#21 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at UTEP Miners
Monday, December 17, 2012, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: CBS Sports
Don Haskins Center – El Paso, Texas
Opening Line: UNLV -8 1/2
Current Line: UNLV -6 1/2
Opening Total: 130
Current Total: 132
Opening Money Line: UNLV -330 / UTEP +280
Current Money Line: UNLV -275 / UTEP +235
The 8-1 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels are #21 in the country under coach Dave Rice. The Rebels travel to El Paso to take on the 3-4 UTEP Miners Monday night. The Miners are coached by Tim Floyd. The Rebels lead the all time series 9-3 and won the last game last season 65-54 in Las Vegas.
UNLV’s only loss came at home to Oregon 83-79. The Rebels have home wins over Iowa St 82-70, UC-Irvine 85-57, and Hawaii 77-63 along with road wins at Portland 68-60 and California 76-75. UNLV crushed Division III LaVerne Wednesday night 91-44. UNLV has won 6 straight games. The game was in Las Vegas but not in UNLV’s home arena at the Thomas and Mack because of the National Finals Rodeo. The Rebels are 4-4 ATS and the total is 2-1 this season.
UTEP has losses at Arizona 72-51, and 3 losses in a tournament in Orlando to Oklahoma 68-61, Clemson 69-48, and Vanderbilt 73-49. The Miners have wins over Oral Roberts 69-49, New Mexic0 St 55-54 and Idaho 64-60. UTEP has won 2 straight games but hasn’t played in 9 days. The Miners are 0-6 ATS and the total is 2-1 this season.
UNLV is outscoring opponents 81-63 this season. The Rebels are #17 in scoring nationally. UNLV is shooting 43.8% from the field and 32.4% from 3 point range. The Rebels make 73.1% of their free throws. UNLV averages 43.6 rebounds a game and gives up 29.6 per game. The Rebels are #8 in rebounding nationally. UNLV opponents are shooting 36.8% from the field and 23.7% from 3 point range. The Rebels are #19 in opponents’ field goal percentage and #7 in 3 point defense. The Rebels average 18 assists, 10 steals, 5 blocks, and 14 turnovers a game.
Forward Anthony Bennett averages 20.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. Forward Mike Moser is out until early January with a dislocated elbow suffered in the California game last Sunday. Moser averages 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a block. Guard Anthony Marshall averages 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Guard Katin Reinhardt averages 9.9 points, 2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Justin Hawkins averages 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals a game. Bryce Dejean-Jones averages 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. Savon Goodman, Quintrell Thomas, Daquan Cook, and Carlos Lopez-Sosa make up the rest of the rotation. Coach Rice might have a problem finding minutes in the rotation for every one as talented forward Khem Birch, a transfer from Pitt becomes eligible tonight. The Rebels are deep at all positions and will be even deeper once Moser returns.
UTEP is being outscored 64-57 this season. The Miners are #335 out of 347 teams in scoring. UTEP is shooting 43.5% from the field and 30.6% from 3 point range. The Miners make 70.5% of their free throws. UTEP averages 25.6 rebounds per game and allow 30.7 per game. The Miners are second to last in rebounding nationally. UTEP opponents are shooting 45.5% from the field and 45% from 3 point range. The Miners are second to last in 3 point defense in the country. UTEP is averaging 12 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks and 13 turnovers.
Guard Julian Washburn averages 12 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Forward John Bohannon averages 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, an assist and 1.4 blocks a game. Forward Chris Washburn averages 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1 assist a game. Guard Jacques Streeter averages 7.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Jalen Ragland averages 6.7 points a game. C.J. Cooper and Cedrick Lang make up the rest of the rotation. Land averages 4.1 rebounds a game. Every one in the rotation plays at least 21 minutes a game. That might change as guard McKenzie Moore becomes eligible and guard Konner Tucker is probable with a hand injury that has kept him out all season so far. Center Matt Willms is out indefinitely due to being ineligible.
UNLV is 6-2 ATS against Conference USA teams, 6-13 overall, 1-5 after scoring more 90 points, and after allowing 50 points or less, 2-10 after a straight up win, including 16-6 after a win of 20 points or more, 1-9 in road games against teams with winning home records, and in road games.
UTEP is 6-2 ATS at home against teams with winning road records, 8-3 in Monday games, 3-9-1 against Mountain West teams, 1-4 at home, 1-10 overall, 0-6 in non-conference games, 0-5 after failing to cover, 0-4 after a straight up win, and against teams with winning records.
With both teams adding new players to the rotation tonight, it makes it a little difficult to handicap this game. However, UNLV has much more depth and talent. The altitude of El Paso shouldn’t bother them too much. I like the rebels to win, but UTEP keeps it close at home.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot this season. Don’t miss out on any winners this season from now until the cut down the nets in April
