UNLV returns for its second game in as many days with a true road game in the Diamond Head Classic against host Hawaii on ESPN2. UNLV rolled over SMU fairly easily in the opening round 67-53, while Hawaii had little trouble with College of Charleston, winning 84-71. UNLV sits as a 6.5 point favorite over Hawaii.
UNLV will have to hold off Hawaii with their leading scorer, Tre'Von Willis nursing a sore ankle. He sat out their prior game against South Carolina-Upstate, and then came off the bench last night against SMU. Willis indicated the ankle injury has limited his mobility and grounded his jumping quite a bit. The Rebels are fortunate in that they've got considerable depth at the guard position. The 11-man rotation from the early part of the season was being pared down a couple notches, but with Willis' injury, Lon Kruger has had to go back down the bench to some of his freshman. Anthony Marshall stepped up big yesterday, and will look to build on that tonight. Two games in two nights is rare in college basketball, so this will be a big test of the team's endurance.
The Rebels will need that endurance as they face a Hawaii team that doesn't have the best record, but is clearly talented. Their 6-8 center Petras Balocka is averaging a double-double, while leading scorer Roderick Flemings already has two triple doubles on the season. Fleming is a 6-7 guard who could cause trouble for a UNLV team that continues to struggle on the glass. SMU outrebounded the Rebels 33-27, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Hawaii pull down more rebounds than UNLV tonight. It will come down again to UNLV defense and their ability to make their shots. Not exactly a shocking combination, but still important for their success.