Rebels have green light to fire from long range

Seldom will freshman guard Katin Reinhardt second-guess a decision to pull the trigger on a 3-pointer. In UNLV's offensive system, freedom reigns.

"We get a lot of open 3-pointers, so we're not going to turn those down, especially with the shooters we have on this team," he said. "We're never going to pass up an open 3."

In his first season as coach, Dave Rice tried to transition the Rebels into a run-and-shoot team. One game into his second season, it's obvious Rice has more shooters who prefer 3-pointers.

Rice helped create "Jimmer-mania" as an assistant at Brigham Young, and he's allowing UNLV's perimeter shooters the same long leash he gave to Jimmer Fredette. It's a big reason Reinhardt was drawn to Rice, and it was the theme of his recruitment.

The 18th-ranked Rebels (1-0) are almost certain to fire more 3s than Jacksonville State (3-0) when teams meet at 7 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game is part of the preliminary rounds of the eight-team Global Sports Classic, which includes Oregon, Cincinnati and Iowa State.

UNLV opened the season by shooting 9-for-27 from 3-point range in a 92-54 blowout of Northern Arizona on Monday.

The Gamecocks of the Ohio Valley Conference have taken a different approach in their three victories, shooting only 42 3-pointers and hitting seven (16.7 percent).

Reinhardt started in his college debut and scored 14 points on 4-for-12 shooting. He hit 2 of 8 3s, showing he's not shy to fire away.

"Coach gives us the green light," Reinhardt said. "He gives that freedom to everybody. It's not just for one person, it's for everybody. If you have an open shot, he's going to tell you to shoot the ball. He's not going to tell you to pass up an open shot."

Sophomore guard Bryce Dejean-Jones, a transfer from Southern California, came off the bench in his first game for the Rebels and made 3 of 4 3-pointers en route to 15 points. Rice said Dejean-Jones is moving into the starting lineup today, replacing senior Justin Hawkins.

Five players - Dejean-Jones, Reinhardt, Hawkins, senior point guard Anthony Marshall and freshman forward Anthony Bennett - made at least one 3-pointer in UNLV's opener. Junior forward Mike Moser, the team's leading scorer last season, missed all four of his attempts.

Rice's directive for the Rebels is to run and shoot with confidence, and that approach works best without restrictions.

"We have good shooters," Rice said. "The hardest thing offensively to manage for us, with the way we play, is shot selection. We're going to take some bad shots. But I think the other side of that is the confidence we give supersedes maybe a few bad shots we take here and there. I want guys to play with freedom and with confidence."

He also wants the offense to run inside-out, with passes into the post leading to kickouts to open shooters.

"I believe the defense dictates the number of 3-pointers that we shoot," Rice said. "The bottom line is, as long as we're playing inside-out and we're not just coming down and firing them up after one pass or two passes, then I'm perfectly fine with it."

UNLV, which launched 32 3-pointers in its exhibition against Division II Dixie State, should have a stronger post presence this season with Bennett as an anchor. But it's going to be a team defined by the 3, regardless of whether critics like it.

The Rebels attempted 22.8 3-pointers per game last season (making 36.4 percent) and seem likely to average more this season.

That free-flowing style attracts top recruits such as Reinhardt, who was one of the top shooters on the West Coast at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif.

"I don't think we shoot too many," Reinhardt said. "I think the college game has changed a little bit. Coach's philosophy is if you're open, shoot the ball, and he has faith that you're going to make the shot."

And if he misses three or four in row?

"It's not like I'm going to be afraid to shoot the next one," Reinhardt said.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.