2012-13 College Basketball Preview: 11. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

Click to enlarge.

< 10. Murray State Racers                                                                                                           12. UCLA Bruins >

11. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels

WHY THEY’RE SCARY: The Rebels are loaded in the frontcourt. Junior forward Mike Moser (14.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg) is a scoring and rebounding machine, and heads into the season as the frontrunner for Mountain West Player of the Year. Pitt transfer Khem Birch (6-9, 220 pounds) was one of the biggest recruits in the country last season and has NBA lottery pick talent. Freshman Anthony Bennett (6-8, 240) is another high recruit with the potential to become a star.

WHAT SCARES US: The backcourt. UNLV lost key guards in Oscar Bellfield (9.8 ppg, 5.4 apg) and Chace Stanback (12.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg), and someone (Anthony Marshall?) is going to have to step up and fill their roles. UConn transfer Roscoe Smith was denied an opportunity to play right away by the NCAA. Had Smith been eligible, this team could have been a Final Four sleeper.

FINAL DESTINATION: Dave Rice has done a terrific job of continuing the momentum that Lon Kruger built in Vegas. UNLV is loaded up front, and if it can find comparable production to Bellfield and Stanback in the backcourt, the Rebs have a chance to do some special things this season.

4 Comments

1. Pingback: 2012-13 College Basketball Preview: 11. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels | JockSpin.com Sports News and Opinion Aggregator and Publisher

2. Pingback: 2012-13 College Basketball Preview: 11. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels | JockSpin.com Sports News and Opinion Aggregator and Publisher

3. Pingback: » 2012-13 College Basketball Preview: 10. Murray State Racers

4. Pingback: » 2012-13 College Basketball Preview: 12. UCLA Bruins