You will hear more about the 3-pointers today, about Wink Adams busting his slump against Arizona’s basketball team, about the lead growing to as many as 22 points in the second half, about the Rebels earning what NCAA Tournament selection committee members would consider a quality win come March.
Rene Rougeau says there is a need for more passion. Lon Kruger says there is a need for better shooting, better execution, better talking defensively. Wink Adams says there is a need for him to hoist a jumper and not feel as though the basket is covered with a lid.
Lon Kruger was a no-star. All he turned out to be was one of the finest basketball players in Kansas State history. Lew Hill was a no-star. All he did was win a national junior college championship and become an All-Missouri Valley Conference player at Wichita State. Rene Rougeau was a no-star. All he can boast about is being the best all-around player on UNLV’s roster today.
The thing to realize is not 45 missed shots. It’s that few of them were even open. It’s that when you defend the basketball in November as well as Cal did Friday, an opponent must play far beyond its own potential to have a chance.
Memo to the person who keeps official stats for UNLV basketball games: Tre’Von Willis wants to have a little chat.
It’s not often the better coaching job in a UNLV basketball game takes place opposite the Rebels bench.
This is how the game is played: A college basketball program signs a highly rated recruit who also considered a program of superior stature and tradition. In this case, Kentucky.
Kathy Olivier just keeps talking — she’s a college basketball coach, which means she owns the intrinsic capacity to yap like Churchill — until the recruit’s eyes flicker. That’s when she knows the proper button has been pushed.
