Lopez chooses redshirt

An idea weighed heavily on his mind for weeks, so UNLV freshman Carlos Lopez set out recently to survey some of those closest to him.

Should he sit out as a redshirt and delay his basketball career for a year?

''I talked to a lot of people, asking for their opinion,'' he said.

He called his parents in Puerto Rico. He discussed the topic with teammates Oscar Bellfield and Brice Massamba. He met with Lon Kruger and the Rebels' coaching staff.

Kruger and Lopez made the decision official Thursday, announcing the 6-foot-11-inch forward will redshirt this season.

''It's better for me long term,'' Lopez said. ''It's always tough to sit and watch. But I have to get stronger to be able to help this team a lot more next year.''

Kruger said he and Lopez first traded thoughts about the redshirt option Monday, and Lopez did not play in UNLV's 62-52 exhibition victory over Washburn (Kan.) on Tuesday.

''He had been thinking about it. The coaches had been thinking about it,'' Kruger said. ''We sat down and talked, and he asked for that meeting. It never had been discussed with him.

''That's our plan. If one of our big guys goes down and sustains an injury -- knock on wood -- and we need another big guy, then (Lopez) could always come out of a redshirt.''

The Rebels open the regular season against Division II Pittsburg (Kan.) State at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. Kruger has altered his starting lineup.

Massamba, a 6-10 sophomore and Lopez's former Findlay Prep teammate, will remain the starter at center. Chace Stanback will replace senior Darris Santee at forward, with Bellfield, Derrick Jasper and Tre'Von Willis still at the guard spots.

Lopez figured to get playing time in the frontcourt rotation that includes Massamba, Santee and junior Matt Shaw. But minutes might have been minimal for Lopez.

''If the question is, could he play and make us better this year, I think (the answer) is yes,'' Kruger said. ''But is it worth giving up that year when you project what he could be in his fifth year? I think he's going to be an outstanding player.

''In theory, the six to eight minutes (per game) he gets as a freshman, compared to the 32 or 34 that he gets as a senior, if I was his parent or if I was his adviser, then I would want this plan.''

Lopez still could play this season if UNLV needs him, a situation Kruger obviously hopes to avoid. But if Lopez were to appear in any games now, he could request a redshirt after the season only because of a documented injury.

''If he plays in a game Saturday, then the redshirt is off,'' Kruger said

Jasper, a mandatory redshirt last season as a transfer from Kentucky, said he supports the decision by Lopez.

''I think it's definitely a good move. Lopez is a tremendous talent,'' Jasper said. ''He's going to be a great player for us in practice and he'll help our big men get better.''

Lopez said he weighs 202 pounds. He was at about 220 in June before becoming ill in France by contracting bacteria from food and losing 20 pounds.

''The food out there wasn't good,'' Lopez said. ''I didn't feel right. I didn't feel like I used to feel. Just looking back, after three years working really hard at Findlay Prep and putting all that weight on, I came to realize maybe this year is not the right year.''

Lopez will continue to practice and work with Jason Kabo, the Rebels' strength and conditioning coach.

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