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UNLV basketball began summer workouts on Monday, marking the first time this offseason that players have been able to practice together in a team setting.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak canceled all college sports in March, basketball players have been left to work out on their own. UNLV athletes returned to campus last month for voluntary individual workouts, but those sessions amounted to little more than weightlifting and shooting drills.
Summer workouts will run for the next eight weeks. Under NCAA rules, teams are allowed to practice up to eight hours per week, and unlike voluntary workouts, coaches are allowed to direct the sessions.
Head coach T.J. Otzelberger said the energy level was high when the team finally took the court after months of basketball exile.
“Our guys were focused and eager to get to work,” Otzelberger said.
All participation is predicated upon players testing negative for COVID-19.
Otzelberger said that conditioning levels were understandably lagging in the first few practices, but he praised his veteran core for taking charge early and setting a strong example for the many young players on the roster.
Juniors Marvin Coleman, David Jenkins and Bryce Hamilton and senior Mbacke Diong are expected to play key roles on and off the floor in 2020-21.
“Those four really stood out in workouts with their communication,” Otzelberger said. “They’re talking, they’re teaching and helping coach the younger guys. There was a really good vibe in the workouts because the older guys have taken charge and are setting that example of how things are done here.”
UNLV brought in six freshmen in the 2020 recruiting class, so much of the team’s rotation is going to be made up of inexperienced players.
Two of the younger players who have made an impression on the coaching staff during the first week are freshmen Nick Blake and Devin Tillis.
Blake, a 6-foot-6 guard, is the highest ranked recruit in the class.
“Blake has stood out because of his size, his length, his ability to do a lot of things out there, as well as his length and athleticism defensively,” Otzelberger said.
Tillis, a 6-foot-6 forward, has picked up the playbook quickly, according to Otzelberger.
“Devin Tillis is smart and understands the game,” the coach said. “He can play multiple positions and takes pride in not making mistakes.”
The early summer workouts haven’t been about player evaluations or deep dives into the playbook, however, as Otzelberger and his staff have focused on the simple things.
“We’re getting back to basics fundamentally,” Otzelberger said. “Offensively, that’s a lot of spacing, moving on penetration, passing and catching. And we want to continue to be a team that doesn’t turn it over a lot. That’s important to us.”
“We want them to understand our defensive system,” he continued. “How we guard ball screens, off-ball defense—our goals are for them to have an understanding on that.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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