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December 4 Sheet

UNLV (+1) at Nevada - 7:00pm Pacific
The Runnin' Rebels went 21-11 last year and advanced to the 2nd round of the NIT before losing at South Carolina due in part to the long road trip. The Rebels looked much better coached last year than in years past and "Spoon" should make even more progress with this group in his second full season on the job. Once the team came together they finished strong winning 13 of their final 17 games last season. Counting the three straight they have won this year, they are on a 16-4 run in their last 20 games.

Guard Marcus Banks burst on the scene last year from the JC ranks. In his first season he averaged 15.4ppg, led the league with 3.3 steals per game, and earned conference defensive player of the year. Banks is off to a hot start in his senior season averaging 19.3 points, shooting 56.1% from the floor, 4.0 assists, and 4.0 steals per game so far. He is joined in the backcourt by Georgetown transfer Demetrius Hunter. Hunter has averaged 10.7ppg in three games. Both players are Las Vegas natives. Hunter decided to come home to play with his buddy Banks. These two are interchangeable at both guard positions. Both are extremely quick, explosive scorers, and great defenders. They will give opposing teams nightmares on both sides of the floor.

Senior power forward Dalron Johnson is the star of the frontcourt. Johnson averaged 17.4ppg & 7.0rpg last year and so far this season has averaged 18.0ppg & 8.3rpg. He does not mind involving teammates (2.0 assists per game) and is a great shotblocker (2.7 blocks per game). Johnson hit 15 3-pointers last year, worked on his outside shot in the offseason, and is already 3-for-5 from behind the arc this year. He is extremely athletic and is a great all around talent. Senior swingman Jermaine Lewis (called the best pure shooter he has ever coached by former head coach Bill Bayno) missed all of last year with a knee injury but is back healthy this season and has averaged 8.3ppg, 5.0rpg, with 3.0apg. Former 1st team JC all-American center J.K. Edwards (7.0ppg, 7.0rpg) starts at center and is backed up by junior returnee Omari Pearson (4.7rpg, 3.0rpg). Not much is asked from these two other than defense and rebounding.

Nevada comes in with a 1-2 record losing road games at San Diego and Weber State and winning at the buzzer at San Francisco. Returning guards Terrance Green & Garry Hill-Thomas averaged 16.3 & 15.6ppg respectively last season, but both are off to very slow starts. Green has averaged just 8.3ppg & HIll-Thomas just 6.3ppg. They have combined to shoot just 3-for-13 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, this years leading scorer sophomore Kirk Snyder (15.3ppg) has taken 19 more shots than anyone on the team (shooting just 31.9% from the field) and lost his starting job in second game. He started again in last game but shot just 3-for-13 in a loss. The Wolfpack really miss departed forward Corey Jackson (9.6ppg, 11.1rpg last season) who was one of the better rebounders in the West last season and the teams only true physical inside presence. Junior center Sean Paul, senior forward Matt Ochs, and JC transfer Dean Browne have not gotten the job done averaging just a combined 7.0ppg between the three of them. 6-10 Villanova transfer Jair Veldhuis may be able to help but he is not eligible until the second semester. As a team Nevada has shot just .389 from the field.

I believe the Rebels are poised for a big season. Jerry Tarkanian himself has endorsed Spoonhour as head coach here and excitement is starting to pick up again in Vegas. Banks, Johnson, Hunter, and Lewis give UNLV the offensive firepower and athleticism to compete with anyone. The Rebels have also posted a +7.7 rebounding margin and held opponents to just .407 FG shooting through three games against decent (UAB, Portland State, Washington) opposition. They led the MWC with 9.8 steals per game last year and with the addition of Hunter are up to 11.3 steals (6 more per game than opponents) this year. Rebels were a decent 5-8 in road games last year and should be better on the road this year. Nevada was not exceptional at home (just 5-4 in conference games) last year. UNLV has won four of five in the series including a 12 point win in Vegas last season. Eight of UNLV's nine man rotation including top 5 scorers are upperclassmen. Look for quality Rebels to beat weaker instate rival who is not playing best basketball right now.

UNLV  1 UNIT

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