Rebels eager to tie bow on it

HONOLULU -- It's normal to circle this date on the calendar. It's Christmas, after all. But that's not why UNLV sophomore Chace Stanback eyeballed it several months ago.

He noticed the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic was set for Dec. 25, and he made plans for the Rebels to be in it.

"Since before the season started, we knew we wanted to come out here and win this tournament," Stanback said. "It's definitely a big game for us.

"It's the first-ever Diamond Head Classic, and we want to be a part of history. It would mean a lot to win it."

UNLV (12-1) faces Southern California (7-4) for the championship of the eight-team tournament at 6:30 p.m. today at the Stan Sheriff Center. The only games on the college basketball schedule are the four being played in this event, so the Rebels get the national spotlight for a day.

Stanback, a transfer from UCLA, said he's obviously familiar with USC and excited for the challenge.

"It's a huge game," junior guard Tre'Von Willis said. "We came out here to win."

A tour of Pearl Harbor was scratched from the Rebels' itinerary Thursday, and coach Lon Kruger put the team through a 90-minute practice in a hot, humid auxiliary gym before some relaxation time on Waikiki Beach.

Kruger said he was impressed after watching film of the Trojans, who have won five straight games and beat Saint Mary's 60-49 in Wednesday's semifinal round.

USC was a team in turmoil after the offseason resignation of coach Tim Floyd, but Kevin O'Neill has done a quick repair job. The addition of senior point guard Mike Gerrity has transformed the Trojans.

Gerrity, a transfer from Charlotte who previously played two seasons at Pepperdine, scored 17 points in each of the two tournament games. Gerrity was granted a waiver by the NCAA to become immediately eligible last week, and he debuted in a 77-55 victory over Tennessee on Saturday.

UNLV's pressure defense and trapping might not be as effective against Gerrity.

"USC has a lot of good players, a lot of guys to worry about," Kruger said. "Gerrity has the ball in his hands a lot and makes them go. The other guys really play off of him in a very positive way. We've got to do a good job of trying to contain Gerrity and yet not let other guys go crazy.

"We've got to pick and choose our spots (to press and trap). He's so good with the ball, and we don't want to get too extended to where he is able to pick us apart."

The Trojans also are boosted by the addition of Leonard Washington, a 6-foot-7-inch sophomore who made his season debut Wednesday after getting academic clearance. Washington had 10 points and six rebounds off the bench against Saint Mary's.

USC's front line of Marcus Johnson, Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic is formidable, and Dwight Lewis is an experienced shooting guard.

"This is the first time we've had our whole team together," O'Neill said.

Willis said containing the dribble, contesting shots and rebounding will be the Rebels' priorities against the Trojans, who are physical inside and win most rebounding battles.

"If we come with energy and we're flying around like we have been in the first two games of this tournament, we should be fine," Willis said.

UNLV blitzed its first two tourney opponents, outscoring Southern Methodist and Hawaii by a combined 86-40 in the first half.

Willis, the Rebels' leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, will come off the bench again today. He has been slowed by a sore left ankle and scored 12 points in 12 minutes in Wednesday's victory.

"I thought Tre had his hop back. He had some bounce to his step," Kruger said. "It looked like he was closer to 100 percent."

Willis laughed at Kruger's comment that his "hop" has returned and his ankle might be full strength.

"I wish," Willis said. "I can't say a percentage, but it's not near 100 percent right now. I didn't limp too bad."

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