UNLV’s ‘Men in the Middle’ face tall task in Illini

TULSA, Okla. -- There is a section of UNLV's postseason basketball media guide titled "The Men in the Middle."

It's not about real estate agents or car salesmen or Charlie Sheen and a friend sandwiched between female houseguests.

It instead lists the accomplishments of those three players who share time at center for the Rebels.

The section is four sentences long.

Two would have sufficed.

It's funny how matchups work in March. UNLV opens play in the Southwest Region of the NCAA Tournament tonight at the BOK Center against an Illinois team that features the nation's tallest frontline and, yet, a coaching staff that has no clue how those inside for the Rebels will perform against it.

Which makes sense, given the Rebels have no clue either.

"I'd rather have what we're going to prepare for," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said Thursday. "If you have someone like JaJuan Johnson (of Purdue) getting 20 points and 10 rebounds, that's tough to deal with because you know he's going to do that.

"Obviously, if (UNLV) gets points in the paint, it's going to cause us trouble. Our key is to not let those (interior) players be a major factor."

This just in: JaJuan Johnson isn't running out of UNLV's locker room.

What the Rebels have is what they have struggled to find consistency from all season: the trio of Quintrell Thomas, Carlos Lopez and Brice Massamba.

Individually, they have produced numbers that wouldn't concern Illinois or Canyon Springs High.

Collectively, the three have done just enough to at least draw attention from the Illini.

"They rotate in and do different things," Illinois center Mike Tisdale said. "It's tough to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses. They're not building stats, but when you combine them, they're pretty effective.

"It won't be easy, but if we do our thing, we'll be OK."

Games this time of year are often officiated differently. They're closer. Little things matter more.

UNLV probably has no chance of advancing if it doesn't shoot well, but what has correctly been considered its biggest weakness (those inside) could also be the difference in heading home or preparing for a game against Kansas on Sunday.

"I haven't heard that people think we are the (weak link)," Massamba said.

Sure you have.

"No, I am being honest. I have never heard teams think like this."

For those wondering, it's not true Massamba lives under a boulder at Red Rock Canyon.

He is good enough defensively, though, to make a big stop tonight. Thomas also rebounds well enough to grab a key board or two. Lopez brings the energy needed in close games and of the three owns the most confidence when trying to score inside.

Individually, UNLV's bigs against an Illinois team that starts 6 feet 9 inches, 6-9 and 7-1 across the front could get real ugly real fast.

Collectively, it could be an entirely different story. The Thomas-Lopez-Massamba offering combines for 15.1 points and 10.2 rebounds and might need every last number and perhaps more for the Rebels to move on.

"Illinois is much bigger than we are," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "That's a big area of concern for us."

Big being the operative word.

When you start 6-9 at small forward, you're giving a look few do. All three frontline starters for Illinois are seniors who combine to average 27.1 points and 16 rebounds.

But the Illini are also 19-13 and have lost four of their last six. This isn't a great team but, rather, one quite fortunate to find itself as a No. 9 seed given its finish to the regular season.

The Illini have led or been tied in the final six minutes of games eight times and lost, meaning a team that probably doesn't get enough credit for its defense hasn't been able to produce a stop when needed most.

Illinois has length that can bother shooters both outside and at the rim but isn't so impressive that inspired play from those Rebels inside couldn't draw a key matchup close to even.

This is their game's biggest stage, their season's most important moment, an opportunity for "The Men in the Middle" to add several more sentences to that section in the postseason media guide.

Individually, it's hard to like their chances.

Collectively, it isn't.

"I always wanted to play in March Madness, and now I get to do it two years in a row," Massamba said. "It's very exciting, you know? All three of us need to play well for us to win, of course.

"It should be fun."

It should be really, really close.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday on "Monsters of the Midday," Fox Sports Radio 920 AM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.