“Rodeo Road Trip” finally over

UNLV will return to the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time since upsetting Louisville on Nov. 28 tonight when it hosts Weber State.

The dirt, mud, livestock and cowboy hats have all vacated the arena, clearing the way for the Rebels to host a pair of very winnable games before spending Christmas in Hawaii for a three-game tournament.

The Rebels will focus much of their defensive attention tonight on Weber State’s sophomore guard Damian Lillard.

The Oakland, Calif. native averages nearly 20 points per game to go along with four assists.

The Wildcats are 4-1 at home, but have struggled to a 1-3 mark on the road with the lone win coming at Sacramento State.

Weber State is currently on a four-game winning streak.

Interestingly, both teams are coming off wins over Southern Utah. Weber State beat the Thunderbirds at home on Saturday.

Willis won’t start

Tre’Von Willis will come off the bench for the second straight game.

At Southern Utah, the junior guard didn’t start because he had been getting in foul trouble early in games.

Tonight, it will happen because Willis is nursing a sore back that held him out of practice yesterday.

He is expected to see action, it just isn’t known how extensive his minutes will be tonight.

Kendall Wallace will start in his place, along with Matt Shaw at center.

Mistaken identity

After participating in a group interview with Chace Stanback for nearly five minutes, a reporter for the paper in Cedar City, Utah asked the UNLV player which high school he attended in Fresno, Calif.

Stanback was momentarily stunned by the question and had no immediate answer.

Apparently, the reporter thought he had been talking to Tre’Von Willis the entire time.

He had even asked Stanback questions that he had intended to ask Willis.

The small group of Las Vegas media members ribbed the small-town guy for a few moments after Stanback walked away, but the embarrassed reporter wasn’t willing to let it go that easily.

“I’ve been doing this for 13 years,” he said. “I think I know what I’m doing.”

Sure you do.