Okonoboh, Morgan buck transfer rumors, stick with UNLV

We have heard a lot about the D word when it comes to UNLV basketball this season, about how the Rebels have more depth than at any time under fifth-year coach Dave Rice. That's because Oregon transfer Ben Carter is now eligible and freshman Stephen Zimmerman chose to stay home; size and talent in the front court haven't been this extensive in some time.

There are others, of course.

Goodluck Okonoboh and Dwayne Morgan are intent on you remembering that.

"Attention to detail," Okonoboh said. "It's a responsibility to bring it every day."

They each had highs and lows as freshmen during UNLV's 18-15 season last year, each showing promise in some areas and a need for growth in others. But they stood solid in their commitment to the Rebels when an offseason of rumors arrived about which players might depart. They chose to stay and work.

Okonoboh started 29 games and averaged nearly 27 minutes last season, tying Christian Wood for the team lead in blocks at 90. Morgan played less and struggled more to discover his place, averaging 17 minutes and shooting 38 percent.

Neither was what you would call incredibly tough, which wasn't all that surprising.

"We need for them to use the experience they got last year to add tremendous depth to our team," Rice said. "Dwayne and Goodluck played in a lot of big games, and that should help us. I think part of mental toughness comes from experience and talking about it.

"When you're a freshman and you come in, you can play hard in your mind, but until you actually play at this level, you don't really know what it's all about. You come in the summer before your freshman year and you might be working hard in the weight room, but you don't really know why. Coaches tell you it's because the guys you're going to play against are really big and physical and strong, but you don't know yet.

"Now, they have done that. They know what this level is all about."

Each could be pivotal to whether UNLV's full-court defense works to the successful level Rice envisions, because each will be asked at times to pressure the ball at the front of the press. Morgan's greatest strength might be his motor when pursuing the ball, a level of energy it will take from everyone for UNLV to compete as it desires.

Competition is a good thing, at least for players who want to achieve greatness. Through different journeys, Carter and Zimmerman are Bishop Gorman High graduates who ended up at UNLV with much fanfare and expectations. They're going to play.

But you also can't teach Okonoboh's ability to protect the rim and clean up others' defensive breakdowns, and there were plenty from a perimeter last season that on some nights couldn't guard Rice off the dribble.

"My two most important roles this season are managing the fact we have to play hard on every possession and managing aspects of team," Rice said. "We can only start five guys, and we can only play five guys. But to play the kind of style we are attempting to play — and we're not anywhere close to being there yet — we need 9-10-11-12 guys. That's how it works.

"It has worked with all the individual attention (Zimmerman) has gotten because he's such a team guy. A lot of times a freshman comes in and he gets a lot of attention and it bothers the older guys. But it works because Stephen is such a team guy. He is all about team. I have absolutely seen that."

It doesn't seem to bother Okonoboh or Morgan, but this is also early November and the Rebels have yet to play a game. It's one thing to say you might play as many as 10 bodies a night, and another to do so when the opponents become tougher and Mountain West play arrives and coaches begin shortening rotations.

Neither is offensively gifted: Okonoboh averaged 5.7 points last year, took the seventh-fewest number of shots among eight regulars and made just 34 percent of this free throws. Morgan averaged 5.3 points and converted just 66 of 172 attempts from the field.

But both are steadfast in the opinion they have grown and matured and improved. Depth only works if several contribute, meaning a certain pair of sophomores up front need to prove true the notion that a player's greatest level of improvement occurs between his first and second season.

"The college game was a big adjustment with things like size and speed," Morgan said. "Last year was a learning experience. We all need to be tougher. Fight for that last rebound and loose ball, make the extra push. When the game is tied late, which team is going to play the hardest? We all get along. I think we have great chemistry. But so far, it has just been in practice. Until you play games, you don't really know."

Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on "Seat and Ed" on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Twitter: @edgraney