucky, the Rebels were plagued by a myriad of problems, often springing a new leak every time a previous one was plugged.

"I thought we were just up and down all year," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "I don't know that we ever had a stretch where week after week after week we consistently did things better. That's obviously what you're looking for every year.

"We were very inconsistent in every aspect of the game, whether it be shooting, rebounding, defensively, offensively. We just never did find a niche."

In eerily similar quotes to what came out of the Cats' mouths when missing the NCAA Tournament became a reality, UNLV's players are looking back on the season as a case of 'what if'.

"I think at the end of the season you never want to say, 'I wish I could have did this at the beginning of the season,'" UNLV guard Wink Adams said. "That's what we're doing now. We think we could have played harder in a lot of the games we lost. We've just been up and down and shaky."

Sound familiar?

FIVE REBELS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Wink Adams, Guard
2008-09 Statistics: 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Scouting Report: Adams is one of the most accomplished players in the country, having made either 1st or 2nd Team All-Mountain West three straight years during an outstanding career at UNLV. Although his numbers are a bit down this season he is still a dangerous scorer and experienced player.

Ren?Rougeau, Guard
2008-09 Statistics: 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds
Scouting Report: The kid with the fantastic name also has pretty good game, earning his 3rd Team All-MWC honors this season as well as a spot on the conference's All-Defensive Team. Rougeau led the Rebels in blocks (64), steals (45) and rebounds per game (6.8).

Joe Darger, Forward
2008-09 Statistics: 9.2 points, 4.3 rebounds
Scouting Report: Darger is a tremendous three-point threat, having knocked down 75 triples this season in coach Lon Kruger's attack. Darger has been the Rebels' three-point specialist throughout his four-year career, racking up 204 long range bombs.

Tre'von Willis, Guard
2008-09 Statistics: 11.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists
Scouting Report: Willis is a former transfer from Memphis who is unbelievably talented and a fantastic athlete. Willis may be the Rebels' most versatile player, a guy who can score, go to the glass or find teammates with his deft passing skills.

Oscar Bellfield, Guard
2008-09 Statistics: 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Scouting Report: Rivals.com had Bellfield ranked the 22nd best prospect coming out of California in the Class of 2008 and he's had a nice freshman season at UNLV. The Los Angeles product should see ample playing time.

Matt May is the basketball beat reporter for The Cats' Pause. If you have questions or comments about the Cats e-mail him here.

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