Take Five: A closer look at UNLV’s personnel for the 2011-12 season

By Ryan Greene

Monday, March 21, 2011 | 2:15 a.m.

It's going to be a long offseason for the UNLV men's basketball program following a brutal ending on Friday night in its NCAA tournament opener.

The Rebels were run out of Tulsa's BOK Center in 73-62 fashion, and attention immediately turned to what the team will look like in 2011-12. That's when UNLV will pursue its fifth tournament bid in six years, but the pressure to get out of its first weekend for the first time since 2007 will be high.

Last summer was an eventful one for the program for many of the wrong reasons, and coach Lon Kruger is hoping this one is a bit quieter.

If all things stay the same in terms of on-court personnel, here's an early look at what to expect next season.

1) With Tre'Von Willis gone, who steps up and takes the reins?

Tre'Von Willis was limited physically for the better part of his senior season, and before last week's trip to Tulsa even admitted that by trying to play like his old self at times when his body wouldn't let him, he hindered UNLV's offense. But he was the team's alpha dog, and that never was questioned. Every team needs one, so who is it now? The guy to watch for in that role will be Anthony Marshall. He improved his outside shot last summer, will likely continue to do so. As a sophomore, Marshall also showed that he can be a consistent do-it-all threat on both ends of the floor. He is now getting close to the point, given his ability to get to the rim at will, where he could be a go-to guy if the offense gets in a rut. He was vocal at times this season, but sometimes it felt like he was simply trumped by Willis's presence. Not only is he the most fitting guy to assume this role next year, but he also appears to be the most willing.

2) What should be expected from the new additions to the roster?

Everyone already knows what to expect from Kendall Wallace, who will reassume his role as the team's resident zone-buster off of the bench after recovering this season from a torn ACL. The most intriguing newcomer is UCLA transfer Mike Moser, who wowed fans with a strong performance back in October at the annual FirstLook scrimmage. At a legitimate 6-foot-8 with an NBA body and a nice inside-outside game, the sophomore-to-be has the potential to be UNLV's best all-around player once he works off any rust from sitting out for a year. Marshall likely slides over to the starting two-guard spot, leaving the small forward job potentially to Moser. He's also a great locker room guy, who will have a great influence on the team's chemistry and overall morale. Speedy Marquette transfer Reggie Smith becomes eligible following the fall semester and will have 2.5 years to play. He will be a good defender and a nice change-of-pace option, but what he needs to prove is that he can be relied on to run the point for extended stretches. The lone incoming freshman is 6-foot-6 Canadian Grandy Glaze, whose high-energy approach should endear him to fans right from go.

3) Young guys facing an important few months …

Marshall's progression has already been covered, but three other young pieces on the roster face key offseason stretches, too. Justin Hawkins has established himself as UNLV's top defensive stopper off the bench, but he needs to continue to focus on the other end of the floor. Early this season, he was aggressive when going to the bucket and finishing, but his willingness to do so faded a bit as the year progressed. Inside, Carlos Lopez showed several flashes as this season went on that suggested he could become a star in a year or two. He learned to be more productive with his back to the basket, and seems to have finally adjusted to the added bulk on his frame. The next step for him is learning how to be a consistent offensive threat and keep his emotions in check. His passion and non-stop energy are good qualities, but he has to learn to harness both a bit. The wild card is Karam Mashour. After the freshman swingman declined a suggested redshirt at the beginning of the year, he was buried at the end of the bench and never cracked the regular rotation. He's broken down the language barrier some and got a little better on defense, but not playing appeared to completely zap his confidence late in the year. Can he get it back this summer and be a legitimate threat for playing time as a sophomore? We'll see.

4) What to expect from the key seniors ….

Chace Stanback established himself as the team's top defensive rebounder, and he'll likely be important in that regard again next season. However, he could also see more time at his natural position — small forward — with a wealth of big men at Lon Kruger's disposal. Don't be surprised if you see more lineups in 2011-12 that feature multiple big men rather than just one. Oscar Bellfield will be the elder statesman among Mountain West starting point guards, and should be able to focus on facilitating first once again. This season, Bellfield felt the need to score more from the perimeter with Willis hobbled and the sudden absences of Wallace and Matt Shaw. A wrist injury hampered his efficiency as a shooter following a hot start to the season, but his scoring average jumped from 9.3 as a sophomore to 11.2. At the same time, his assist average went down from 4.8 to 3.7 and his turnover average bumped from 1.9 to 2.3. The 2009-10 Bellfield will be needed again next season.

5) The heat is one when it comes to recruiting … for 2012

UNLV, at the moment, still has one scholarship open for the 2011-12 season, and if it gets filled, it likely won't be with a current high school senior prospect. The staff will keep a close eye on the transfer landscape, as plenty of playing time will be there for the taking by newcomers in the 2012-13 season. The most work being put in on the recruiting trail will be toward building the 2012 class, which currently is vacant for the Rebels. The thing to watch is what kind of progress the UNLV staff makes with the bevy of top-shelf seniors-to-be in its own back yard. After next season, UNLV will have at least four open scholarships, and landing at least two of Las Vegas' own would be considered a huge success. Those who the staff is after include Findlay Prep power forward Anthony Bennett and the Bishop Gorman trio of Rosco Allen, Ben Carter and Shabazz Muhammad. Muhammad, it appears, is taking longer looks than ever before at some of the East Coast powers, such as Duke and North Carolina, and is poised to explode on the AAU circuit over the next few months. But the other three all have genuine interest in playing in Las Vegas after high school. That recruiting class is vital to the program's future.