Rebels trying to balance business, pleasure on trip

HONOLULU -- If the Rebels need a tour guide this week, Kendall Wallace could fill the role.

A few UNLV basketball players are first-time visitors to Hawaii. Wallace qualifies as sort of a veteran of the islands, with this being his third trip.

His great uncle, Riley Wallace, was Hawaii's basketball coach for 20 years before retiring in 2007. Kendall Wallace knows his way around the island of Oahu, and he's happy to be back.

''We checked out all the beaches,'' he said of previous visits. ''We went up to the North Shore, where the waves are unbelievable. You don't even want to go out in the water because the waves are that big. It will be cool to check out Hawaii and see the sights.''

Swimming and sightseeing, including a team trip to Pearl Harbor on Thursday, are on the agenda.

But the Rebels (10-1) are focused on business first as they prepare to play Southern Methodist (4-3) at 7:30 p.m. today in the first round of the eight-team Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Wallace, from Mesa, Ariz., will be more than an amateur tour guide. The junior guard will start for the fourth consecutive game as a replacement for Tre'Von Willis, the team's leading scorer.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger said the progress made by Willis, who has been hobbled by soreness in his back and left ankle, is encouraging.

''Tre looked much better today,'' Kruger said after Monday's practice. ''He will play for sure.''

After a 3-0 week that included victories over Southern Utah, Weber State and South Carolina-Upstate, the Rebels moved up three spots to No. 20 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll.

UNLV, which needs to win three games to take the tournament title, will face either Hawaii (5-4) or College of Charleston (5-4) in the second round Wednesday.

Kruger said today's opener will present a challenge because SMU, coached by Matt Doherty, is deep on the perimeter and skilled in the post with 6-foot-9-inch forwards Mouhammad Faye and Papa Dia.

The Mustangs, who beat Occidental 77-49 on Saturday in Los Angeles, are 24-for-50 from 3-point range in their past two games.

Wallace, averaging 7.1 points per game, leads the Rebels in 3-pointers made (18) and is second in 3-point percentage (.391) to junior forward Matt Shaw (.421). Shooting always has been a strength for Wallace.

''Kendall's more focused as it relates to team defensive things, and he's getting involved in rebounding,'' Kruger said. ''I think he's improved in those areas.''

UNLV's long-range accuracy was sorely lacking until the past two games, when it shot a combined 20-for-51 on 3s.

''We were forcing a few shots from deep, so I think we need better shot selection,'' Wallace said. ''We're a lot better shooting team than what we've shown, so we've got to prove that in these next couple games and the rest of the season.''

The only speed bump the Rebels have hit in the nonconference season came in a 95-80 loss to Kansas State on Dec. 12. That setback, Wallace said, could benefit the team moving forward.

''The Kansas State loss kind of opened our eyes to we're not as good as we think we are, and we have to play our best to win,'' Wallace said. ''So that game could be good as a learning point, and it could be the difference in our season.

''We had a couple games there where we didn't play our best and were able to come away with wins against solid teams. But I think 10-1 is pretty good.''

• NOTES -- UNLV walk-ons Todd Hanni, Mychal Martinez and Tyler Norman did not make the trip with the team, but freshman Carlos Lopez, who intends to redshirt, was brought to Hawaii. ... Rebels junior Derrick Jasper, a transfer from Kentucky, played in the Maui Invitational as a freshman in 2006.

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