Getting to know the Runnin’ Rebels

By Staff     Jan 3, 2015

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UNLV guard Rashad Vaughn celebrates a 71-67 victory over Arizona after an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

There is a reason the same UNLV team that defeated Arizona (12-1, now ranked No. 8) also lost to unranked Arizona State (8-5) within a 20-day span.

Youth.

The Runnin’ Rebels (9-4 overall, 0-1 Mountain West) lost all five starters from last season. Four of their top seven players are freshmen. Their two best players are a freshman and a sophomore. One of their two starting seniors is a transfer. There are eight new players on the roster.

Sometimes UNLV looks great. Other times the team’s collection of young talent just looks inexperienced.

Coach Dave Rice hopes the Rebels’ skills show up more often than their teenaged tendencies Sunday afternoon at Kansas.

Between a Dec. 20 loss to Utah (then ranked No. 14), a Dec. 23 upset victory over Arizona (then ranked No. 3) and Sunday’s trip to Allen Fieldhouse to face No. 13 Kansas, UNLV finds itself in quite the non-conference stretch. It marks the first time the Rebels have played three top-15 teams in such a short amount of time.

Another marquee win for Vegas (9-4, ranked No. 113 in the nation by KenPom.com) would do wonders for the Rebels’ résumé, and KU coach Bill Self, of course, isn’t taking them lightly.

UNLV blocks 7.2 shots a game (fifth in the nation) and holds opponents to 37.5-percent shooting (29th, nationally).

http://www2.kusports.com/videos/2015/jan/02/36037/

If the Rebels can keep it close, they’ll at least feel comfortable. UNLV is 5-1 this season in single-digit decisions. Kansas is 5-0 in games decided by 9 points or less, with wins over Rhode Island, Michigan State, Florida, Georgetown and Utah.

Let’s meet the Runnin’ Rebs Kansas (10-2) will have to hold back to end its non-conference schedule with a win.

RUNNIN’ REBELS STARTERS
—————

**No. 1 — Rashad Vaughn | 6-6, freshman G**

The youngster leads Vegas, and the Mountain West Conference, in scoring (17.9 points).

Though UNLV lost its MWC opener, 76-71, at Wyoming Wednesday, Vaughn hit his first six shots (including three 3-pointers) and finished with 16 points.

He was the No. 8 player in his class and a recruiting target of Self and the KU staff. Named the preseason MWC Freshman of the Year, Vaughn lit up Arizona for 21 points — one of five 20-plus point performances for the fab frosh.

*- [hoop-math.com][1] nugget: When Vaughn has the ball in his hands, he is comfortable scoring from anywhere. 30.6% of his shots have come at the rim, 33.9% have been on 2-point jumpers and 35.6% of have been taken from 3-point range (22-for-64).*

**No. 5 — Christian Wood | 6-11, sophomore F**

With eight double-doubles, the talented young big man ranks fifth in the nation.

Wood leads UNLV with 9.8 boards and 3.0 blocks, and he puts up 15.7 points per game.

At Wyoming, the sophomore set a new personal best with 29 points. He has scored 20 or more in three straight outings and was named National Player of the Week by CBS, NBC and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Wood’s 39 denials this season rank 10th in the country.

*- hoop-math.com nugget: As a 3-point shooter (10-for-32), Wood is at his best when benefiting from a teammate’s assist. Nine of his made 3-pointers came on a dish. … His 19 putb-acks on the offensive glass leads UNLV.*

**No. 45 — Cody Doolin | 6-3, senior G**

Not only does one of the team’s rare elder statesmen handle the rock and distribute, he can score in the clutch.

Doolin hit UNLV’s game-winner in overtime against Portland.

His 4.6 assists a game and assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.0 lead the MWC.

Doolin broke the 1,000-point barrier at San Francisco before transferring to Vegas.

He hits 60.5% of his two-point shots, which leads the team.

*- hoop-math.com nugget: Though he isn’t the tallest Rebel, Doolin attacks with a purpose, and has taken 29 of his 38 two-point attempts at the rim. His 20 field goals at the rim put him only behind Wood (48) and Vaughn (29).*

**No. 22 — Jelan Kendrick | 6-6, senior G**

The team’s leading returning scorer, UNLV doesn’t exactly need him for his offense (5.0 points, 40% field goals).

Kendrick scored a season-high 13 points against South Dakota but hasn’t broken double-digits in any other game. Arizona held him scoreless and he only took one shot.

He made two free throws in the final 35 seconds to help UNLV beat Temple, on Nov. 22, in Brooklyn.

Against Southern Utah, the veteran guard had career-highs with 11 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks, while avoiding turning the ball over — even once.

*- hoop-math.com nugget: Kendrick’s seven field-goal makes at the rim is the fewest among UNLV’s core players.*

**No. 11 — Goodluck Okonoboh, 6-10, freshman F/C**

Good luck to the KU bigs finishing over this freshman. The 6-foot-10 swatter blocks 2.8 shots a game (4th in MVC; third nationally, among freshmen).

Okonoboh denied seven shots against Morehead State and six apiece vs. Sam Houston State, Saint Katherine and Utah. This season, he has blocked a team-leading 10.4% of opponent two-point shots when he’s on the floor.

His free throw with 4:47 left vs. Arizona gave the Rebels their first lead since early in the first half.

*- hoop-math.com nugget: 61.5% of his 52 field-goal attempts have come at the rim, and 68.8% of Okonoboh’s makes have been assisted. When someone drives looking to dish, the big man cashes in.*

RUNNIN’ REBELS BENCH
————-

**No. 2 — Patrick McCaw, 6-6, freshman G**

Providing some scoring punch off the bench, the first-year guard’s 7.4 points a game rank third on the team, and he does it in just 26.0 minutes.

McCaw’s 15 3-pointers and 50 3-point attempts rank second on the team to Vaughn (22-for-64).

The St. Louis native chased down a loose ball and scored a layup to put UNLV up five points in the final minute against Temple.

In a rare start vs. St. Katherine, McCaw distributed nine assists.

He hit two free throws with less than a second left in the Rebels’ four-point win over Arizona.

*- hoop-math.com nugget: Though McCaw has only made 30% of his 3-pointers, that’s where 55.6% of his shots come from.*

**No. 15 — Dwayne Morgan, 6-8, freshman F**

Yet another key UNLV freshman, he sent the Portland game to OT when Doolin found him for a wide-open layup.

In just 18.6 minutes, Morgan grabs 4.0 rebounds and scores 5.8 points.

He went for 13 points and 14 boards against Florida National.

*- hoop-math.com nugget: Morgan (20 offensive rebounds) has 11 put-backs this season, but he has only made 37.5% of his second-chance shots at the rim.*

[1]: http://hoop-math.com/UNLV2015.php

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