Shot discretion still learning process for Dejean-Jones, Rebels

A month ago, sophomore guard Bryce Dejean-Jones quietly watched UNLV's practices with a cast protecting two broken bones in his left hand. Now there is a lot of talk about his right hand.

He's a right-handed shooter, and he has not been shy to let jump shots fly.

"I don't believe I'm a ball hog," Dejean-Jones said. "I look to get everybody involved."

Dejean-Jones is no longer the team's primary injury concern, but everyone is expected to be on the floor for the 24th-ranked Rebels (3-1) when they face UC Irvine (3-4) at 7 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Freshman forward Anthony Bennett, UNLV's leading scorer at 19.5 points per game, sat out Monday's practice with a sore back. He returned to go full speed through Tuesday's practice, while senior point guard Anthony Marshall sat out with swelling in a knee. But coach Dave Rice said Bennett and Marshall should be in the starting lineup.

Dejean-Jones, who started the past three games, was the target of mild criticism for his rapid-fire shooting (3-for-12, including 1-for-8 on 3-pointers) in the Rebels' 83-79 loss to Oregon on Friday.

Doug Gottlieb, calling the game for CBS Sports Network, said, "Bryce Jones will shoot it every time he gets it, if possible."

The reference to his selfishness was nothing personal to Dejean-Jones, who did record three assists in the game.

"I believe if the shots had been dropping, they wouldn't have been saying that. The shots were open, but I just wasn't making the shots I usually make," said Dejean-Jones, averaging 10.8 points and shooting 41.2 percent (14 of 34) from the field.

Nonconference games in November are teaching tools for coaches, and the Ducks taught UNLV a lesson about the dangers of sloppy play on the offensive end.

Rice said he "addressed" the Rebels' reckless shot selection Saturday before they played Iowa State, and the results showed in an 82-70 victory. UNLV attempted only 10 3s, one day after shooting 8-for-30 against Oregon, which fell into a zone defense to force more long-range jumpers.

"There's no magic number of 3s. We were settling for too many quick shots and not making the defense work," Rice said. "I think we're one of the best teams in the country when we get defensive rebounds in converting. Off defensive rebounds and steals, we need to go down and get the first quick, good shot because the defense isn't set and it's just a different look.

"I want guys to shoot. That's the way I'm going to coach as long as I'm the coach here. But we don't need to come down and shoot a 3 off one pass against a set defense. When the defense is set, we'll call something and run something, and we'll move the ball and work inside-out, and that helps our shot selection."

With three new starters, it's clear the Rebels will require time to develop chemistry offensively.

"I think this early in the season, it's just kind of trying to figure out your identity," said junior forward Mike Moser, who took six shots against Oregon and 12 against Iowa State.

"As far as shot selection, the weekend was definitely a learning process for me and the younger guys on the team. There's no way we can take and miss that many 3-point shots and win a basketball game. You just can't do it."

Moser called Dejean-Jones a "willing passer" and said each player is trying to find his way in the offense.

"Bryce is coachable," Rice said. "Bryce is extremely competitive and is anxious to do well and help his team win. It's an issue of probably being too competitive, and it's better than the opposite."

Dejean-Jones, who sat out a year and a half after transferring from Southern California, is a pure shooter and aggressive scorer off the dribble, but he never had to practice shot discretion last season.

"It's a tough adjustment because it's a lot different from scout team and being in practice, but I'm really enjoying it," Dejean-Jones said. "As time goes on, we'll become more focused and learn what are good and bad shots. It's just a matter of time. We'll get it together."

■ NOTES - Considering a need for more depth in the backcourt, Rice said he will decide today whether to scrap his plan to redshirt freshman point guard Daquan Cook. … The Anteaters have lost three games by four points or fewer, including 80-79 in overtime at UCLA.

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