UNLV basketball notebook: Ready for his photo shoot?

By Rob Miech

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Chace Stanback, a 6-foot-8 forward who is redshirting after transferring from UCLA, has won an award before he even slipped on a UNLV jersey in a real game.

When he walked on the court Saturday afternoon with other transfers, walk-ons and injured Rebels who also were wearing street clothes, Stanback stood out.

He looked dapper in black dress shoes, dark slacks, a light green tailored dress shirt with white collar and white French cuffs, and silver cuff links.

“The shirt I got from my uncle,” Stanback said. “I saw in his closet one day in North Carolina, and I told him I had to have it. I always like to dress nice when I can.

“Just trying to look good every chance I can. I don’t wear that too often, unless I’m going to church. But you’ll probably see me doing that all the time.”

That’s just the start of his sharp wardrobe, he said. Teammates noticed.

“They said I took the crown that day,” Stanback said. “Some will try to challenge me. I think Rob (Ketchum) and Steve (“Chopper” Jones) will try. I don’t think so. I doubt it.”

Tuesday, Jones wore dark slacks, a blue dress shirt and a tie with white and dark blue stripes.

Stanback wore gray slacks, a maroon dress shirt and a neutral tie.

Unofficially, Round 2 went to Stanback. Chopper, ties always go to the champion, right?

“I’ve seen Chace’s wardrobe, but I don’t know if I can give (the season title) to him yet,” said sophomore guard Tre’Von Willis. “I have to see some flashy clothes in the future.

“I guess it’s between him and Chop. We’ll see.”

A big fan

Ed O’Bannon, who led UCLA to its 11th national championship in 1995, sat courtside at the end of the UNLV women’s game.

His 6-foot, 12-year-old daughter is a ball girl for Rebels coach Kathy Olivier.

O’Bannon attended UNLV’s 65-60 victory over San Diego on Saturday. For the first time in a long time, because of the atmosphere and excitement, he got the itch to be on the court.

He is a regular at the Thomas & Mack Center 18 years after he planned to be a Rebel.

He committed to UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian, then he and Shon Tarver were granted releases when it looked like Tark’s reign would come to an end. Tarver, like O’Bannon, zipped to UCLA.

After his pro career, O’Bannon, his wife and three children moved to Anthem, and he finished his degree requirements at UNLV.

He is a marketing director for Findlay Toyota.

“Everything’s going great,” O’Bannon said. “I run a couple miles every morning with my wife, my daughter is getting into basketball, my two boys are playing basketball, baseball and football.

“And I’m loving coming to these games. I’ve met coach Lon Kruger at the dealership, and I’ll be a regular.”

Mildcats

Derrick Jasper, a transfer from Kentucky, noticed the Wildcats’ score Saturday. Virginia Military Institute slapped Kentucky, 111-103, in Lexington, Ky.

“Oh man, that definitely surprised me,” Jasper said. “I thought they’d win that game, but they came up short. VMI is a great team, though. They lead the nation in scoring almost every year.”

Jasper has kept in touch with some former teammates and a team manager, but he has resisted giving them a ring.

“I’ll wait maybe a month or two,” he said. “I’ll let it go. Don’t want to bug them about that.”

Free throws

UNLV lost the battle on the boards, 23-15, to Pan Am in the first half, then outrebounded the Broncs, 28-15, in the second half … those 15 turnovers in the opener against San Diego were whittled to eight on Tuesday … Wink Adams’s five points were unusual. He had five last season, at home against BYU on Jan. 15, for a season-low output. He only scored two points midway through his sophomore season at Air Force … the three-headed center (Darris Santee, Brice Massamba and Beas Hamga) combined for 12 points and 12 rebounds … Tre’Von Willis had a game-high six assists … Adams, Rob Ketchum, Rene Rougeau, Hamga and Todd Hanni all watched the UNLV women’s team beat Southern Utah, 71-58, before the men played ... Tuesday was the first round of the Global Sports Classic. The second round is Saturday night, against North Carolina A&T and the third is Nov. 28, against California. Florida State or Cincinnati will be the opponent in the final round Nov. 29.