Senior forward Wendell White (5) was inspired to play for UNLV because of the accomplishments of Larry Johnson (4) and his fellow Rebels of 1990 and '91. Johnson, above, puts up a shot during the Rebels' record-setting 103-73 blowout of Duke in the NCAA championship game at Denver on April 3, 1990. Photos by The Associated Press. UNLV forward Wendell White listens to a reporter's question during a news conference in Chicago on Saturday.

CHICAGO -- One of UNLV senior Wendell White's role models from his formative years was a guy who wore a dress. That's not as strange as it might sound, though.

"I wanted to be like Larry Johnson," White said.

Johnson, who led the Rebels to the 1990 NCAA championship and was the NBA's No. 1 overall pick in 1991, only dressed up when he was portrayed as the dunking "Grandmama" in shoe commercials.

White was just 5 1/2 years old when Johnson led UNLV to the title, but his memories of that team influenced his college choice.

"It all went back to the 1990 season, when they won the championship, when I was watching Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and that team," White said. "I said, 'I want to be there.' "

White has led the Rebels to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Johnson took them there in 1991.

Seventh-seeded UNLV (29-6) plays second-seeded Wisconsin (30-5) at 11:30 a.m. today at the United Center. The winner advances to meet the Oregon-Winthrop winner in the Midwest Region semifinals Friday at St. Louis.

Johnson, a 6-foot-6-inch forward, was a superstar who carried the Rebels to back-to-back Final Fours. White also is a 6-6 forward, but he's a long shot to play in the NBA and not drawing many comparisons to L.J.

What he is doing is helping UNLV basketball recall its glory days.

"We've brought a little bit of that back," White said. "We're trying to bring a lot of that back."

If the Rebels can upset the Badgers, who are 5 1/2-point favorites, talk of the glory days might go from an interesting diversion to something more serious.

But White will need to be a major contributor, as he was Friday by producing 19 points and eight rebounds in a 67-63 first-round victory over Georgia Tech.

He was in pain and struggling to breathe after suffering a bruised left rib late in the game. He said he slept well Friday, practiced Saturday and expects to play today at about 75 percent.

"He's sore, but I think he'll be fine," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "If he had to line up and play (Saturday) he could, but that extra 24 hours will certainly help in decreasing the soreness."

The key to White's game is his aggressive attacks on the basket. He said he was in pain when he jumped and shot the ball Saturday, but should not be forced to alter his style today. He did say he expects to take a few elbows from Wisconsin players.

"I took a few Vicodin and that was all right," said White, who suffered a broken jaw in early February and insisted he won't take a painkilling shot for the rib injury. "I've had too many shots this year and I'm scared of the needle right now.

"It won't be a factor. It won't stop me from doing what I need to do to help the team."

White is the team's leading scorer at 14.4 points per game. His biggest challenge might be defending Badgers forward Alando Tucker, the Big Ten's No. 2 scorer at 20.0 points per game.

Tucker finished with 23 points as Wisconsin rallied from an 18-point deficit to defeat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 76-63 on Friday. If White can't handle the 6-6 Tucker, the Rebels might put 6-2 senior guard Michael Umeh on him.

"We need to be more physical and control the tempo," White said. "They've been one of the top five teams in the nation for the whole year, so who wouldn't be up for the challenge?"

UNLV might see White's numbers decline, and in that case, senior point guard Kevin Kruger must pick up his play. Kruger missed all eight of his 3-point shots against Georgia Tech.

"Wendell is the X-factor for us," Kevin Kruger said. "We've been riding him all year. He's the 'Bull' -- that's his nickname."

White has met a few of the Rebels' legends from the past, but not Johnson.

"He used to be my favorite player," White said of Grandmama. "I would love to meet him. That would be about the highlight of my life."

• NOTES -- Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said 6-11 forward Brian Butch might play today. Butch, who averages 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, dislocated and fractured his right elbow Feb. 25 against Ohio State. ... The Rebels hold a 2-1 series edge against the Badgers.