Rebels open with new look

Three years after walking on UNLV's basketball team, Curtis Terry is a senior leader ready to do a lot of talking.

The Rebels opened practice Friday with several new faces on the floor at the Thomas & Mack Center. The most familiar face and name belonged to junior guard Wink Adams, the team's only returning starter.

Adams likely will be UNLV's top scorer more often than not this season, but he might not be the most vocal performer. Terry is prepared to step into that role.

"Last year, we were real pampered to have five seniors who played the majority of the game and did almost everything for us," Terry said. "I'm looking forward to the responsibility of taking on the challenge to do my best to lead the team.

"I'm probably more vocal than the rest of the guys. Wink is going to show you mostly with his effort and his attitude. I'll be the one who will probably get in somebody's face or speak up and say something to the team that needs to be said.

"I'm not trying to hurt anybody's feelings or anything, just saying what needs to be done so we can be successful."

It's doubtful the Rebels can come close to matching their success of last season, when they went 30-7, won the Mountain West Conference Tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.

It appears to be more of a rebuilding year.

Of the five seniors who graduated -- Joel Anthony, Gaston Essengue, Kevin Kruger, Michael Umeh and Wendell White -- Kruger was the most inspirational and outspoken player. He also led the team on the floor as the point guard.

Terry, who has played in all 98 games and started 25 the past three seasons, can play every position but center and fill Kruger's role as team spokesman.

On the floor, a lot will be riding on the shoulders of Adams, the team's No. 2 scorer last season at 13.9 points per game. He was the only player to start all 37 games.

"We're a pretty young team," Adams said. "It's a lot of pressure on me going into this year and being the only starter returning.

"We've got to put everybody on a defense-first, offense-second mentality, and if everybody gets that, we're going to be a good team like we were last year."

Adams, Terry and the Rebels' other senior, forward Corey Bailey, will lead in different ways.

"I think that group collectively will provide good leadership," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "Last year, a lot of it fell to Kevin because he's the point guard and he was comfortable with that, and it kind of took the pressure off everyone else."

The Rebels lost five of their top seven scorers. Junior forward Joe Darger, sixth on the team at 6.0 points per game, also provides experience to a roster lacking it.

Bailey started seven games as a junior but averaged just 2.8 points. "I think Corey's got a chance to really have a breakout year," Kruger said.

Marcus Lawrence, a sophomore from Bishop Gorman High School, likely is to be the starting point guard. Lawrence started seven games last season when Kevin Kruger was injured.

Lon Kruger said he also expects major contributions from junior guard Rene Rougeau and sophomore forward Matt Shaw.

The newcomers include 6-foot-10-inch junior center Emmanuel Adeife, 6-8 sophomore forward Lamar Roberson, 6-3 junior shooting guard Mareceo Rutledge and 6-4 freshman point guard Kendall Wallace.

Two other newcomers, Troy Cage and Beas Hamga, were missing Friday, and only one could see action this season.

Troy Cage, a redshirt freshman guard, had successful surgery on his left knee and will miss about three months. The NCAA granted the 7-foot Hamga academic eligibility with the provision that he must redshirt this season. Hamga can practice with the team, but his absence will be apparent in games.

"We don't have many big guys," said Kruger, who often will put four guards on the floor. "There was a question last year early, that we didn't know how tough we would be mentally and physically on the defensive end, and that became a strength.

"This group would have the same question right now."

UNLV opens the season Nov. 9 at home against Montana State.

"Everybody loses guys and has news guys coming in, so it's just part of the process," Terry said. "We shouldn't have any problems."

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