The Rebel Room
What to make of UNLV football's season
The Sun's Mike Grimala and Ray Brewer discuss what's next for the UNLV football team after a 2-10 season. Already, its best defensive player announced plans to transfer. And what about the UNLV basketball team? What do you make of the 4-3 start?
UNLV's first road game went off the rails quickly, as Kevin Kruger's squad fell behind by double digits in the opening minutes and never recovered in an 83-64 loss at SMU.
The newly assembled scarlet and gray were no match for SMU on either end of the floor. They shot a pitiful 9-of-33 in the first half and trailed 44-21 at the break; the offense picked up in the second half, but SMU continued to score at a breakneck pace, shooting 60.9% against the overmatched UNLV defense over the final 20 minutes.
SMU guard Kendric Davis finished with 18 points and eight assists. Royce Hamm led UNLV with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
UNLV is now 4-4 on the season. They'll head home to Las Vegas for a couple days of practice before going back on the road to face 8-0 San Francisco on Saturday.
SMU blowing out UNLV, 68-50
SMU forward Marcus Weathers just threw down thunderous dunks on two consecutive possessions, and this one is not going to go UNLV's way. With 6:45 remaining, SMU leads 68-50.
Marcus Weathers now has six points, while SMU teammate Michael Weathers has 12. They've combined to shoot 8-of-11 from the field, with all of their makes coming around the rim as UNLV has struggled to defend the interior.
One noteworthy development is that UNLV sophomore forward Reece Brown has played extended minutes in the second half ahead of junior center David Muoka. Brown has six points on 3-of-4 shooting in 12 minutes.
UNLV trails SMU in second half, 62-44
Shots are finally starting to drop for UNLV, but it hardly makes a difference now as SMU leads 62-44 with 11:13 to play.
Justin Webster hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Josh Baker followed with consecutive driving scores, giving UNLV points on four straight possessions to trim the deficit to 18, but SMU answered every time. The Mustangs are still shooting a ridiculous 59.5% from the field, including 6-of-10 in the second half, making it very difficult for UNLV to put a dent in the margin.
Bryce Hamilton and Royce Hamm each have 10 points. If UNLV is going to make a last-ditch run, they've got to get some stops to go along with their made shots.
SMU blowing out UNLV at half, 44-21
UNLV played its worst half of the season—unquestionably, by far—and the scarlet and gray are deservedly being blown out as they trail SMU 44-21 at halftime.
The offensive execution was nonexistent, as UNLV did not generate more than a handful of open looks. And their collective shooting touch has been off since the opening tip tonight, as they missed their first six shots and ended up shooting 27.3% for the half (9-of-33).
SMU hasn't had any such problems operating against the UNLV defense. The Mustangs' ballhandlers have been too quick off the dribble for UNLV's backcourt players, and constant penetration has created lots of problems on that end of the floor. SMU shot a staggering 59.3% for the half, with point guard Kendric Davis leading the way (11 points, 3-of-6 FGs).
What can Kevin Kruger say or do at halftime to foster a more competitive second half? I don't know, but he's got to come up with something because this is the worst UNLV has looked so far this year.
UNLV unable to score as SMU builds big lead
UNLV's icy cold start continues; they've managed just four field goals so far and SMU has leapt out to a 25-10 lead with 7:21 left in the half.
The offense has been bad in every way. UNLV has struggled to create many open looks around the basket and their outside shots have been wildly off the mark. As a team the scarlet and gray are 4-of-22 from the field (18.2 percent) and 1-of-6 from 3-point range.
When UNLV is playing offense like that, it almost doesn't matter what SMU does with the ball at the other end of the court, but the Mustangs have been efficient. Seven SMU players have scored, led by Kendric Davis' seven points. The Mustangs are shooting 11-of-19 from the floor.
UNLV basketball opens cold at SMU
If you're an optimist, maybe UNLV is just getting its offensive drought out of the way early tonight.
The scarlet and gray have missed their first six shots from the field, and SMU has a 9-3 lead with 15:02. UNLV is 1-of-9 overall, with the one make coming via a Royce Hamm jump hook. Mike Nuga has taken the ball to the basket aggressively but has had a couple layups spin out of the rim.
On the other end, SMU guard Kendric Davis has had his way, driving through the lane for a couple easy layups. The Mustangs' leading scorer has four points.
On the road for first time, UNLV basketball takes on SMU
UNLV is on the road for the first time this season, as the team is in Dallas for its first true away game at SMU tonight (5 p.m., ESPN+).
The Mustangs are a quality opponent (rated No. 89 by KenPom), and after losing three games against Top 100 teams (Michigan, Wichita State, UCLA), UNLV could sure use a confidence-boosting nonconference victory.
Three keys for UNLV at SMU:
Defense travels
There’s a succinct coaching adage that goes like this: “Defense travels.”
UNLV wants to believe.
While the scarlet and gray have had their ups and downs on the offensive end of the floor, Kevin Kruger is satisfied with the team’s defensive consistency through seven games. UNLV is holding opponents to 38.2% shooting, which ranks them 40th in the nation.
On Monday, Kruger praised his team’s execution on defense.
“There’s always going to be breakdowns and mistakes from every team that plays,” Kruger said, “but I think we’ve been pretty consistent in implementing what we’ve wanted to do from the scouting report.”
When UNLV takes the floor tonight for its first true road game, there’s no telling how well they’re going to shoot the ball. But Kruger has a pretty good idea of the type of defense they’ll play, and that’s comforting for the first-year head coach.
Backcourt pressure
The first item on UNLV’s defensive scouting report? SMU’s backcourt tandem of Kendric Davis and Emmanuel Bandoumel.
The two seniors are experienced and relentless, and they are both shooting the ball at an elite level this season with Davis making 40.4% of his 3-pointers and Bandoumel making 42.6%. Davis is the higher-usage player and the Mustangs’ leading scorer at 20.5 points per game, while Bandoumel scores 11.0 per game.
High-scoring lead guards have caused some issues for UNLV this season, most notably Wichita State guard Tyson Etienne, who scored 28 points to lead the Shockers to a comeback win last week.
Kruger devoted much of UNLV’s practice time this week to getting ready to defend Davis and Bandoumel.
“That’s something you have to prepare for, because those guys don’t go away,” Kruger said. “The main point of our team, no question, is to do what we can to make their guards take tough shots, then rebound and go from there.”
Texas road house
This year’s UNLV team boasts quite a Texas presence, with four players and one assistant coach calling the state home. Even Kruger has roots there, as he was born in the state.
Junior wing Donovan Williams and senior center Royce Hamm, both transfers from Texas, said they plan to have double-digit friends and family in attendance. Junior guard Justin Webster, junior forward Victor Iwuakor and assistant Brandon Chappell also have Lone Star lineage.
So while this is UNLV’s first true road game, it might feel more like a homecoming.
“I would love one,” Kruger said when asked if he expects a sizable cheering section at Moody Coliseum. “There will probably be a handful of parents. Hopefully coach Chappell and Web and Royce and Donovan and Victor and all those guys can bring a whole bunch of people. That would be great.”
What: UNLV (4-3) at SMU (5-3)
Where: Moody Coliseum, Dallas, Texas
When: 5 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
UNLV leaders
Bryce Hamilton, 15.7 points per game
Royce Hamm, 10.6 rebounds per game
Jordan McCabe, 4.3 assists per game
SMU leaders
Kendric Davis, 20.5 points per game
Marcus Weathers, 7.1 rebounds per game
Kendric Davis, 5.4 assists per game
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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