Misfiring Rebels regroup

SALT LAKE CITY - Just when everything seemed to be running smoothly for UNLV, sophomore forward Chace Stanback said something went wrong. What exactly went wrong and why, he's not sure.

But after each of the Rebels' losses last week, to New Mexico and San Diego State, Stanback said the team was "not on the same page." A comment of that type usually hints at chemistry problems.

After the loss in San Diego on Saturday, Stanback added: "We just have to keep playing hard, and I don't feel like we did that for a whole 40 minutes … not even 20 really, myself included."

That kind of statement sounds alarms. But Stanback said Tuesday he thinks the team is again reading from the same script and a lack of effort won't be a lingering issue.

"That has nothing to do with the coaches. That's between the players. I feel like we were just out of sync," he said. "But we've got it back. We're fine now.

"I sense it in practice. Everybody is smiling. I feel like we're going to bounce back, and now we've got to prove it on the court. I feel we're all in sync with each other."

UNLV (19-6, 7-4 Mountain West Conference) needs to avoid another misstep when it faces Utah (11-13, 4-6) at 7 p.m. today at the Huntsman Center.

A week ago, the Rebels were in a three-way tie for first in the conference. Suddenly, they have fallen to fourth, a half-game behind third-place San Diego State, after 10-point losses to the Lobos and Aztecs.

Another loss to the Utes, who upset UNLV 73-69 on Jan. 16, could dim the Rebels' hopes of reaching the NCAA Tournament.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger said he did not see any absence of effort or urgency from his players last week.

"I don't think guys lined up not wanting it," Kruger said. "I think two good teams played better than we did. You don't like getting whipped. We've got to compete like crazy."

Kruger is changing his starting lineup for the second consecutive game. He inserted freshman guard Anthony Marshall on Saturday, and now he's promoting junior forward Matt Shaw to the post position that Brice Massamba held for the past six games.

The 6-foot-8-inch Shaw can step out and shoot from the perimeter to draw David Foster, Utah's 7-3 center, away from the basket. Foster wreaked havoc in the teams' previous meeting by blocking six shots and altering several more.

Kruger said the Rebels' guards need to drive more aggressively at Foster, who has 103 blocks in 23 games, instead of trying to avoid contact and throwing up circus shots.

"The big guy caused a lot of trouble and blocked a lot of shots," Kruger said. "You can't settle for weak finishes like that."

Stanback and junior guard Tre'Von Willis, UNLV's top scorers, are looking to bounce back from two poor games. Willis scored a career-high 33 points in an 88-74 victory over Brigham Young on Feb. 6. But in the past two games, he has shot 9-for-28 from the field, including 2-for-10 on 3-pointers, and averaged 15 points.

"Anytime those guys step it up and make shots and play well, that's much better for us," Kruger said. "That's the cornerstone of what we're doing."

Stanback is 5-for-25 in the past three games, and he bottomed out by shooting 0-for-7 at San Diego State. After scoring in double figures in seven consecutive games, he scored a total of 15 points in the past three.

"The shots are not falling right now, and that happens," Stanback said. "But you've just got to push through it and know that you're not going to miss every shot.

"Unfortunately, I did miss every shot (Saturday), but it's not going to happen like that every time. You have to keep a positive attitude."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.